This is a special tour for people who want to know what it's like to live in Ecuador, especially in Quito or cities in the Ecuadorian Andes that are attractive to foreigners such as Cuenca, Cotacachi or Vilcabamba.
During this time I will show you the most interesting aspects of this city in terms of organization, culture, history, mobility and commerce.
We will visit the areas where foreigners like to live the most, we will go to a local market so you can learn how you can buy your groceries, especially fruits, vegetables, spices... where they are fresher, in greater variety and at cheaper prices. We will also visit a shopping center so you can get an idea of the products you can buy in Ecuador, even how to furnish your house, or how much it would cost you to buy the necessary appliances.
We will teach you how to take a taxi, how to use public transportation and even how to go from one side of the city to the other on the subway. You will be able to get an idea of how much rents cost in different neighborhoods in Quito, and during this day you will be able to ask all kinds of questions about everything you need to live in Ecuador legally.
This tour can also help you a lot if you want to settle in other cities that are attractive to expats, especially retirees, such as Cotacachi, Vilcabamba or Cuenca.
The tour depends on what you find most attractive for you and we make it according to your needs.
When you visit Quito, the capital of Ecuador, it is essential to go to the Middle of the World, the only way where you can understand better the different natural phenomena that locals are experiencing in this area of the Earth and also we will visit sites that complement this ancestral knowledge, where pre-Hispanic cultures already knew they were in the Middle of the World before they were conquered, even before the French Geodesic Mission came.
In these tours you have different choices of places that you can visit according to your interest. You can choose 4 of these 5 sites that we can visit in one day tour:
1. RUMICUCHO RUINS (Pucará de Rumicucho).
The Rumicucho Ruins are an intriguing archaeological site located near the equator and aligns with significant volcanic peaks like Cayambe and Cotopaxi. This suggests it was used for astronomical observations and possibly for rituals related to solar events
Rumicucho, meaning “stone corner” in Quechua. The site consists of five terraces built on a small hill. Each terrace had a specific purpose, ranging from residential and ceremonial uses to workshops and storage. From this place you can see different amazing landscapes that surround the fortress that is located in the middle of a canyon.
2. THE PULULAHUA VOLCANO CRATER is a fascinating and unique geological site and Geobotanical Reserve protected by the government of Ecuador. Pululahua is one of the few volcanic craters in the world that is inhabited. Several families live within the crater, primarily engaging in agriculture and livestock farming.
3. INTIÑAN (THE PATH OF THE SUN)
The Intiñan Equator Museum is a fascinating place that offers a unique blend of science,
history, and culture, all centered around the equator line.
You can participate in experiments that demonstrate the Coriolis effect, balance an egg on a nail, and observe other phenomena that occur at the equator. The museum also provides insights into the indigenous cultures of Ecuador, showcasing traditional homes and artifacts.
4. THE MUSEUM OF THE SUN by Cristóbal Ortega Maila
Is a remarkable cultural and artistic site that showcases the rich heritage and artistic
traditions of the Andes. Designed and built by the indigenous painter and sculptor
Cristóbal Ortega Maila, the temple reflects ancestral
architectural styles and is adorned with beautiful murals and sculptures.
The temple celebrates the Andean heritage, focusing on the importance of the sun in indigenous cultures. Visitors can enjoy aromatherapy sessions and learn about traditional Andean healing practices. The temple offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including the nearby Pululahua volcano crater.
5. THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD CITY (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo).
It’s a fascinating place to explore the intersection of geography, history, and culture.
The main attraction is the Monument to the Equator, which marks the approximate
location of the equatorial line. This monument commemorates the 18th-century
Franco-Spanish Geodesic Mission hat determined the Earth’s shape.
.
Inside the monument, there’s a museum showcasing the diverse cultures and indigenous peoples of Ecuador. The site features various interactive exhibits, including a planetarium, a beer & cacao museum, and a cultural plaza. You can stand with one foot in each hemisphere, experiencing the novelty of being at the center of the world.
RATES:
1 pax - $ 90
2 pax - $ 110
3 pax - $ 130
* Additional expenses paid by each tourist:
Temple of the Sun: $ 5
Intiñan Museum: $ 5
Middle of the World City: $ 5
Rumicucho Ruins: $ 2
Rates includes: Private Transportation and Tour Guide
It does not include meals.
For more information, please contact to:
Celular & WhatsApp: (593) 986 588 404
panchoguayasamin@gmail.com
I like to show you the real Ecuador, in that way this experience lasts longer in your memory and you learn more about our customs.
This tour proposes going to the Middle of the World from the place where you are staying, by public transportation. You will learn how the locals travel, how to take a bus, the trolleybus, ecovía and even the subway.
We will visit the Route of the Sun - Intiñan, a place where you will learn what it is like to be in the middle of the two hemispheres and where the exact equinoctial line passes by measuring it with GPS and then we will visit the City of the Middle of the World where you can enjoy the different activities that can be done in this place.
* Does not include transportation, meals, entrances to the Middle of the world and Intiñan.
Entrance to the Middle of the World City: $ 5 per person.
Entrance to Intiñan: $5 per person.
Approximately to go to the Middle of the World by public transportation you will expend
$ 2 per person Round Way.
For more information and reservations please contact to
Considered the best preserved historic center in all of Latin America and the first city in the world to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, we will take a walking tour of Quito's main treasures.
We start the tou r at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, then walk downhill along the traditional street of the seven crosses, until we reach the Independence Square to see the Carondelet Palace with its presidential guard. We will see the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito, the Archbishop's Palace. Then we will visit the Church of the Sagrario with its altarpieces and its magnificent screen. We will continue walking until we reach the Compañia de Jesus to see the largest expression of baroque in Latin America where all that shines is gold. Then we will continue to arrive to the San Francisco Square, if you wish we can go inside the convent to see a large exhibition of religious art made by the Quito school of arts .
Then we will go to the liberal and Bohemian part of Quito to walk along the narrow and traditional Ronda street, ending our tour at the Plaza de Santo Domingo.
In this tour also, if you want we can visit some different places as:
* I can meet you at your hotel or in the place that you stay, to take you to the place
where we will start the tour.
FARES:
For more information please contact to:
I like to show tourists the real Ecuador and a better way to get to know it is by attending the markets where locals go shopping to support our families.
Being in the Middle of the World, Ecuador is a blessed country in terms of agriculture. We can produce the best fruits and vegetables throughout the year.
That is why the cost of living for a foreigner turns out to be very cheap, especially when it comes to eating healthy.
In this tour I propose to learn more about Ecuadorian customs in terms of gastronomy, agriculture, agronomy, crafts, decoration, even traditional energy cleanses and spiritual protections.
On our tour we will visit:
The Santa Clara Market where we will see the flower area, the sale of items for energy protection, the food area and especially on the outskirts the sale of wicker furniture and traditional Ecuadorian items for decoration.
The Crafts Market, where it is not necessary to go to Otavalo to visit an indigenous market. The indigenous market has come to Quito, with the advantage that crafts and products from all over Ecuador are found here.
The central market where you can see a wide range of traditional Ecuadorian dishes, especially the famous corvina with ceviche with more than 60 years of tradition in this market.
And finally we will go to the San Francisco Market, where you will be able to experience what an energetic cleansing of the body and aura is . Our respectful women who are wise in the knowledge of ancient medicine will show you all about their knowledge.
This tour will truly remain in your memory and will be a fantastic opportunity to get to know a more real and closer Ecuador.
RATES ONLY WITH A TOUR GUIDE
1 Person - $ 60
2 Persons - $ 80
3 Persons - $ 100
4 Persons - $ 120
As it takes time to visit each market, is better to take a taxi to one place to another
Taxi fare ranges from a minimum of $2 to a maximum of $5 each way.
Near Quito we can enjoy the waterfall route in which the wonderful landscape of flora and fauna becomes one with mother nature.
CONDOR MACHAY
In Quichua its name means “Nest of the Condor”. Sometimes you can see condors flying over the waterfall. A path to travel at a good pace, leads to the site known as Cóndor Machay, which houses the powerful waterfall. During the trip, we pass a series of smaller waterfalls generated in the course of the Pita River.
During the journey we will observe beautiful and picturesque landscapes that in their highest part offer a spectacular panorama of elevations that are part of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. On a clear day we can observe the volcanoes: Pichincha, Ilaló, Cotopaxi, Sincholagua, Rumiñahui, Pasochoa, Antisana, Cayambe, Ilinizas, Atacazo, Corazón, La Viudita, Quilindaña.
While we walk along the route drawn to reach Cóndor Machay, we will also enjoy a series of waterfalls of various shapes and altitudes. The exuberant vegetation of the place, with forests of alder, pumamaquis, myrtle, achupallas, suro, cedrillo, and a variety of orchids will leave you amazed.
Species of mammals, birds and amphibians typical of the Andean region accompany you during the journey. The crystal clear waters of the river allow us to glimpse trout in their natural state. The imposing and whimsical rock shapes of the canyon invite reflection, leaving the visitor absorbed, they will leave you amazed.
LA CASCADA DEL FUEGO
This waterfall is a magical and highly energetic site considered by the shamans who live around the place. It is believed that by crossing under the waterfall and receiving the dew of its waters one can cleanse the aura.
This waterfall is approximately 60 meters high and its waters come from the melting of the Cotopaxi and Sincholagua volcanoes.
During a journey to the Firefall we will find remnants of primary and secondary forests. Some of the species present include eucalyptus, blackberries, cedars and guayacanes.
We will also observe various birds that flutter in the treetops such as blackbirds, hummingbirds and we can see foxes that beautify the environment by being part of this wonderful nature.
* Rates include private transportation and tour guide.
1 Pasajero - $ 150
2 Pasajeros - $ 180
3 Pasajeros - $ 210
4 Pasajeros - $ 240
For more information of our tours, please contact to:
