MINDO CLOUD FOREST & THE HIDDEN TRAIN

KTQ104 - 3 Days / 2 Nights - Departures: Monday and Friday / from Quitos

Day 1: The Andean town of Otavalo is famous for its market, Lake Cuicocha for its crater, and the village of Cotacachi for its leather goods. Lunch and overnight at a traditional hacienda.
Day 2: The Chaski Antawa Train (messenger train) rides on the railroad built at the beginning of the 20th century connecting the northern highlands with the tropical coast. From Ibarra, the train climbs down to the warm, dry valley of Ambuqui, going through sugar cane plantations, magical landscapes, and tunnels, and crossing bridges that span large canyons and gullies. 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 2 hours. Other sites include the village of Mascarilla; an Afro-Ecuadorian community known for its unique clay masks, And Otavalo and its famous indigenous craft market, the largest in South America. Tour of the equatorial line monument and the extinct crater of Pululahua Volcano. Overnight accommodations in a hotel on the brim of the volcano’s caldera.
Day 3: The winding road to Mindo runs through the rain forest with impressive waterfalls till it reaches a lush green valley of dense forest. Mindo is noted for its butterflies and orchids. Lunch will be served at a lodge where hummingbirds can be observed and fed. Back to Quito.