ECUADORPERUQuito.Otavalo.Riobamba.Guayaquil..Alausí.Cuenca91Essentials Climate There are two main seasons, wet and dry. On the Pacific coast, January?April is hot and humid; the highlands are dry and cool between June and September with the very rainy season in the jungle from April?June. Quito, at 2,580m can have four seasons in one day.Festivals Fiesta de San Juan, (Otavalo 23?24 June). Virgen de las Mercedes, (Latacunga 23?24 September). Dia de Quito (6 December). Travelling from UK Time difference (GMT) -5hrs Travel time 17hrsHighlights of Andean Ecuador 13 days, 11 nightsQuito 2 nights, Otavalo 2n, Quito 1n, Patate 1n, Riobamba 1n, Cuenca 2n, Guayaquil 2n.Day 1 Fly from the UK to Quito. Day 2 Tour of the colonial centre and museums. Day 3 Drive north through rolling hills and pastures to Otavalo. Visit San Antonio de Ibarra, a colonial town known for its woodcarvings. Day 4 Explore Otavalo market, a dazzling labyrinth of colourful textiles and jewellery. Visit Peguche where textiles are woven on old-fashioned shuttle looms. Day 5 Visit Cuicocha crater lake and the nearby town of Cotacachi, dedicated to selling fine leather goods. Return to Quito. Day 6 Head south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park en route to Patate, overnight at the historical Hacienda Leito. Day 7 A breathtaking drive along the gorge of the Rio Pastaza to the town of Baños, set at the foot of Tungurahua Volcano. Visit the town and thunderous waterfalls nearby. Continue to Riobamba for 1 night. Day 8 Visit the Museum of the Conceptas, housing one of the most important collections of religious art in Latin America. Depart Riobamba for Cuenca for a two-night stay. Stop en route at a community-run llama museum, the Inti Sisa educational centre and Inca fortress of Ingapirca. Day 9 Tour of colonial Cuenca, Ecuador's most elegant city with many fine marble buildings. Day 10 Full day trip into Las Cajas high altitude national park, a rugged wilderness of grasslands peppered with glittering lakes. Descend from the chilly Andes to the balmy tropical climate of the Pacific coast. Day 11 Tour of the effervescent port of Guayaquil, including a stroll along the magnificent riverside malecón. Day 12 Fly to the UK, arriving day 13.Prices from £1,958pp (standard); £2,283pp (superior) based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights. Regular departures from the UK 5THE GALÁPAGOS ARCHIPELAGOThis paradise of volcanoes, twisted lava,deserted beaches and prolific wildlifeforms part of Ecuador's national territory (pp102-111).4THE AMAZON BASINThis is an area of relatively untouched biodiversity. In spite of its easy accessibility-by road as well as by air-from the country's principal upland towns, tourism is fairly new to this area and has been developed sensitively.3the northern andean highlandsQuito, the capital, sits high in a mountain bowl. The hills and valleys to the north offer a gentle pastoral contrast to this busy city, with villages specialising in traditional crafts. 2 hours' drive from Quito, the Mindo cloud forest is alive with observable bird-life.020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information how about?» Cruising Ecuador's most celebrated attraction, the Galápagos Islands (pp102-111). » Exploring the recently opened-up Pacific Coast (p96). » A couple of days at the thermal spa at Papallacta, with its rural valley location crouched between two volcanoes 2hrs north-east of Quito. Avenue of the Volcanoes? this was a fantastic tour! AT, Worcester Park50 Miles100 KMTROPICISTOCKPHOTO.COMSHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Avenue of the Volcanoes and the south South of Quito, a road follows the Avenue of the Volcanoes through a rich landscape of forest and mountains with a fantastic view of Cotopaxi volcano. The valley is dotted with a mix of indigenous and colonial settlements with cottage industries and small-scale agriculture. South-east from the capital, there's an equally scenic journey through the high Andes descending towards the Amazonian jungles of the Oriente?via the hot springs at Papallacta in the cloud forest?with a number of jungle lodges. Drive down the Avenue of the Volcanoes on a day trip from Quito, or travel at a more leisurely pace staying at one of several old estates where the grandiose buildings?harking back to a more opulent past?have been converted into authentic countryside hotels from which you can visit local markets and villages.On the fringes of Cotopaxi National Park Hacienda La Ciénega is a grand place in well kept gardens with giant eucalyptus trees and fountains, built in 1670 for one of the most powerful families in Ecuador. Hacienda San Agustín, within sight of the perfect cone volcano Cotopaxi, was built on the site of an important Inca Palace: this family home has been converted into a small and very exclusive hotel with a homely, country house ambience.Further south, from Riobamba you can travel by a combination of rail and road to Alausí, with views of the Devil's Nose switchback on a virtually vertical cliff. Continue by road to Cuenca via the Inca ruins at Ingapirca. This is a laid-back, gracious colonial city, where you can stay in style at the central Mansión Alcázar, a restored colonial mansion house. From Cuenca, take an excursion to the high altitude Las Cajas National Park, with its translucent glacial lakes.The road southeast of Quito follows the highpáramo moorland above the tree-line of the ecological reserve of Cayambe-Coca. Pass the towering, snow-draped volcano, Antisana. In the foothills there's a popular spa hotel, Papallacta, with inviting crystalline thermal springs and pools and nearby walking trails.92 EcuadorMt Chimborazo (6,310m).METROPOLITAN TOURING