As soon you arrive to Quito an airport representative will be waiting for you at your airplane gate; he will assist during the migration and customs procedures. After customs, a representative of Link Experiences will be waiting for you at Quito’s airport in order to welcome you and accompany you during the transfer from airport to hotel. Quito’s airport is located 40 minutes away from the main city. Day at leisure to rest. Accommodation Quito

Quito was the first city declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, in 1979. Quito is a city with a rich history, hiding the most fascinating legends, forbidden love stories, political insurrection plans, and more; but Quito can also be a foodies’ dreamland! So why not enjoying and discovering the Old Town architecture while discovering the Andean gastronomy? Stroll some of the most iconic sites in the heritage downtown with a local guide, while you experience some of the most exquisite “holes in the wall”. From local fruit juices, tasteful honey from the Andes, traditional ice cream shop with exotic flavors that represent the country to the famous “colaciones” mentioned at The Miami Herald as “the sweeter side of Quito”. Get impressed by the architectural wonder of La Compañia Church, the famous church covered with two tons of gold leaf or by the National Vow Basilica with its impressive gargoyles of the Galapagos Islands animals (iguanas, tortoises, boobies, etc.). During lunch get ready for a pleasant menu in one of the most renowned restaurants in Quito. Later on, in the afternoon, enjoy an astonishing view from Quito´s downtown either from the Panecillo or Itchimbia Hills while you drink a traditional hot chocolate with fresh cheese on it, a very Ecuadorian family tradition. Finally, dine at the awarded Urko Restaurant, the only one from Quito included in the World´s 50 Best Discovery Restaurant. ¡Let the chef orchestrate a meal for you with a delightful tasting menu of the Ecuadorian flavors. Meals included: Full Board Accommodation: Quito

Today is time to visit the famous monument of the Middle of the World located in the place marked as the 0o0’0” as well as the Intiñan Museum. For lunch, enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian meal at a hacienda where a local brewery is located. After this introduction to the Ecuadorian beer and culture, it´s time to discover the mystic Mishke liquor from the Agave while you taste its different variation. To finish today´s journey, you will visit one of the best workshops of an international award-winning Ecuadorian chocolate factory. At night, be prepared to let your senses be delighted with the tasting menu at another high-class restaurant of Quito. For some, the best restaurant in the city. | Accommodation: Hotel in Quito | Meals included: Full board

Continuing the journey along the Andes region, it is time to visit the biggest indigenous market of South America, Otavalo. On the way, we will stop at an ancient Hacienda that represents the French Neoclassic style and built by the same Jesuist order that built La Compañía Church in Quito. Here, you will be able to taste the traditional biscuit “bizcocho” that represents the region of Cayambe, traditionally served with Cottage cheese. This stop is also ideal for visiting the family´s rose plantation and understand why Ecuadorian roses are so famous! Continuing, at the Otavalo Market, a picturesque artisanal market, you will see local indigenous bringing and wearing their colorful fabrics, traditional hats, warm clothes as well as having a wide variety of souvenirs for visitors. After walking along with the street vendors, and purchasing some artisanal souvenirs, you will have lunch at the exclusive Hotel Otavalo which will offer you a gourmet taste of the traditional cuisine of Ecuador. On our way back to Quito, we will visit a chocolate and coffee factory. After your arrival, end your day dining at a novel Restaurant in Quito lead by a team of Ecuadorian chefs trained abroad and focused on enhancing the local gastronomy through innovative culinary techniques. | Accommodation: Hotel in Quito | Meals included: Full Board

One of the best ways to understand the local culture and way of life is by visiting a local farmer´s market, and that´s what you will experience today in traditional Andes market! After the visit, you will go to a local hacienda where the chef and his team will prepare a fresh brunch with many of the traditional ingredients bought at the market. Immediately after brunch, hit the road to the South of the Andes cordillera, named as the “Avenue of Volcanoes” on the way to the Cotopaxi Volcano. If the weather allows it, you will be able to spot it from the road. This beautiful snowcapped volcano is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Here, you will walk along the Limpiopungo Lagoon at the foothill of the volcano, and, if the weather condition allows it, you can climb to the refuge at 4800 meters high (15748 ft). For dinner enjoy a home-cooked meal with Andean ingredients and an astonishing backdrop from the volcano at your chosen farmhouse. | Accommodation: Hotel in Quito | Meals included: Full board

After an early breakfast, continue down to the southern Andean mountains. On the way your guide will suggest you some traditional delicacies that are offered by local people on the highway. Arrive at Baños de Agua Santa and visit the avenue of the cascades until you reach the powerful “Pailón del Diablo”, an impressive waterfall that will take your breath away. Enjoy lunch at Café del Cielo with an outstanding view from Baños. In the afternoon, visit the swing at the end of the world for the best view of the Tungurahua volcano. Moving on, the itinerary continues to Riobamba. This small city is located right at the heart of Ecuador. You will be staying in one of the beautiful haciendas well known for their rustic charm and delicious food. Dinner will be served at the selected Hacienda. | Accommodation: Local Hacienda | Meals included: Full board

Wake up really early in the morning, in order to catch the train that will take you to the Devil’s Nose. During the ride, grasp the colorful beauty of the ancestral Quinua crops: green, yellow, red, purple. Here you will be able to admire the Chimborazo volcano. Ecuador’s train took many years to build, especially because of its complicated topography. It connected the Coast with the Andes region, becoming an important icon of engineering at the time. The “Devil’s Nose” has a zig-zag road to descend the mountains and where the train needs to maneuver back and forward. It’s a breathtaking journey! Continue the itinerary, you´ll visit the fascinating ruins of Ingapirca, the largest Cañari-Inca ruins in Ecuador. Spend some time exploring before you go to Cuenca city. Cuenca, known as the Athens of Ecuador. After your check-in at your hotel, you will dine in a fabulous and charming restaurant focused on Ecuadorian and international cuisine: El Mercado. | Accommodation: Hotel in Cuenca | Meals included: Full board

After breakfast, enjoy a private tour across the beautiful cobblestone city of Cuenca while you discover its traditional flavors. Visit the Plaza San Francisco, surrounded by handicraft shops and where you can find for sale the delicately embroidered skirts of the Cholas. During this walk enjoy the famous pork ham sandwich of “Doña Piedad” a classic hole in the whole loved by locals. Discover the flower market at the small plaza in front of the stunning El Carmen de la Asunción church. From here, head to the main square where you will find the blue-domed Cathedral, the Court of Justin, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace and the Church of El Sagrario. During the tour you will also have the opportunity to try the delicious sweets that are prepared for the Corpus Christy festivities and that have become an obligated a stop. For lunch, visit one of Ecuador’s most acclaimed restaurants, for a real gastronomic experience: Los Tiestos. Its name means clay-pots, that is actually where they served on the food. Tiestos are accompanied with different sauces served on multiple small pots. The challenge here is to choose what´s your favorite sauce. After lunch, drive up to the hill of Turi to admire the city and learn more about Cuenca’s geography and history. On the way back, visit the ceramic shop of Vega. Then explore a museum and a workshop where the straw toquilla hats are made mostly known as Panama hats. Before you get back to your hotel, we will stop at the traditional Don Bosco Avenue: more than 5 blocks where you will find all the traditional street food that Cuenca has to offer. You will be able to try “cascaritas” (crunchy pork peel), mote pillo (hominy with scrambled eggs) and other pig preparations such as “hornado” and “fritada.” For dinner, enjoy a delicious farewell dinner in one of the top-rated restaurants of Cuenca and Ecuador; very well-known for its ecuadorian author cuisine. | Accommodation: Hotel in Cuenca | Meals included: Full board

After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel for transferring to Cuenca´s airport and taking the domestic flight back to Quito, from where you can connect to your international flight. We hope you enjoy a complete, immersive and authentic culinary experience through the country of the middle the world! | Meals included: Breakfast