Follow the footsteps of Simon Bolivar                                                                        

13 days/12 nights From Bogota/to Guayaquil Immerse yourself in the fascinating culture and nature of Colombia and Ecuador. Follow the footsteps of Simón Bolívar as you discover the history of the Spanish conquistadors and their colonial cities.

Simón Bolívar (also called El Libertador—the Liberator) led the South American fight for independence against the Spanish colonial rulers in Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Bogota
Arrival in Bogota. You will be met by the local travel guide and transported to your hotel in the old city center of Bogota. (-/-/-)

Day 2: Sightseeing Tour of Bogota and Zipaquira
Tour of the capital, including “Plaza de Bolivar,” government building, “La Candelaria,” “San Francisco,” “Museo de Oro,” cable car ride to Monserrate Mountain. In the afternoon, excursion to the salt cathedral of Zipaquira. (B/-/-)

Day 3: Bogota—Tierradentro  Flight from Bogota to Neiva. Car ride to San Andres de Pisimbala. In the afternoon, tour of the archaeological park of Tierradentro with its caves and burial chambers, followed by a visit to the archaeological and anthropological museum of Tierradentro. (B/-/-)

Day 4: Tierradentro — San Agustin
Hike to the top of “AguaKate” Mountain, where you will have a spectacular view. Car drive to San Agustin (approximately 6 hours). Visit to the archaeological park. Attractions include Mesitas A, B, C, and D with more than 35 statues, the “Fuente Ceremonial y Alto de Lavapatas,” “El Bosque de las Estatuas“ (the forest of statues), and the archaeological museum. Arrival in San Agustin. (B/-/-)

Day 5: San Agustin Drive to the village of Isnos and then to “Estrecho del Rio Magdalena,” a canyon forged by the country’s longest river, the Rio Magdalena. You continue on, via Obando, to the archaeological park of “Alto de los Idolos” and “Alto de las Piedras” with its majestic waterfalls “El Salto de Bordones” and “El Salto de Mortino”. Return to San Agustin later in the afternoon. (B/-/-)

Day 6: San Agustin — Popayan
Spectacular drive from San Agustin via Coconuco to Popayan, one of the most attractive colonial towns in all of South America. Furthermore, arrival at the hotel. In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of the city, built in 1537, with its beautiful churches and museums. (B/-/-)

Day 7: Popayan — Ecuadorian frontier — Tulcan — El Angel
Drive via Pastos and Ipiales to the Ecuadorian border, where there will be a change in tour guides. Brief stop in Tulcan, the coldest town in Ecuador, followed by a tour of the city cemetery with its artfully pruned cypress trees. In the late afternoon, you arrive at the ecological reserve of El Angel. (B/-/-)

Day 8: El Angel — Otavalo — Quito Hike at the El Angel Reserve, which consists of a dense, moss-covered polylepis forest. Your drive continues along the “Avenue of Lakes” to Otavalo, where you will be able to visit the most important indigenous market in South America at “Plaza del los Ponchos.”  Continue on to Quito. (B/-/-).*Optional: Instead of Otavalo, you may visit the Cuicocha lagoon and go for a boat ride on the lake.

Day 9: City tour Quito and Equator Monument “Mitad del Mundo”
Today you will go on a sightseeing tour of the old city center of Quito Your tour starts at Plaza Grande, passes the presidential palace, the churches El Sagrario and La Companía, the plazas of Santo Domingo, La Merced and San Francisco. Later on you visit the Equator Monument “Mitad del Mundo” and the museum “Inti Ñan” (B/-/-)

Day 10: Quito — Cotopaxi National Park — Riobamba
Excursion to Cotopaxi National Park. A hike through the plain of Limpiopungo (3.810 m / 12,500 ft) will help you adjust to the high altitude. Optional you can climb up to the Refugio at 4.800 m / 15,750 ft. In the late afternoon, you arrive in Riobamba. (B/-/-)

Day 11: Riobamba — Ingapirca — Cuenca
Early in the morning, you embark on the most exciting train ride in all of South America called the Devil’s Nose (Nariz del Diablo), followed by a car ride to Ingapirca to visit the largest Inca ruins in Ecuador. Arrival in Cuenca in late afternoon. (B/-/-)

Day 12: Cuenca — Cajas National Park — Guayaquil  Tour of the colonial city of Cuenca. The boardwalk along Rio Tomebamba, the  impressive cathedral, the daily market and the colorful flower market are among the highlights of this tour. In the afternoon, you take a ride through Cajas National Park before continuing on towards the coast. Arrival in Guayaquil. (B/-/-)

Day 13: Transportation to the Guayaquil airport and flight home, or one of the add-on programs: “Ruta del Sol”, City Tour Guayaquil, or flight to Baltra to visit the Galapagos Islands. We would be glad to advise you on these additional options. (B/-/-) 

 
Services:

• Travel arrangements as described, with private transportation
• Qualified English- or German-speaking guide
• Accommodations at good comfort-class hotels
• Meals as described in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, BL=Box Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Admission fees
• Train ticket
• Flight ticket from Bogota to Neiva

Non-included services:

• Not specified meals and beverages
• Tips and personal expenses

Please be advised: Services listed in the itinerary may be subject to change due to  organizational or climate factors.

 
Rates:

Minimum number of participants: 2

Colombia and Ecuador, 13 days/12 nights

All rates are in USD and per person, in double room accommodation.

Subject to change. Prices may be higher on national holidays.