12 Days Boutique Tour – Ecuadorian Art

Boutique Tour – Ecuadorian Art

12 Days/ 11 Nights 

Tour Includes: 

• Accommodation in boutique hotels, haciendas, and hosterías with daily breakfast

• Private and shared guided tours as per itinerary

• English-speaking local guides and expert art interpreters

• All entrance fees to museums, galleries, and national parks mentioned

• Train ride along the Devil’s Nose route

• Domestic transportation and airport transfers

• Meals as indicated (including 3 lunches in local or hacienda-style restaurants)

• Visits and cultural interactions with local artists and artisans in:

  • Quito (La Ronda workshops & Guayasamín Foundation)

  • Otavalo and Peguche (handicraft artisans)

  • Tigua (Andean folk artists)

  • Cuenca region (ceramics, goldsmiths, and Panama hat workshops)

Boutique Tour – Ecuadorian Art

12 Days/ 11 Nights 

Itinerary: 

Day 01 – Quito
Arrival in Quito. Situated in a circle of mountainous peaks of the Andes, Quito has one of the most magnificent settings in the world. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 02 – Quito
City tour through the colonial center with its many churches and the oldest street “La Ronda,” which is home to workshops and galleries. Afterwards, meet with a famous local artist.

Day 03 – Quito
Excursion to the middle of the world monument and the interactive museum Inti Ñan. Discover the works of acclaimed artist Oswaldo Guayasamín in the Fundación Guayasamín before visiting one of his last creations, the architectural monument Capilla del Hombre.

Day 04 – Quito – Otavalo
Visit the famous indigenous handicrafts market in Otavalo. Afterwards, continue to the small village of Peguche to see how handmade artefacts are created. Overnight at a Hostería.

Day 05 – Otavalo
Excursion to the crater lake Cuicocha before visiting the small town of Cotacachi, Ecuador’s centre of leatherworks.

Day 06 – Otavalo – Cotopaxi
Enjoy a fascinating drive along the “Avenue of Volcanoes“ to Cotopaxi National Park. Walk along the Limpiopungo lagoon with fantastic views of the Cotopaxi volcano. Afterwards, visit a nearby typical Indian market. Lunch is included. Overnight at a Hacienda.

Day 07 – Cotopaxi – Riobamba
Excursion to the village of Tigua, whose artists are renowned for their colourful paintings depicting village life high in the Andes. Visit the emerald green crater lagoon of Quilotoa before driving towards Riobamba. Overnight at a Hostería.

Day 08 – Riobamba – Cuenca
Train ride along the legendary Devil’s Nose, offering spectacular Andean scenery along the way, followed by a drive to Cuenca. En route, visit a gothic church near Biblian. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 09 – Cuenca
City tour through Cuenca, the centre of art, ceramics, and silver & gold production. Possibility to visit iron, wood carving, or textile workshops, or explore art galleries and museums. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Day 10 – Cuenca
Full-day excursion to the handicraft villages of Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and Sigsig to watch the production of jewellery, Panama hats, and ceramic pottery. Lunch in a typical hacienda is included.

Day 11 – Cuenca – Guayaquil
Transfer to Guayaquil with a stop at El Cajas National Park. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 12 – Guayaquil
City tour passing by Parque Simón Bolívar, the Cathedral, and the Government Palace. Visit the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Arts. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.