Through a landscape of steep valleys and mountains, we head north toward Otavalo, the biggest Indian market in Ecuador. Near the town of Cayambe, we cross the equator. Good opportunity to take wonderful pictures or purchase a large variety or handicrafts. Drive up to the Mojanda plateau (3.800 meters) with its three mountain lakes. A short hike is scheduled in this remote area and then return to rest at a cozy historical Hacienda Cusin dominated by the gigantic Imbabura volcano, at the foot of which is the San Pablo Lake.

After breakfast and crossing the highest mountain pass open to car traffic in Ecuador (4.200 meters) on the eastern Andes. At 3.300 meters, the magnificent thermal hot springs of Papallacta. You will have time to take a refreshing thermal bath, and also a short walk through a Polylepis forest with ancient trees.

Trip to Pasochoa Breakfast. Drive from Papallacta by the Intervalleys road. Trip to Amaguaña, where the entry to Pasochoa reserve is located. The overwhelming Pasochoa Reserve Forest is 40 minutes south of Quito. It is the last Andean path summit forest with a large variety of exotic flora and fauna. You will be able to enjoy nature's peace and pure air. This is also a bird-protected area: hum¬mingbirds, blackbirds, tana¬gers, etc. Here vegetation also offers a large variety of native plants such as the "puma¬maqui", alders, "panza quinua" or paper tree, "suros".

Trip to Patate Trip to Baños and Patate area on the way to Baños, you will stop to visit the Salasaca Indian community. These people are experts weaving textiles and rugs woven on their traditional looms. Arrival to Baños, take a walk around the small town, where you can taste delicious local sweets made of sugar cane, such as "mel¬cochas", "alfeñiques", "panela" and pure sugar cane juice. In the afternoon return to Patate to rest at Hacienda Manteles.

Return to Quito On the way back to Quito, visit to Zumbahua area where farmers are cultivated at 4.000 meters. Not far from the village is the dark green, sulfurous Quilotoa crater, where you will take a short hike down to the lake. Return to Quito.