ANDES
Audiovideo of the Andes
At this zone of Ecuador, we offer the following excursions and activities:
Colonial Sensation - Old Quito, downtown. A charming and colorful walk through churches, squares and museums in the biggest colonial complex of America and the first World Cultural Heritage site designated by UNESCO (1979). You will be able to appreciate, through your senses, the intricate design of Baroque stone and wood art work characteristic of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Ecuadorian Sensation - Ecuadorian cuisine. You will have the opportunity to taste and appreciate new scents, flavors and textures of a variety of exotic fruits, exquisite fresh sea food, and home made meals prepared with Andean products and traditional recipes.
Andean Sensation - Live Entertainment. Enjoy a special and delightful evening of live folk music played with Andean instruments and a colorful and creative exhibit of Ecuadorian handcrafts that show the rich Ecuadorian Indian tradition.
Natural Sensation - Horseback riding. Feel the air and enjoy the spectacular views of an Andean mountain range, with wonderful scenery, where you will be able to ride tame horses led by professional guides.
Total Sensation - SPA and thermal waters. The Andean mountains are famous for their healing powers and you will be able to enjoy one-in-a-life time experience at a famous thermal SPA born from the spring waters of the Antizana volcano, one of the most beautiful snowed-cover mountains of the Ecuadorean Andes. Feel the restoring and relaxing effect of warm water all over your body, in the middle of beautiful natural surroundings in absolute comfort. This can be a half-day or an overnight trip.
Glacier Sensation - A Walking in the Glaciers. A walk in the glacier of Cayambe volcano (5.790 m or 18.996 ft), the only place on earth where you can be at 0º of latitude and 0º C temperature. It is hard to describe the sensation; you must experience it yourself.
Purifying Sensation - Ritual of purification with a professional shaman (male or female). Have an entirely new life experience by receiving the healing powers of traditional medicine with a “shaman” who has unique ancestral knowledge on medicinal plants and crystals. It will be an intensely purifying spiritual experience. According to the Ecuadorian tradition, a Shaman doesn’t necessarily have to be a male.
Deep Senstion - A Day at the Market. You cannot miss a visit to the famous “poncho” market in Otavalo, the wood-carving markets of San Antonio de Ibarra, and/or to the charming town of Cotacachi famous for its leather products.
Enchanted Sensation - Roses, roses, roses... come and get acquainted with the wonderful process of bringing those gorgeous and colorful rose buds that you see everywhere on Valentine and throughout the year. We will take you to a rose plantation, where you can smell and touch the beautiful roses in its natural state before they are shipped to countries all over the world.
Hemispheric Sensation - Mitad del Mundo. (The Equator). The imaginary line that divides the North and South hemispheres. It is a fun and colorful place where you can see a great miniature “model” of old Quito, and visit the ethnographic museum where you will learn about the numerous ethnic groups found in Ecuador, despite its small size.
Magmatic Sensation - Long walk in the protected forest of Pasochoa volcano. A walk through native-mountain forests rich in biodiversity. Ecuador has 10% of all the species of plants in the planet.
Pleasant Sensation - Fishing. If fishing is your interest, you will be able to have a unique fishing experience in one of the many Andean mountain lakes, catch some trout and later have a delicious lunch prepared with the fish you caught.
Magical Sensation - Bathing in a Cascade, in the middle of a tropical forest, like in films, a true natural paradise. It is a refreshing and exciting experience where you will be able to touch the waterfall and feel its energy. You and nature in one.
Special Sensation - A Boat Ride in the Imbabura Lakes. Enjoy one more thrill offered by nature in the north of Quito, about one-and a half hour drive. This zone has several pre- Columbian vestiges from hundreds of indigenous settlements, surrounded by impressive mountains and volcanoes. You can combine this with a delightful lunch at one of its colorful and famous lake-side restaurants.
Express Sensation – Andes Train. If you want a very different experience to see old Quito or go to Cotopaxi, we can arrange a ride in the famous “Andes Train,” a wagon, opened in the sides and giving you the sensation of “walking” your way to your destination. You will appreciate the Volcanoes Avenue and its different ecosystems. |
