ANDES AND COAST

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Quito: the capital of Ecuador is perched high in the foothills of the Andes at 2,850 m (9,000 ft) . It was built on the foundations of an ancient Inca city and is famous for its well-preserved colonial old town, with several 16th- and 17th-century churches, and other structures that blend European, and indigenous styles. These include the cathedral, on the Plaza Grande, and the highly decorated Jesuit church of the Compañía de Jesus.
  
• Otavalo: Is a city in the Andean highlands of Imbabura Province, northern Ecuador. It is surrounded by volcanoes, including the Imbabura Volcano. It is known for its Otavalo Indigenous Market in the central Plaza de Ponchos, where locals dressed in traditional indigenous clothing sell colorful textiles and handicrafts.
  
• Mindo: It is known for its numerous species of birds, butterflies and orchids that inhabit the surrounding cloud forest, part of the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve.
• Galapagos National Park: Extraordinary flora and fauna, geological features, and many unique species have made this park a major global center for scientific research and nature tourism. In recognition of its natural values, ​it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978. Despite all the problems it has faced, especially by organisms introduced from the mainland, is one of the best-preserved archipelagos and a world leader in the management of fragile ecosystems.
• Quilotoa Lagoon: Quilotoa is the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. A caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km has formed inside its crater. This is the product of the collapse of the volcano, which occurred some 800 years ago. In the 2 50 m deep caldera, a lagoon known as La " Laguna del Quilotoa " has been formed. The minerals have given the surface a greenish and bluish hue when it receives the impact of sunlight. Inside, there are springs that can be perceived from the shore as bubbling trails that rise to the surface.
• Los Frailes beach: has three consecutive beaches from white sand to black sand. It has won several awards for being among the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador. Enjoy the places to walk, viewpoints and also the waves and marine diversity.
• Puerto Lopez: It is known as "Ecological and tourist city", it has beautiful white sand beaches, and the privilege of having the Machalilla National Park. It is a canton in the province of Manabí considered by nature a fishing port, tourist and agricultural center.