Description
Make your trip from Cuenca to Loja especially memorable by enhancing it with one of our tour themes.
Each tour theme emphasizes a different kind of interest or energy level, but all of them get you to Loja by the end of a full day. You will be amazed at the rich world of history, culture, and traditions crammed between your origin and destination in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Every theme includes personal transport and a Spanish-speaking driver to get you to and from each sight along the way.
These are self-guided tours, which means we do not supply or guarantee English-speaking interpretation of the sights visited and you explore them on your own. However, you are welcome to bring your own guide as an additional passenger or use our Experiences tool to create a custom tour that can include us hiring an English-speaking guide for you.
- Meals and gratuities are not included.
- Minimum 2 persons required.
- A minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required.
Cancellation Policies:
| Sorry, there are no refunds for the tours described in this section once you place your reservation. | ||
| If you are concerned your plans might change, instead of placing a reservation, we recommend you place a request through our contact form that we invoice you directly with a due date of the invoice seven days ahead of your trip, and this will allow you to delay payment until that time. | ||
| Culture | Food | Hiking | Leisure |
|---|---|---|---|
| What's included: Pick-up from your hotel in Cuenca. Self-guided tours to: --Visit plaza central of Cumbe. Learn about the every-day culture of a traditional Andean village. Ideal for those seeking to understand the pace of life and traditions behind traditional towns before settling in. --Popular around the world, visit one of the last authentic Andean cultures, the Saraguro. Their unique attire and ancient traditions can be seen in the Amawta Kawsan museum. --Museum of Music. Located in Loja, this cultural center traces back the long story of song writers, well-known musicians, and the history behind Ecuador's music capital. Delivery to your hotel in Loja. | What's included: Pick-up from your hotel in Cuenca. Self-guided tours to: --Try hornado and cascaritas. Traditionally baked pork and roasted pork skin, are a delicacy of the local cuisine. Accompanied with hominy, raw onion, potato patties and sweet plantain --Have a traditional Saraguro lunch including "gallina criolla", free-range hen soup. Accompanied with "chicha de Jora" a fermented corn-based drink. --Tamales are a staple of Latin American cuisine. However, discover the uniqueness of the "Lojano" tamal. Known as the best tamales in Ecuador, they usually have pork or chicken and are served with a cup of coffee. --Something sweet maybe? Try "quesillo and miel", a very popular desert with white-fresh cheese and sugar syrup. --Loja is known around the world for having the best coffee. After your journey to Loja, sit and relax with a cup of the best coffee you can have in the area. Delivery to your hotel in Loja. | What's included: Pick-up from your hotel in Cuenca. Self-guided tours to ONE of the following: --Nabón archaeological complex. The Dumapara Archaeological Complex is an important place for its history, panoramic view, bones of the Cañari people, and artifacts found in this place, such as sherds, pots, vessels, jars, among others. --Capiriche water complex. Between Cuenca and Loja, Capiriche is home to several bodies of water, where you can fish or hike through the moors (paramos) of the surrounding areas. --Explore Vinoyacu and San Luchas. Because of the diversity and landscapes, travelers visit the area looking to connect with nature. --Hidden gem: Parque Nacional Podocarpus. The national park was established to protect the largest romerillo forest in the country, composed of three species of the genus Podocarpus, the only conifer native to Ecuador. Delivery to your hotel in Loja. | What's included: Pick-up from your hotel in Cuenca. Self-guided tours to: --Visit Yurak Allpa zoo, a sanctuary of rescued Andean animals. --Visit the Loja city zoo to see most of the endemic birds of the area. --See religious buildings in the area including the churches in Motupe, Carigan and Valle Hermoso, and understand the importance and relationship of religion to the history of the area. Delivery to your hotel in Loja. |
| What's not included: --Snacks or meals --Museum admission --Tips or gratuity | What's not included: --Snacks or meals --Tips or gratuity | What's not included: --Meals or snacks. Please bring a sack lunch with you as we will be eating on the trail. --Tips or gratuity | What's not included: --Snacks or meals --Museum admission --Tips or gratuity |
| Price: $84 per person. | Price: $84 per person. | Price: $84 per person. | Price: $84 per person. |
| Departure from Cuenca: 8:00 AM | Departure from Cuenca: 8:00 AM | Departure from Cuenca: 8:00 AM | Departure from Cuenca: 8:00 AM |
| Arrival to Loja: approximately 5:30 PM, but may be earlier if travelers want to go at a quicker pace. | Arrival to Loja: approximately 5:30 PM, but may be earlier if travelers want to go at a quicker pace. | Arrival to Loja: approximately 5:30 PM, but may be earlier if travelers want to go at a quicker pace. | Arrival to Loja: approximately 5:30 PM, but may be earlier if travelers want to go at a quicker pace. |
