zCuenca

Upon arrival in Cuenca, set at an altitude of 8,300 feet and surrounded by towering peaks, you’ll be warmly greeted by your personal guide to begin your exploration of town. Your private tour of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes the impressive Colonial-era Cathedral and lovely Calderon Park. At a bustling factory, you can observe the elaborate process that produces the world-famous Panama hat! Next up is the Modern Art Museum and lunch in a popular city restaurant. Browse the artisan stalls in the Rotary Plaza and peruse a fascinating exhibit on Ecuadorean culture at the Central Bank Museum. End your tour at Mirador de Turi, a scenic overlook with sweeping views across the red roofs and church domes of the city – all set against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Overnight at the inviting Swissotel Quito, a comfortably elegant retreat close to Calderon Park in the heart of the city. Meals, L

Customize your stay in Cuenca with one of these full-day private sightseeing tours including lunch:
• Gualaceo & Chordeleg Villages: Enjoy this scenic excursion to two small villages outside of Cuenca. In a lovely Andean valley, Gualaceo is renowned throughout Ecuador for the skill of its textile artisans. Using ancient techniques of weaving and dying, villagers produce colorful and beautifully woven cotton textiles known as “macanas.” In Chordeleg, you’ll find artisans producing some of the Continent’s finest gold and silver jewelry. This exploration into the arts and culture of southern Ecuador is capped off with spectacular views as you make your way back to Cuenca.
• Cajas National Park: Less than an hour’s drive from town, you’ll be mesmerized by the lagoons and lakes of Cajas National Park. Join your private guide for a short forest walk in the Park, a marvelous introduction to the unique flora and fauna of the region. Enjoy lunch at the Dos Chorreras Restaurant, located inside the National Park, before returning to your hotel in Cuenca.
• Ingapirca: You’ll have the opportunity to visit a local village market before exploring the mighty ruins of Ingapirca – which translates to “Wall of the Inca.” This is one of South America’s most important archaeological sites. Originally constructed as a resting point for Inca messengers, it eventually grew to become a mighty military base for the Inca Empire. It remained a thriving center of Inca power until the arrival of the Spanish.
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Your journey with us ends this morning after breakfast. Meals B