Ecuador Travel Tours - Amazon Jungle Lodges - Galapagos Islands Cruises

Is a wide experienced Ecuadorian tour operator and experts in Galapagos cruises,
Highly experienced, specializing in adventure tours and ecotourism in Ecuador and South America.

We offer high standard trekking and mountain climbing tours, We can offer cruises in the Galapagos with a choice of over 70 boats.
We can also offer Scuba diving tours to the Galapagos

Andes Explorer organize a large variety of tours: Amazon jungle excursions, tailor made programs in the highlands and Pacific Coast, for groups and individuals, incentive and business travel.

WHY CHOOSE ANDES EXPLORER
Because the most important policy of our business is top quality, offering excellent services against competitive prices. Our commitment to you is to provide only the best services. Giving personal attention and guaranteeing quality control you will have an unforgettable experience in our country

THE ANDES “LA SIERRA”

THE NORTHERN ANDES or the Lakes region offers to visitors many attractions; the most important is located at Otavalo, where an indigenous market has been held since colonial times, every Saturday morning. This is one of the most colorful markets in Latin America offering a wide variety of products: tapestries, wool fabrics and other handicrafts such as jewelry, paintings and antiques. Beautiful landscapes and villages are everywhere you look: Peguche, the little village of weavers and its sacred waterfall; Cotacachi village, where the finest leather goods are made; at San Antonio de Ibarra, local artisans create beautiful wood-carvings and sculptures.

Going further north you can find a tropical and dry valley “El Chota”. This is a sugar cane production center, where exotic fruits are also cultivated and one of the afro-Ecuadorian communities lives. Close to the border with Colombia is the Frailejones forest, composed by a rare species of plants. Hiking or riding in this area provides an experience of high altitude Andean landscapes.

THE CENTRAL ANDES,named by Alexander Von Humboldt in the 19th century as“The Avenue of the Volcanoes”, will bring you to little indigenous villages, local markets, snow capped volcanoes and breathtaking Andean landscapes.

One of the main attractions is Cotopaxi Volcano National Park, where visitors can walk in the forest or try something more exciting: camp at the base of the volcano or climb up to the summit. Pujili, Saquisili and Zumbahua communities hold indigenous markets once a week and Quilotoa lake in the crater of the same volcano is a good option for a trekking adventure.

Going further south you find Ambato valley, a fertile region where a wide variety of fruits and flowers are cultivated. Salasacas weavers community is located close to one of the most attractive spots in Ecuador, Baños, a city located at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano and surrounded by the mythic Llanganates Mountains. This is the Gateway to the Amazon Jungle. Going along the Pastaza river canyon, you can see the variation from Andean to Tropical forest. This is one of the most appreciated cities because of its mild weather, its thermal springs, the beautiful scenery and the many activities available: river rafting, bike riding, hiking in the surrounding mountains.

Just few kilometers away is Riobamba, the first Spanish village founded in Ecuador, at the foot of the highest volcano, Chimborazo (6300 m). In this city one of the most important treasures of the colonial times can be found, the La Concepcion Convent, which posses a fascinating collection of religious art. Guano village is well known for its beautiful tapestries and carpets.

THE SOUTHERN ANDES. Cuenca is one of the most charming cities in the country, which maintains its old colonial atmosphere. The old quarter and its churches date from the 16th century. Close by are the Ingapirca ruins, the main Inca site in Ecuador.

A warm valley is located just 40 minutes from Cuenca. Gualaceo is one of the attractions: its market and Chordeleg, the famous artesian village where beautiful gold and silver filigree jewels are made. Little villages as Bulcay, Bulzun, San Joaquin are the home of artisans who works on traditional arts: ikat weaves, panama hats, pottery.

Cajas National Park is a natural reserve which contains a complex of near 200 lagoons located at more than 3000 m altitude. It is famous for its highland flora and fauna and is an excellent region for hiking excursions. Close to the border with Peru is located a small village known for the longevity of its habitants, Vilcabamba. This is a warm valley where the passage of time seems to have been interrupted.

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