|| Overview

Roots tour is a special trip to visit local traditional markets. We provide our clients a chance to spend the time with Quichua families in Quilotoa and Salasacas communities, where the traditional markets are located. Then, we will go through the Andes to the Amazon rain forest in Puyo. After the incredible experience in the tropical forest, we will stay in Banos, a small town in the middle of mountains and beautiful weather for adventure activities and relaxing. Later, we will go to Cotopaxi in the High Andes Mountains, you will feel the wind and see the glaciers of this mountain, which is the highest active volcano. Finally, we will go to visit the most traditional and most famous Indian market in South America. Otavalo is a very popular market where different Indian cultures have small business to sell their textiles, pottery and art.

|| In Brief

The cities / places included in this trip

1W, City tour – Equator line
2T, Saquisili Market – Quilotoa
3F, Trek Quilotoa
4S, Zumbahua Market – Salasacas
5S Salasaca Quichua culture
6M, Salasaca - Jungle
7T, Jungle – Full day
8W, Jungle – Full day
9T, Jungle – Banos
10F, Banos (Rafting-Biking, Horse Riding, Treks or Shopping)
11S, Cotopaxi National Park
12S, Otavalo Market

 

|| Day-By-Day

The day by day description highlights the basic activities

● Tuesday Night briefing about the tour.

● Wednesday Day 1 we will go to the City line include old town and Mitad Del Mundo, after breakfast we will go visits the old town. Quito which in 1979, UNESCO declared Quito’s a historical world heritage site. The first city in the world to receive the accolade, we will visit museums colonial churches and see live in the capital of Ecuador. Then after the city tour, we go to the middle of the world, which gives the name to Ecuador because Ecuador is located on the Equator line which passes through it. The Equator line monument is located about 45 minutes Northwest from Quito.

● Thursday Day 2 Early in the Morning we will go to Saquisili which is a traditional local market, it has an animal market, typical clothing market, traditional food market , potato market etc. after the market we will go 45 km from Saqusili market to Quilota lake which is a crater that the last eruption was 800 years ago. We will stay there with a local quichua family from the Andes.

● Friday Day 3 we will make a trekking around the Quilotoa Lake 5 hours. Cultural activity at the Quilotoa School and learn the story when the Condor fell in love with a Quichua lady. Also we will learn how this cultural group live up to 3,800 m (12000 ft).

● Saturday Day 4 we will go to Zumbahua traditional indian Market in the central highlands after the market we will go to Salasacas quichua community.

● Sunday Day 5 agricultural activity with Salasaca culture we will see what kind of products salasacas grow in the andes ans spend with them on their chacras. Salasaca intercultural activity to learn how they live, traditions, and costumes of this cultural group from Central highlands.

● Monday Day 6 in the morning we will go direct to the Jungle to Puyo which is the entrance to the Amazon rain forest.

● Tuesday Day 7 we will have one full day in the jungle doing a walk to learn about tropical nature, visiting a native family to see beautiful pottery and later on an animal rescue center. We will eat a Picnic in the bank of the river to enjoy our trip in the Amazon Forest.

● Wednesday Day 8 next days in the morning we will go down stream to do a short hiking to breathtaking view of the Amazon forest and later on, we will go to visit an orchids center and we will go to Banos in the afternoon.

● Thursday Day 9 we will go to Banos afternoon hot springs Dinner and relaxing time.

● Friday Day 10 we have free day to do any activity, Banos is a small village with 18,000 people. Banos is famous for relaxing place, also it is famous because you have different activities to do like horse riding, mountain bike, motor bike, water rafting, trekking, or just enjoy the city. The tour leader we will give you the best advice to do this trips, the tour leader will tell you all advice about the activities and how much it is each one. Night time salsa lesson and good fun en Banos.

● Saturday Day 11 we will We will leave early in the morning Quito to go To Cotopaxi National Park the highest active volcano in the world which is 5,897m (19,342 ft) and located in the Central highlands of Ecuador with more than 33,393 hectare (82,714 acres). It depends the weather conditions, we will go by car to the Cotopaxi National Park Car park thus we will star to walk to the refuge 300m (984 ft) which is over the snow line of the Andes 4800 (15,744 ft). Our tour leader is going to show us the glaciers and in the end we will go back to Quito.

● Sunday Day 12 OTAVALO, We leave Quito in the Morning to go to Otavalo one full day in the North highlands of Ecuador in the way before to arrive to the Market we will pass several places like Calderon, Cayambe where is located the Equator, San Pablo lagoon which is on the button of Imbabura Mountain 4,639 (15,215 ft). We will arrive to the Market around 11:00 am there is handmade souvenirs, textiles, lots of colors to see and extremely interesting to learn about. After that, we will go to Cotacachi famous for leather market and shops and in the end we will go to visit a famous Andean musical group who will show you their instruments and how they are made, they will also give you a small private concert. We will go back to Quito in the afternoon.

● Monday Day 13 back to your country or Galapagos Islands optional.

Notes

We provide more than basic needs to all our clients to help you relax and enjoy your new adventure.  Discovering new places become easier knowing that you have to worry less about what you need.

Tour price includes:

þ Transportation.

þ All accommodations throughout.

þ All Breakfast.

þ All meals in the Jungle and Indian Communities.

þ Entrance Fees to National Parks and Museums in Quito.

þ Bilingual Tour Guide.

Tour price does not include:

S Flight ticket from you home country.

S Extras Lunch and Dinners.

S Drinks throughout Transfers.

S International Airport tax.

S Tips.

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