Today, we will begin our tour of the city of Quito (pronounced: ´kito).  Quito is the capital city of Ecuador.  At an elevation of 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito is the highest official capital city in the world.  With a population of over 2,200,000 people, Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil.   In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations.

The historic center of Quito has one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas. Quito, along with Kraków, were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978. The central square of Quito is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of the equator; the city itself extends to within 1 kilometre (0.62 mile) of zero latitude. A monument and museum marking the general location of the equator is known locally as la mitad del mundo (the middle of the world), which we will visit today. Quito has a subtropical-highland climate.  Because of its elevation and its proximity to the equator, Quito has a fairly constant cool climate. The average temperature at noon is 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) with a normal night-time low of 9.3 °C (48.7 °F).  The city experiences only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season, June through September (4 months), is referred to as summer; the wet season, October through May (8 months), is referred to as winter. Quito’s airport, named Mariscal Sucre International Airport, is the busiest airport in Ecuador and one of the busiest in South America

Accommodation:   Hotel Dann Carlton  or Similar ****

Meals:  Breakfast 

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GOING TO OTAVALO

We will leave Quito City today, and then we will head to the city of Otavalo to visit the famous Otavalo Indian Market. Later on we will visit one of the most famous areas to relocate in the Andes known as Cotacachi or Leather Town.

Cotacachi, also known as ‘Leather Town’, is truly a mountain paradise, offering a year-round moderate climate, small town charm, fresh mountain vistas and a wealth of organic produce.  While life in this artisan mountain town can be a little on the quiet side for some, large town amenities are just a 30 minute drive away, making Cotacachi an increasingly attractive destination for retirees.  In the past few years, Cotacachi, just a two-hour drive north of Quito in the Ecuador Andes, has become increasingly popular with expats, especially those of retirement age. Even though Cotacachi is only 30 miles from the equator, the elevation is 7,800 feet, which makes for low humidity and a wonderful, mild climate all year round. It is a great place to meet Expats living there for a long time. Finally we will drive back to Quito for overnight.

Accommodation:   Hotel Dann Carlton or Similar ***

Meals:  Breakfast

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On this day we will continue with our Premiun Ecuador Relocation Tour ,going to the coastal area to see other intresting places for expats. This drive is a fantastic way to see the countryside from the Andes to the flatlands. Upon arrival in Manta , we will show you some locations where expats live and ussually go. The beach and Murcielago malecon are part of the tour at the end of the Day for you to enjoy and relax.

The Coastal climate is close to a subtropical dry forest biome. The warm season lasts from February 29 to May 12 with an average daily high temperature above 87°F. The hottest day of the year is March 30, with an average high of 88°F and low of 75°F. The cold season lasts from June 18 to August 28 with an average daily high temperature below 84°F. The coldest day of the year is August 29, with an average low of 69°F and high of 84°.

Accommodation:   Hotel whynham or Similar ****

Meals:  Breakfast

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Early in the morning we will drive  to Puerto Lopez town ( 2 hours away from Manta ) Upon arrival we will take an awesome tour known as Isla de La Plata or Silver Island ( some people relate this place as mini Galapagos for the fauna diversity ) , it is one of the best places to observe humpback whales and ejoy a nice hike on the island. At the end you can also snorkel near by the island. Finally we will return to Puerto Lopez Town for overnight.

Accommodation:   Hosteria Nantu or Similar ***

Meals:  Breakfast

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Salinas is a coastal city located in the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. The western-most city on mainland Ecuador, Salinas is an important tourist center.  The city has two major yacht clubs:  the first is Salinas Yacht Club, which is a good bit smaller than the Puerto Lucia Yacht Club.  Puerto Lucia boasts a hotel, several restaurants, a private beach, and apartment block buildings, as well as the large marina and port. Salinas Beach, also known as ‘The World’s Least Expensive Beach Resort’.   Some call it a ‘little Miami’, and during high season, the beaches of Salinas are so jam packed with people that virtually every inch of sand is covered by towel, umbrella, or oil-slicked bodies. The malecon is wall-to-wall with vendors hawking everything from ice cream to eyeshades and shark-tooth earrings to shrimp on a stick.

The nearest major airport to Salinas is the airport located in Guayaquil, at 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the city’s center. The seasons in Salinas are flipped from that of the United States, in that summer is winter and winter is summer, which means that the temperature is warmer during the winter.  During the winter months (December through April), the temperature can rise to 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) during the daylight hours, and can drop to 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) during the evening hours. With this weather, who knows, Salinas may be just the place for you!

Accommodation:  Blue Bay Hotel  or Similar ***

Meals:  Breakfast

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We will drive towards to Guayaquil for a short tour to see some facilities,  so at the end  you will have gotten a full view of Ecuador’s largest city, and perhaps your future home. Once we complete our tour, we will head to the city of Cuenca  ( 4 hours drive ) , where we will spend the night and rest for the next day

Accommodation:   Victoria Hotel  or Similar ****

Meals:  Breakfast

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Cuenca City is the capital of the Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2500 meters above sea level. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site because of its many historical buildings. We elaborate more here on Cuenca than on other cities, as Cuenca has become the major retirement location for Americans. As per the last census, the population of the Cuenca canton (county) was 700,632 inhabitants. The economic development is based on industry and agricultural development. The dominant features of the city’s geography are also the source of its name in Spanish, the four rivers of Cuenca (meaning a basin made by a confluence of rivers); these four rivers are part of the Amazon River watershed. Cuenca is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with passes to the west, south and east.
Cuenca features a subtropical highland climate, and enjoys a mild climate year-round. Days are generally warm and nights are cool enough that sweaters or jackets are needed. The average daily temperature is 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius). There are two seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season, with some variation, falls between June and December. The rainy season, which is characterized by bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers, falls between January and May.
Cuenca Ecuador is the city of choice for those people who’d dreamed of living smack in the middle of Paris, Barcelona, or Sienna (or even Manhattan or San Francisco, for that matter) within walking distance of historical, beautiful architecture, culture, and food — at a price that’s affordable for someone needing more living space than a studio apartment. In fact when Ecuadorians live overseas, whether in the US or Europe, they typically return to Cuenca, regardless of where they grew up in Ecuador, when they come back.

Accommodation: Hotel Victoria  or Similar ****

Meals:  Breakfast

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After breakfast , it is time to continue enjoying the Andes !!!  we will drive towards to Loja City ( the last city in the south the Ecuadorian Andes ) as people say there if you havent seeing Loja – you dont know Ecuador…. Upon Arrival , we will walk around the City visiting some intresting places such as: San Francisco Church , Main Square , the City Musuem & The City Gate. Then we can grab something to eat along the way towards to Vilcabamba Valley. Finally , the rest of the afternoon , you can relax at the hotel pool or just walk around the Hotel Garden.

This is a great opportunity  to make a comparison about all visited places , since next day is our return back to Quito.

Accommodation: Hosteria Vilcabamba  or Similar ***

Meals:  Breakfast

We have confirmed Departs any day on 2024   JUST CONTACT US , WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU