Welcome to
ECUADOR
Religious
Discovering Ecuador's Cultural Riches
Welcome to the section dedicated to Ecuador's spiritual wealth, 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 Catholic Churches
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 sacred halls, you can 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 cultural and spiritual richness.
INCLUDES
- Driver-guide for 1-3 passengers*
- Bilingual guide
- Tourist transportation
- Tickets to tourist attractions
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Lunch
- Items not specified
PLACES TO VISIT
1
Arrival in Quito
Arrival at Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito.
Enjoy a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, located in a central area with easy access to restaurants, bars, craft shops, 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
Quito City Tour – Guápulo Church – Dome Tour
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Historic Center of the city 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 decorations inspired by Ecuadorian fauna. We will continue on to Independence Square, also known as Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the municipal building, and the iconic Metropolitan Cathedral Church.
We will continue our tour by visiting the impressive Church of 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 School of San Andrés.
Our next destination will be El Panecillo, a hill crowned by Quito's famous winged Virgin, from where we will enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the impressive Andean landscape.
Continuing our tour, we will visit the country's first Marian shrine, the Church of Our Lady of Guápulo, built in 1620 and home to important works by artists from 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 made its first stop at the sanctuary of Guápulo.
We will climb to the top to see the roof and the church from above, and then enjoy the best view of Quito from the green domes. There are several viewpoints from which we can admire the city's traditional neighborhoods. At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the hotel.
3
El Quinche Shrine – La Compañía Hacienda - Otavalo
After breakfast, we begin our journey to the Marian shrine of El Quinche (70 km), which was declared a National Shrine of Ecuador in 1985. There you will find the temple built in 1905, consecrated in 1928, which houses the image of Our Lady of the Presentation of El Quinche, carved in the 16th century by the Spaniard Diego de Robles, an important artist from the Quito school of art. The image was canonically crowned in 1943 and its feast day is celebrated on November 21, attracting thousands of pilgrims who arrive on foot from different parts of the country. In 2015, Pope Francis visited this important temple, where he met with seminarians and religious members of the Ecuadorian clergy.
The La Compañía hacienda has been open to tourists for several years. There you can see the French neoclassical-style house, which is still the family residence of the hacienda's owners. You will also learn several interesting facts about rose production in Ecuador by visiting the plantation and enjoying a beautiful display of these flowers. The origins of the La Compañía de Jesús hacienda date back to the time when the Jesuits arrived in Ecuador and built it.
Then we will head to the city of Otavalo, which has been declared the "intercultural capital of Ecuador" due to its enormous potential in various 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 Holy Rosary
After breakfast, we will head to the center of the city of Baños, where the church of the Virgen de las Aguas Santa is located. Inside, you can 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 Conceptual Mothers – Balbanera Church
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Museum of Religious Art at the Convent of La Concepción, 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 Madres Conceptas and is considered a historical and cultural jewel of the religious tradition of ancient Riobamba. It is distributed across 14 rooms where a large number of sculptures, canvases, furniture, ornamental priestly elements woven in gold and silver, replicas of the cells of the conceptas mothers, and silverware and goldsmithing objects from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as monstrances, are exhibited.
Then we will head to the first church built on Ecuadorian soil, making it a historical gem. This church, built near the shores of the Colta lagoon by the Spanish, features 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 volcano.
After the visit, we will return to the hotel.
6
Ingapirca Archaeological Complex – Shrine of the Holy Virgin of Rocío
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our journey along the inter-Andean corridor for approximately 3 hours, towards the archaeological complex of Ingapirca. This complex, built during the pre-Columbian period, is the largest and best preserved in Ecuador. Along the way, we will enjoy beautiful Andean landscapes, where the colorful costumes worn 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 worldview of the Cañari culture, native to these territories and conquered by the Inca empire. Here we can visit temple ruins and learn about the solar calculation system and traditions of these pre-Columbian cultures.
Next, we will visit one of the most important tourist attractions in the Biblián canton, the majestic Sanctuary of the Virgin of Rocío. This devotion began in 1893, and the sanctuary possesses unique architectural and cultural beauty. It was declared a "Cultural Heritage Site of Ecuador" in 2007. In addition, from the sanctuary you can enjoy a panoramic view of the area's rich landscape. The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Rocío offers different activities, such as walking, hiking, photography and video, learning about the history of the place, and visits to temples and cemeteries.
At the end of the day, we will travel to the city of Cuenca.
7
Cuenca City Tour – 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 take a tour of the city's most emblematic sites, such as the picturesque and traditional Barrio de San Sebastián, the Museum of Modern Art, Calderón Park (central park), Plaza de las Flores, Sagrario Cathedral (Old Cathedral), and Inmaculada Concepción Cathedral (New Cathedral), considered the largest in Latin America. The tour will end with a visit to a "toquilla straw hat" factory, where we will learn about the making 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, dedicated 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 – Shrine of the Virgin of El Cisne
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will take a tour of the city of Loja and visit the El Cisne Sanctuary, located 70 km northwest of the city of Loja, in the foothills of Fierrohurco, at an altitude of 2,440 m. In the middle of a humble farming village stands an enormous Gothic temple that is very popular throughout the year. The temple is impressive in itself, but its location on the summit of a rugged mountain and surrounded by modest traditional buildings gives it even more grandeur.
The temple was built following Gothic architectural elements, 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 penance. Every year in September, thousands of faithful arrive to pay tribute and ask for blessings. In addition, an impressive procession takes place in August.
9
Airport transfer – Flight Loja – Quito – International departure
After breakfast, we will transfer from the hotel to the airport to catch our flight to Quito and then our international return flight.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in US dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; if a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- The rates in the itineraries are per person based on the type of room, hotel, and activities detailed in this document.
- Rates for jungle programs are per person based on room type and hotel category indicated and include all activities and meals detailed in the itinerary.
- Overnight stays at the hotels listed in the itineraries include breakfast and taxes.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated, tour operators will be informed, and itineraries will be 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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