Important outfits: Camera, sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, cap or hat, sun glasses, binoculars, backpack or handbag, comfortable hiking boots, walking shoes or tennis shoes, T-shirts or long sleeves shirts, long or short trousers, wind breaker or waterproof jacket, warm sweater, passport, and some cash (US dollars) for entrance fees, meals or drinks.
Average temperature: 12 C° - 24 C° / 53,6 F° - 75,2 F°
Insurance: It is responsibility of every traveler that he/she is adequately insured against personal accidents and medical expenses during his/her trip to Ecuador, as well as having travel cancellation and baggage insurance to protect him/her.
Tour booking policy: Our tours are based on private trasnportation and guiding services. - All tour prices are given in U.S. dollars. - All services should be fully pre-paid before starting the tour. - Bookings must be done through www.suviatour.com, or by paying directly at our offices. - For last minute bookings, our clients must request availability via phone or e-mail. After confirming availability, bookings must be fully pre-paid before starting the tour. - Special physical conditions, allergies and dietary restrictions must be informed to a Suviatour´s representative in advance. - Our tours will be guided in fluent English, or Spanish languages, as it is required. For special language requirements, passengers should inform at least 5 days in advance. - Suviatour shall have no liabylity with passengers in case of accidents or sickness. Therefore, Suviatour deeply recommends private travel insurance. - Suviatour reserves the right to cancel or suspend tours depending on weather conditions, natural disasters, government regulations, etc. Always regarding for the safety of the passengers. - Under no circumstances, Suviatour will refund money on the same day that the tour takes place. Cancellations must be done 48 hours previous the departure day.
Payment policy: All tours and services must be pre-paid, before tour departure date. - Children under 2 years old don´t pay. - Suviatour never offers refunds if a cancellation happens within 72 hours before tour departure date. Under no circumstances, Suviatour will refund any money due to cancellations done on the same day that the tour takes place. - Suviatour refunds 50% of the total amount if the client decides to cancel a tour 30 days or more, before tour departure date. - Suviatour refunds 25% of the total amount if the client decides to cancel a tour between 15 to 29 days before tour departure date. - Suviatour refunds 10% of the total amount if the client decides to cancel a tour between 3 to 14 days before tour departure date.
OTAVALO AND TRAIN RIDE TO “LA LIBERTAD”
DAY 1: Departure from Quito at 08h00, towards the populated, colorful and the most famous indigenous market in South America. Before going to Otavalo, we will visit Cochasquí, one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in Ecuador. The complex has fifteen pyramids and several tombs from the period 850 B.C. – 1.550 A.C. We stop at the viewpoint of the San Pablo lake, at the foothills of the Imbabura volcano (4.630 m.a.s.l.). Then we arrive to the Plaza de Ponchos, a place where we can find a big variety of handicrafts. It is also possible to visit the rural parish of Peguche, where we can learn more about the local culture and the weaving process of carpets and tapestries. After lunch, we will visit the town of Cotacachi, known as the “capital of music in Ecuador”, rich in the production of leather works, which are on display or for sale in small shops throughout the city center. Once we finish this beautiful experience, we will overnight in the charming Hacienda Pinsaquí, which is 300 years old!
DAY 2: The adventure begins at 08h30 driving towards the city of Ibarra. At 10h30 we start our journey on the railway, using the charming and typical train, crossing through Andean dry forests, sugar cane fields, bridges and tunnels made with pickaxes and shovels, turning the railway into a giant steel bullet in the middle of the mountains. We will see immediately communities of Afro-ecuadorian people, that descend from the survivors of slave ships stranded on the northern coast of Ecuador, between the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries. These black people organized their own communities without the contact of the Andean indians and the Spanish settlers. At 13h00, in Salinas, the Afro-ecuadorian community will delight us with their culture, music and dance. It is also possible to explore the village doing a short walk through the sandy streets, full of friendly local people. We will be back in Quito at 18h00.
RECOMMENDED DAYS: From Tuesday to Saturday.
- Private transport
- Certified naturalist English speaking guide
- Mentioned itinerary and visits
- Mentioned lodging or similar
- Cocahsqui Entrance fees
- Train Tickets
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
- Extra expenses
- IVA (only Ecuadorians)
- Not specified visits
