Mietwagenrundreise Ecuador & Galapagos-Gruppentour

About the destination: Quito, officially known as San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador. Quito is beautifully located in a valley on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha Volcano. Positioned at an altitude of 2850 meters above sea level, Quito holds the title for the highest capital in the world. Quito's Historic Center is a charming area filled with colonial architecture, cobblestone squares, grand churches, and numerous intriguing museums. The Historic Center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most picturesque locations in Quito's old center is the Plaza de la Independencia, which is beautifully adorned with flowers and trees. The buildings surrounding the plaza include the pink delight that is the Hotel Plaza Grande, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito, and the Presidential Palace. In the center of the plaza stands a memorial to independence. Plaza San Francisco is one of the most stunning places in Quito. It is a cobblestone square with the whitewashed church and monastery of San Francisco along its northwestern side. The Monastery of San Diego, located southwest of the Historic Center, is a beautiful 17th-century monastery filled with exceptional colonial religious art. It is definitely worth a visit, even if it is a bit further from the Historic Center. North of the Historic Center is the vibrant Mariscal neighborhood, home to many hotels, international restaurants, bars, and trendy cafes. Quito is a friendly and fun city. With an impressive Old Quarter and a dramatic setting, Quito is a city that leaves a lasting impression on anyone.

About the destination: Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano situated in the Andes Mountains, found in the Latacunga canton of Cotopaxi Province, approximately 50 km south of Quito, and 33 km northeast of the city of Latacunga, Ecuador. It holds the title of the second highest peak in Ecuador, reaching an elevation of 5,897 m. It is among the highest volcanoes in the world. Since 1738, Cotopaxi has experienced over 50 eruptions, leading to the formation of numerous valleys shaped by lahars around the volcano. The most recent eruption spanned from August 2015 to January 2016. Cotopaxi was officially off-limits for climbing by authorities until it was reopened on October 7, 2017.

About the destination: Baños de Agua Santa, often simply referred to as Baños, is a city located in the eastern part of the Tungurahua Province, in the heart of Ecuador. Baños is the second largest city in Tungurahua, following the capital city, Ambato, and is a significant tourist hub. It is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Amazon", as it is the last major city situated in the mountains before reaching the jungle and other towns that are located in the Amazon River basin. Baños is situated on the northern slopes of the Tungurahua volcano, at a height of 1,820 meters. The volcano is known for its frequent powerful ash explosions and lava flows, which can be observed from Baños.

About the destination: Napo is a region in Ecuador with its capital being Tena. The Napo River flows through this province. The area is not highly developed and lacks significant industrial activity. The dense rainforest is home to many indigenous people who choose to live in isolation, descendants of those who escaped the Spanish invasion in the Andes, and the Incas years prior. In 2000, Napo was the only province in Ecuador where the majority of the population was indigenous, with 56.3% of the residents either identifying as indigenous or speaking an indigenous language. This province is part of the Amazon Rainforest that extends into Ecuador. The Antisana Ecological Reserve and Limoncocha National Biological Reserve are also located within the Napo province.

About the destination: Yaruquí is one of the 33 rural parishes of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador. Yaruquí, Checa, El Quinche, Cumbayá, and Tumbaco were home to pre-Inca settlers, as shown by objects found in the area such as vessels, ceramic pieces, obsidian, quartz, basalt tools, spears, and knives (Karen Pawer, Clothes with Feet). According to historians, it was one of the forty Indigenous groups that formed the kingdom of the Quitus and later that of the Shyris, with the arrival of the Caras in the 10th century AD. The original tribes that dominated this region were the Puembos, Yaruquíes, Quinches, and Cayambis. When the Caras Shyris— a tribe from Bahía de Caráquez— carried out their conquest, they faced strong resistance, though the rest were subdued by this people, which became one of the four main nations established in what is now Ecuadorian territory: the Shyris, the Puruhaes, the Abatos, and the Brambles.