COLONIAL QUITO, PAPALLACTA TERMS “CHASKI ANTAWA” TRAIN

KTQ124

3 Days / 2 Nights
Departures: Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday

Day 1: Quito – Otavalo. The Otavalo Indigenous market is the most famous and colorful in South America. Markets are places to come together, shop, haggle and gossip, while locals trade foodstuffs, animals, utensils, pots and pans or textiles. For visitors, markets are a great way to get closer to Ecuadorians while bargaining over a sweater or a panpipe and enjoying the work of their industrious hands embodied in their diverse crafts. Then we will drive to Ibarra, enjoy a snack and the adventure will start.
The Chaski Antawa Train (messenger train) runs on the railway built at the beginning of the 20th century connecting the northern highlands to the tropical coast. From Ibarra, the train climbs down to the warm, dry valley of Ambuqui through sugarcane plantations, magical landscapes, and tunnels and crossing bridges that span canyons and gullies while enjoying a toast with champagne. The 26-km ride to Salinas plunges from 2,200 down to 1,500 meters above sea level (7,216 to 4,920 feet) in only about two hours.
Enjoy a unique lunch at Kleintours’ social project, the “Chaski Antawa Restaurant”, which is our way of helping the Valley of Salinas and its surrounding area become a tourist destination and raising the standard of living of its inhabitants. The menu was carefully selected and drawn up by the community using high quality standards. Accommodations.


Day 2: Breakfast. Departure to Papallacta. Enjoy the Andean panorama on the way, as well as the plant life of the highlands, among which the Polylepis "paper tree".
Use the spa of the hot springs. Dramatic climate and vegetation change in our trip to the Amazon Region. Accommodations.


Day 3: Papallacta - Quito “World Cultural Heritage, UNESCO, 1978”. Breakfast. Explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historic old town of the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañía and iconic San Francisco, repositories of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. Drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan. Finish the day at the "Panecillo" hill with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city.