Welcome to
ECUADOR
Religious
Discovering the Cultural Wealth of Ecuador
Welcome to the section dedicated to the spiritual richness of Ecuador, where faith and devotion intertwine with the amazing cultural and natural diversity of this sacred land. Our page invites you to immerse yourself in the spiritual essence of the country, discovering its sacred sites, religious traditions and significant events that have marked Ecuadorian history and identity.
A Journey through the Catholic Temples
Religious tourism
- 9 days
- 8 nights
This tour will take you through majestic churches, basilicas and cathedrals, where you can marvel at the impressive architecture and sacred ornaments. Each temple tells its own story, and as you walk through its hallowed halls, you will feel the presence of centuries of devotion. Discover how the deep faith of believers is reflected through cultural expressions and art dedicated to the divine.
Immerse yourself in a fascinating tour of the impressive Catholic temples of the Ecuadorian Andes and embark on a journey through time as you immerse yourself in the cultural and spiritual richness.
INCLUDES
- Guide-driver in service of 1 - 3 pax*.
- Bilingual guide
- Tourist transportation
- Entrance fees to visit sites
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Lunch
- Unspecified items
PLACES TO VISIT
1
Arrival in Quito
Arrival at Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito.
Enjoy a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, centrally located with easy access to restaurants, bars, craft stores and parks. On this first day, you will have time to explore on your own and begin to discover this beautiful city. Quito is located at an altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level, so we recommend that you relax and prepare for the exciting adventure that awaits you.
2
City Tour Quito - Guápulo Church - Domes Tour
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Historic Center of Quito, considered the largest and best preserved in Latin America.
Our first stop will be at the Basilica del Voto Nacional Church, famous for its neo-Gothic style and its gargoyles and ornaments inspired by Ecuadorian fauna. We will continue to the Plaza de la Independencia, also known as Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the municipal building and the emblematic Metropolitan Cathedral Church.
We will continue our tour visiting the impressive Iglesia de la Compañía, whose interior is adorned with gold leaf. Then, we will explore the open square of San Francisco and its monumental church and convent, known as El Escorial de los Andes, built in the 16th century by the indigenous people of the San Andres School.
Our next destination will be the Panecillo, a hill crowned by the famous winged Virgin of Quito, from where we will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the impressive Andean landscape.
Continuing our tour, we will visit the first Marian sanctuary in the country, the Church of Our Lady of Guápulo, built in 1620 and home to important works by artists of the Quito school. Outside the church, we will find a statue of Francisco de Orellana, the Spanish explorer who discovered the Amazon River. This expedition began in Quito and had its first stop at the sanctuary of Guápulo.
We will climb to the top to observe the roof and the church from the top and then enjoy the best view of Quito from the green domes. There are several viewpoints from where we can admire the traditional neighborhoods of the city. At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the hotel.
3
El Quinche Sanctuary - Hacienda La Compañía - Otavalo
After breakfast, we begin our journey to the Marian sanctuary of El Quinche (70 km), which in 1985 was declared National Sanctuary of Ecuador. There is the temple built in 1905, consecrated in 1928, and which houses the image of Our Lady of the Presentation of El Quinche, carved in the sixteenth century by the Spaniard Diego de Robles, an important artist of the Quito school of art. The image was canonically crowned in 1943 and its feast is celebrated on November 21, attracting thousands of pilgrims who arrive walking from different parts of the country. In 2015, Pope Francis visited this important temple, where he met with seminarians and religious of the Ecuadorian clergy.
The hacienda La Compañía has been open to tourists for several years. There you will see the French neoclassical style house, which is still the family residence of the hacienda's owners. You will also learn several curiosities about the production of roses in Ecuador by visiting the plantation and enjoying a beautiful exhibition of these flowers. The origins of Hacienda La Compañía de Jesús date back to the time when the Jesuits arrived in Ecuador and built it.
We will then head to the town of Otavalo, which has been declared the "intercultural capital of Ecuador" due to its enormous potential in several aspects, such as its scenic charm, cultural richness, history and commercial development. This town is mainly known for its colorful indigenous market, considered the largest in Latin America.
Note: The sources provided do not directly support the information in the response.
4
Baños de Agua Santa - Basilica of the Queen of the Rosary Queen of Agua Santa
After breakfast, we will head to the center of the city of Baños, where the church of the Virgen de las Agua Santa is located. Inside, you will see a collection of murals depicting local miracles attributed to the Virgin, patron saint of the city. The Basilica is an impressive architectural work that defies the passage of time and history. It was built in the center of the city of Baños, surrounded by beautiful mountains, waterfalls and the Tungurahua volcano. After the visit, we will return to the hotel.
5
Riobamba - Museum of the Mothers Concepts - Balbanera Church
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Museum of Religious Art of the Convent of the Conception, considered one of the best museums of religious art in Ecuador due to the quality and value of the works it houses. This museum belongs to the Convent of the Mothers Conceptions and is considered a historical-cultural jewel of the religious tradition of the old Riobamba. It is distributed in 14 rooms where a great quantity of sculptures, canvases, furniture, priestly ornamental elements woven in gold and silver, replicas of the cells of the mothers conceptas, and objects of silverware and goldsmithery of the XVII and XVIII centuries, like the custodians are exhibited.
Then we will head to the first church built on Ecuadorian soil, which makes it a historical beauty. This church, built near the shores of the Colta lagoon by the Spaniards, presents a colonial style and its stone facade bears witness to its history. From there, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the snow-capped Chimborazo.
After the visit, we will return to the hotel.
6
Ingapirca Archaeological Complex - Sanctuary of the Holy Virgin of El Rocío
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our journey along the inter-Andean alley for approximately 3 hours to the archaeological complex of Ingapirca. This complex, built during the pre-Columbian period, is the largest and best preserved in Ecuador. On the way, we will be able to enjoy beautiful Andean landscapes, where the colorful costumes used by the inhabitants of the area stand out. Ingapirca offers us an important visit to the past to discover the Inca culture, its delicate construction techniques and the cosmovision of the Cañari culture, which originated in these territories and was conquered by the Inca empire. Here we can visit the remains of temples and learn about the system of solar calculations and the traditions of these pre-Columbian cultures.
Then, we will visit one of the most important tourist attractions of the Biblián canton, the majestic Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocío. This devotion arose in 1893 and the sanctuary has a unique architectural and cultural beauty. It was declared "Cultural Heritage of Ecuador" in 2007. In addition, from the sanctuary you can enjoy a panoramic view of the rich landscape of the area. The Sanctuary of the Virgen del Rocio offers different activities, such as walking, hiking, photography and video, knowledge of the history of the place, and visits to temples and cemeteries.
At the end of the day, we will transfer to the city of Cuenca.
7
City Tour Cuenca - Virgen del Cajas
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the day discovering the beautiful city of Cuenca, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. We will tour the most emblematic places of the city, such as the picturesque and traditional San Sebastian neighborhood, the Museum of Modern Art, the Calderon Park (central park), the Plaza de las Flores, the Sagrario Cathedral (Old Cathedral) and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (New Cathedral), considered the largest cathedral in Latin America. The tour will culminate with a visit to a "toquilla straw hat" factory, where we will learn about the elaboration of these fine hats. Afterwards, we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will continue with a visit to the Sanctuary of Cajas, to the Virgin Guardian of the Faith. This sanctuary has been declared an Archdiocesan Sanctuary. At the end of the visit, we will return to the hotel.
8
Loja - Sanctuary of the Virgen del Cisne
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will take a tour of the city of Loja and visit the Sanctuary of El Cisne, which is located 70 km northwest of the city of Loja, in the foothills of Fierrohurco, at an altitude of 2,440 meters. In the middle of a humble village of peasants, there is a huge Gothic Temple that is very busy throughout the year. The temple is imposing in itself, but its location at the top of a steep mountain and surrounded by modest traditional buildings gives it even more grandeur.
The temple was built following the elements of Gothic architecture, and its size and color contrast with the simplicity of the peasant houses in the village of the same name. Due to its location at the top of the mountain, it has become a popular destination for the fulfillment of penances. Every year, in the month of September, thousands of the faithful come to pay tribute and ask for blessings. In addition, in the month of August, an impressive procession takes place.
9
Transfer to the airport - Flight Loja - Quito - International Departure
After breakfast, we will transfer from the hotel to the airport to take the flight to Quito and then the international flight back.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout 2024, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- Rates in the itineraries are per person according to the type of room, hotel and activities detailed in this document.
- Rates for jungle programs are per person according to room type and hotel category indicated and include all activities and meals detailed in the itinerary.
- Nights at the hotels indicated in the itineraries include breakfast and taxes.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
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