Private Tour Highlights
- Learn about all the different species of fruits and vegetables that are grown in the country and why the food is so varied
- Enjoy an explanation among of the different species and plants that are utilized by Ecuadorians for cooking
- Visit the famous Indian Market to find traditional crafts and textiles that are handmade
- Take a ride on the Devil's Nose Train, the most difficult railway in the world, working down the zigzag-carved railway
- Savor some of the country's most fantastic flavors with the incredible variety of ingredients that are offered
- Be delighted with Ecuadorian chocolate while listening to an explanation over the finest cacao grain in the world, the Ecuadorian Cacao
Tour Overview
Allow Ecuador’s immense flavors dance across your pallet while exploring The Flavors of the Andes! When traveling abroad, there is nothing better than savoring the local dishes and ingredients and tasting something that you have never experienced before. While relishing the traditional gastronomy of Ecuador, you will learn about the country’s delicious history and partake in some of the region’s most unique cultural experiences.
With the country’s cultural and physical diversity, you will be in a state of awe with the many assortments of exotic fruits that you never even knew existed, local vegetables including a wide array of potatoes and proteins of many varieties. Consume delightful foods such as “Locro de Papa”, a classic Ecuadorian soup, and sink your teeth into the Andes’ local specialty of Cuy, a morsel that won’t be forgotten!
The Flavors of the Andes tour of Ecuador is a foodie’s dream that one must experience to be truly submerged in Andean culture. Take a bite out of life and discuss your next gastronomical vacation experience with one of our specialized travel consultants!
Inclusions
Exclusions
International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.
Package Price: From £$ 4854
Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.
Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.
Trip Type:
All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!
Tour Itinerary
Welcome to Quito
Upon arrival, be met by a private guide at the airport, and transfer to the selected hotel in Quito to spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Upon arrival, be met by a private guide at the airport, and transfer to the selected hotel in Quito to spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Gastronomic tour of Quito
After read more...
After breakfast, be met at the hotel and transfer to one of the most traditional markets in the city of Quito; Yampu travelers will have the opportunity to learn about all the different species of fruits and vegetables that are grown in the country and why the food is so varied. After this, proceed to the old city and arrive in "Calle la Ronda", known for its rich history, visitors will encounter an amazing experience at the different Gastronomical stations.
The first station will be the Gastronomic capsule; here, enjoy an explanation among of the different species and plants that are utilized by Ecuadorians for cooking. There is an optional opportunity to mix different species and create an infusion. Next, travelers will have the chance to be delighted with Ecuadorian chocolate while listening to an explanation over the finest cacao grain in the world, the Ecuadorian Cacao. Check out the traditional "Helados de Paila", made using glacier ice, prepared in a Paila (copper pan) with typical flavors or tropical fruits only found in Ecuador.
Later, walk into the independence square and be amazed by the surrounding architecture. Take in the imposing churches with a mixture of gothic and baroque art from the ages of the colonialism in the city. Proceed to try out the traditional "Rosero Quiteno" a traditional beverage, then try out the "Empanadas de Morocho" and in the afternoon, take some time to relax and enjoy Quito. ...read less
Cayambe - Otavalo Market - Atuntaki- Quito
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Early in the morning, on the way north to Imbabura province, the province of lakes, make a quick stop in Cayambe where visitors will try out the traditional "Bizcochos and Queso de Hoja". Bizcochos made from a mix of wheat flour flower, vegetable shortening, butter, yeast, salt, and water indeed is the gastronomical face of Cayambe. Continue to Otavalo and visit the famous Indian Market to find traditional crafts and textiles that are handmade here. Continue on to Atuntaki, experience the gastronomic highlight of the day- traditional fried pork. In the afternoon, return to Quito for the rest of the day at leisure. ...read less
Cotopaxi National Park- Limpiopungo Lake - San Agustin del Callo- Riobamba
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After breakfast, head South along the Pan-American Highway until reaching Cotopaxi National Park. Drive on a third-class road through a pine forest to Limpiopungo Lake, situated 3,800 meters above sea level, along the slopes of the magnificent Cotopaxi volcano. For Lunch, continue to hacienda San Agustin del Callo to enjoy a delicious "Locro de Papa", a classic Ecuadorian potato and cheese soup. Soups are very popular in Ecuador and usually served with most meals. They are one of the best tasting dishes you can find. Continue to Riobamba for accommodation. ...read less
Alausi - Devil's Nose - Azogues - Cuenca
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Very early in the morning, after breakfast, head out to Alausi for the famous train ride at the well-known Devil's Nose. Due to the land topography, this train portion is a masterpiece of railway engineering, commonly named "the most difficult railway in the world". The descent is not an ordinary one; start the ride at an altitude of 2,346 meters and descend to 1,860 meters in just 30 minutes in a zigzag-carved railway. Continue your trip to Azogues to try out the typical "Cascaritas" this is a well-known place where national and international tourists come to relish in this culinary delight. Continue to Cuenca for overnight in selected hotel. ...read less
Cuenca - Guayaquil
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After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of the magnificent Cuenca, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage of Mankind site. After the city tour, experience one of the well-known restaurants in Cuenca serving the famous "Cuy" a local delight, and one of the most popular dishes in the Ecuadorian Gastronomy. Named after the sound it makes, cuy, or guinea pig, is a dish that many in other countries would take in as a pet, but is considered a delicacy in many South American countries. After this, transfer to Guayaquil for accommodation at the selected hotel. ...read less
Guayaquil - Guayaquil Airport
Early read more...
Early in the morning, head to one of the local restaurants of the city where you will be able to enjoy a typical breakfast from this area of the country. Savor a tasty Bolon which is a typical Ecuadorian breakfast served with coffee. The bolon verde consists of plantain verde and mozzarella, which is easily prepared and equally delicious. After this, enjoy a panoramic city tour of Guayaquil to visit the highlights of the city such as Malecon 2000 and the traditional "Las Penas" neighborhood. After this, transfer to the airport. ...read less
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
Riobamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador
Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador
Places You'll See
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Quito
The magnificent city of Quito is bursting with cultural, historical, and artistic character. Along with its scenic parks such as Parque La Carolina, visit its enchanting museums like the Museo del Banco Central. Take a trip to the Mitad del Mundo, or the “Middle of the World”, where the first measurements to prove the earth was round, were taken.
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Riobamba
One of the stops along the Pan-American-Highway is the scenic Riobamba. One cannot miss the views of the surrounding mountain ranges including Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. Visit the local art museums and its neoclassical basilica, Parque La Libertad, to absorb the areas culture and history.
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Cuenca
Well known for its stunning and historical architecture, Cuenca is a City that holds a great amount of history. Visit the historic center of the city that has been named a UNESCO Heritage Site with its historical structures. Take a tour of The Ruins of the former Inca Empire, Ingapirca, and learn of these ancient people.
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Guayaquil
Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, has a continuously growing theater and art scene due to the local universities nearby. Walk the nation’s main port and purchase some handmade goods while capering through the local markets.
Media Gallery
Hotel Options
4 Star Properties
La Casona de la Ronda
Quito , ECUADOR
La Casona de la Ronda is a delightful, authentic Spanish Colonial style boutique hotel with a gentle, calming feel built in an old 1738 Mansion. The rooms are attractively decorated beyond your expectations featuring hand carved furniture by local master craftsmen, polished fine wood flooring, spacious and comfortable with a deluge shower in the bathroom. Even though it is an old “La Casona” it offers modern services us as free Wi-Fi, a full service restaurant, a buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch and dinner, and room service available.
Hotel Carlota Quito
Quito , ECUADOR
CARLOTA is a boutique hotel in a renovated historical house within the Historic district of Quito. The house was built at the turn of the century circa 1905. In 1966 Doña Carlota Echeverría de Moreno acquired this house, which would be her home and her family’s for over 40 years.
CARLOTA began in 2011, with the intent of preserving a historical landmark of great value to the city and to Doña Carlota. At the same time the hotel aims to contribute to the city with an intimate, exclusive and innovative hospitality proposal that will enrich what the historic district has to offer.
UNESCO declared Quito’s Historic District a “World Heritage Site” in 1978. The National Government and Municipio de Quito have taken actions to recover the historic district and to turn it into the most important tourist destination in Ecuador and in Latin America. The city of Quito has been distinguished as best tourist destination in Latin America for the last three consecutive years (2013-2016).
Chimborazo Lodge
Riobamba , ECUADOR
Located on the foothill of Chimborazo Volcano, Chimborazo Lodge offers rooms with heating in Chimborazo Natural reserve. There is a restaurant, and free parking is provided. Riobamba is 22.4 miles away.
Decorated with wooden gabled roofs, rooms at Chimborazo Lodge offer mountain views. All of them have shared bathroom facilities.
Breakfast and dinner are served daily. International dishes can be ordered at the property’s restaurant.
Chimborazo Lodge is the only property located within the reserve. Ambato is 49.7 miles away.
Hotel Victoria
Cuenca , ECUADOR
The Hotel Victoria is a first class hotel located in the ravine of the city of Cuenca, on the River Tomebamba. Its face is a beautiful mixture of bourgeois aristocrat construction, and the brick and marble interior is decorated with typical elements of the culture. The rooms have large windows, overlooking the beautiful garden and city, which keep them brightly lit. They are decorated with stylish furnishings and are equipped with cable TVs and private bathrooms. The Garden Restaurant offers some of the best cuisine in the country, the back garden offers peace and tranquility with breathtaking views, and El Barril bar serves more than 100 labels of wine and specialty cocktails.
Unipark Guayaquil
Guayaquil , ECUADOR
Experience our passion for Ecuadorian hospitality at Unipark Hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Situated on the famous Seminario Park, with its many friendly and enchanting iguanas, we provide a welcome retreat with on-site restaurants and 140 beautifully appointed rooms at our Guayaquil hotel.
Guayaquil : Palace Hotel Guayaquil
Palace Hotel Guayaquil
Guayaquil , ECUADOR
Considered Patrimonial Building for its architecture, the Palace Hotel is a benchmark of Guayaquil Hospitality industry, which gives traditional experiences with personalized and impeccable service and high-quality standards.
The Palace Hotel is the perfect setting to discover Guayaquil and its identity from the city center.
The essence of the Hotel Palace, its history, authenticity, and the cordiality of its staff members make those who visit it remember it as a memorable experience.
5 Star Properties
Hotel Mama Cuchara
Quito , ECUADOR
Situated in the best-preserved, least altered historic center of UNESCO’s world heritage sites in Latin America – the Historical Center of Quito – Hotel Mama Cuchara enjoys an ideal location among the hotels in Quito’s historic center, a walkable distance from the Plaza Santo Domingo, La Ronda, and many of the city’s most popular historical sites.
Faithful to the Art Hotels brand concept, Hotel Mama Cuchara indulges the keen traveler with a private collection of art complemented by rotating exhibits of various Ecuadorian artists. Proceeds from sales of art directly benefit the artists and their community.
Hotel Mama Cuchara breathes new life into the Historic Center of Quito, linking the service and design of Art Hotels Ecuador’s brand with the Historic Center’s charm.
Within all of our properties, the ethos is the same—to passionately and authentically mix old with new and create an artistic, creative approach to luxury hospitality.
Illa Experience Hotel
Quito , ECUADOR
Hotel Illa offers a unique cultural experience for guests in Quito’s warmest and most welcoming traditional neighborhood. Something beyond bricks and mortar, beds and breakfasts. For generations, San Marcos has been home to artists, writers and musicians. Its present-day charm owes much to the tight-knit community of residents. It’s the perfect setting for our experience hotel.
Riobamba : Hacienda Abraspungo
Hacienda Abraspungo
Riobamba , ECUADOR
The wonderful Hacienda Abraspungo is located at 2,754 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the magnificence of the Ecuadorian Andes. Hotel Hacienda Abraspungo Riobamba Ecuador has 38 comfortable rooms that are unique by each bearing the name of a different mountain in Ecuador. They are furnished and equipped to meet all customer needs, making them a perfect place to relax, and have direct access to beautiful gardens. The Novoandina kitchen of Abraspungo creates special dishes, mixing culinary gourmet techniques with local flavors.
Santa Lucia
Cuenca , ECUADOR
Hotel Santa Lucia is a beautiful colonial hotel located in the center of Cuenca. Just two street blocks from the central park, it has twenty exquisite decorated rooms. Each room is different from each other and they have all the comfort of a modern style room. Inside the hotel there are three restaurants considered some of the best restaurants of the city, serving regional and international cuisine. The rooms showcase Baroque influences and generate a regal atmosphere, and are equipped with Cable TV, minibars, and work desks. Guests can also enjoy a daily buffet style breakfast.
San Juan Hotel
Cuenca , ECUADOR
San Juan Hotel is a large historic home converted to a luxury Hotel with a charming environment offering the pleasure of resting in old colonial style. San Juan offers 25 colonial style rooms, fully equipped with flat screen TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms. There is free Wi-Fi accessible throughout the hotel, a quiet reading area, a cozy relaxation area, and a full American style breakfast, served daily, providing juices, fruits, and eggs. There is also an onsite restaurant and café, serving traditional dishes from Cuenca, prepared using the freshest produce of the region.
Oro Verde
Guayaquil , ECUADOR
Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil, offers an exquisite combination of European experience and Ecuadorian hospitality. The full-service, downtown hotel offers the ultimate in sophistication and comfort for business and leisure travelers alike. The 236 rooms and suites, recently refurbished, have all the services one can expect from a world class hotel. High speed Wi-Fi Internet, 300 thread sheets, mini bar with complimentary soft drinks, coffee maker and electric kettle in your room are some of the amenities we have for guests. There are also several choices of cuisine.
Luxury Properties
Casa Gangotena
Quito , ECUADOR
Situated in a newly-restored historic mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco, the three-story Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel in Quito harbors 31 rooms, a showcase of eye-catching style, a fine mix of classic architecture, contemporary interior design, antiques, fine furnishings, modern technology and quintessential comforts. Beautifully and eclectically-appointed, the hotel invites its guests to explore and relax, whether in its dining room, at the glassed-in patio, in the garden redolent with the perfume of native flowers, at the elegant indoors Sitting Room by the patio or atop its panoramic third-floor terrace.
Cruz del Vado
Cuenca , ECUADOR
Hotel Del Parque
Guayaquil , ECUADOR
Hotel del Parque is a boutique, an unforgettable experience of history and elegance. Set in a tropical oasis caught in time, we are perfectly placed within the affluent Samborondón neighborhood, from where you’ll begin your Ecuadorian adventure.
Our historic 19th century property offers refreshing sophistication. Here you’ll find Ecuadorian furnishings in cooling hues, impressive marble bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and room service, plus minibars and full air conditioning.
During your stay, you’ll dine on fresh seafood in the refined, waterfront restaurant, or enjoy a massage or beauty treatments in a unique setting within the wood-beamed bell tower of the original restored chapel. Enhance your experience with cultural encounters such as chocolate tasting, coffee roasting and wildlife walks in the stunning tropical grounds.
Guayaquil : Hacienda La Danesa
Hacienda La Danesa
Guayaquil , ECUADOR
The hacienda is the place where we reconnect with the things that really matter. We are a family-owned working hacienda that produces tree-to-bar handmade chocolate, dulce de leche, honey and other farm-fresh products. It is also a space that fosters creativity in all its forms. We design and produce our own furniture and decor. On our free time, we like to go horse riding.
Testimonials
Dan
Traveled October, 2015
Yampu did a very good job of planning
Our guides were professional, knowledgeable, and personally warm. Our Cusco guide did an especially good job of bringing the Andean culture alive. Drivers were all punctual, friendly, safe and ready to be helpful when necessary. Yampu did a very good job of planning: hotels, guides, drivers, restaurants, and tours.
Thanks again to you and your colleagues for doing such a good job of handling all the arrangements!
Traveled To
Corinne H.
Traveled July, 2016
Yampu made this trip incredible!
Every guide has been amazing. Very knowledgeable about the country and all spoke great English, which made it easy. All drivers were friendly, amazing drivers! Yampu got us into the right hotels, loved them all. There has not been one glitch on our trip. The whole trip was wonderful thanks to Yampu.
Traveled To
Linda
Traveled May, 2014
Yampu Tours planned an amazing trip for our inaugural South America experience
Yampu Tours planned an amazing trip for our inaugural south-america experience. We wanted to cover 6 countries in one month so it would have been a nightmare if we had to plan it ourselves from Asia. Karolina from Yampu put together a great itinerary and gave great advice. She was also extremely patient when we wanted to change things around. All the planning happened over email super efficient. We were very pleased with the accommodation choices, activities planned and the quality of the local tour guides. Thanks again!
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