Accommodation

Check-in Time:

02:00

Check-out Time:

12:00

This culinary package accommodate in an comfortable apartments or hotels according your needs.

In Quito, the apartment is located at the outskirts of Quito (Valle de los Chillos), there is no traffic as well as pollution there. The apartment is located just 30 minutes from Quito - Old Town and a few meters from the cooking classes. Udestplor also have apartment located in Old Town if you required.

In Mindo, the apartment is at two blocks from the square. It is close to most of the attractions, such as the chocolate and coffee tour, El Descanso: Hummingbird Garden, and local stores and restaurants.

In Otavalo, the apartment is placed a few blocks to the famous market and Plaza de los Ponchos.

Program

Ecuador is a great place to try from food to adventure. This program provides different activities, such as cooking classes, sightseeing in Quito Old Town, tasting different flavors of chocolate, coffee, wine, beer, and tropical fruits, typical Ecuadorian dishes, visit to the biggest market in South America - the Otavalo Market, visit to a fruit and animal market, flower route tour, relax in the nature, and adventure in the authentic Cloud Forest.

Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Arrival into Quito airport, the shuttle will take you from the airport to the apartment in Valle de Los Chillos or homestay.

Day 2: Quito

After breakfast, the guide will pick you up and start driving to Old Town in the colonial city. You will try several typical snacks and craft beer tour.
Stop at the local market to buy the ingredients for cooking classes.
Visit Maria's home to learn how to make Ecuadorian cuisine - one or two dishes for one hour (you choose the menu you would like to make). You will receive the recipe and enjoy early dinner with the meal you prepared and a fresh drink.
Drive back to the apartment or homestay.

Day 3: Quito - Otavalo

Breakfast and enjoy the typical Ecuadorian wine with organic grapes at the wine tour.
One-hour cooking class - two dishes with fresh drink for lunch time.
Drive to Otavalo. You will see the flower route and visit a flower farm. Flowers are the most famous product that Ecuador exports to Europe, USA, and Canada. Ecuadorian rose heads measure up to two inches larger in diameter than roses grown in other countries. The stems themselves can grow to over five-feet tall.
Stop at the San Pablo lake, the most famous and large lake in the area.
Arrival in the Otavalo apartment or hotel.
Dinner in the typical restaurant in Otavalo.

Day 4: Otavalo - Mindo

After breakfast, start walking around Otavalo market to know the typical indigenous textiles, crafts, jewelry, and etc. Visit the animal market.
Lunch with a typical Otavalo ingredients including soup.
Driving to Mindo, you will notice different landscape, more green, and a lot of big trees of different species and shapes.
Stop at the Middle of the World - Intinan Museum, the real Equator line.
Dinner time in Nanegalito to try typical Fritada (fried pork) or chicken soup.
Arrival into Mindo suites apartment.

Day 5: Mindo

Breakfast and prepare for the adventure at the zip line and waterfall hike crossing the Tarabita (cable car).
Lunch in a typical restaurant in Mindo.
Chocolate and coffee tour. The best chocolate in the world comes from Ecuador. This amazing country also produce Arabica coffee, it is grown in the area of Mindo.
Dinner in Mindo.

Day 6: Mindo - Quito

After breakfast, enjoy looking the interactive garden and learn the four stages of these colorful species.
Visit the hummingbird garden and take pictures of some birds of the area.
Return to Quito airport.

Instructors

Maria Viteri

Maria is an Ecuadorian wife and mother who has been working around 20 years in the hospitality and tourism area as manager, cooker, waitress, guide, and organizer of tour packages in hotels, restaurants, and travel agency. She loves to cook and teach how to make Ecuadorian dishes with typical ingredients learned from her grandmother, mother, and her own experience in different lodges in Mindo - Cloud Forest. Now, Maria and her husband own a travel agency and organize this culinary package for people who wants to learn more deep inside about Ecuador and its food.

Location

Quito

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was named by UNESCO the first Cultural World Heritage Site and the second overall after the Galapagos Islands. Quito is considered to be one of the best preserved Spanish colonial cities in Latin American and the best capital city. The weather is spring all year around. The altitude is around 2,800 m.a.s.l. The weather is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This colonial city has the most famous typical desserts and main dishes you find in Ecuador.

Otavalo

Otavalo is known for the best and largest indigenous market in South America. It is located one hour and a half from Quito. The altitude is around 2,530 m.a.s.l. and weather is around 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Otavalo is surrounded by lakes and mountains ideal to hike to the top. The Otavalos are considered the economically most successful indigenous group of Latin America.

Mindo - Cloud Forest

Mindo - Cloud Forest located two hours from Quito, the vegetation is similar as the Amazon rain forest but without the malaria and without as much rain. Mindo is the best hot spot for birding. The altitude is around 1,300 m.a.s.l . The weather is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a lot of waterfalls, nature, birds, and night wildlife. This place is ideal to taste the Ecuadorian chocolate and coffee, relax, and adventure.

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Food

You will be served with three meals per day with fresh and tropical dishes and delicious ingredients. Ecuador has variety of fruit and vegetables with different flavors that you will try different each day. Udestplor are open to any diet requirements, please let them know if you have any inquiries.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

In Mindo: bird watching, tubing, butterfly garden, orchid garden, chairlift (teleferico), frog concert, or night walk
In Quito: visit to churches, museums, and cable car
In Otavalo: visit to Cuicocha or Cotacachi

Spa treatments

In Mindo, at an additional cost, you can choose some spa treatments, such as:

Stress relief
Hot stone
Coffee and chocolate massage
Chocolate massage
Clay massage

What's included

Return private transportation from and to Quito airport
Private transportation from Quito to Otavalo, from Otavalo to Mindo, and from Mindo to Quito
5 nights accommodation
3 meals per day (5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners)
Entrance fees to Intinan Museum, chocolate and coffee tour, flower route tour, wine and craft beer tour, waterfall, and Tarabita
2-hour cooking classes
Half-day tour in Old Town
Zip line and waterfall hike
Visit the local markets in Quito and Otavalo

What's not included

Additional nights
Extra drinks
Optional excursions
Laundry
Personal expenses
Spa visit - treatments
Entrance fee to the museums in Old Town and the churches

How to get there

Recommended Airports

UIO

Mariscal Sucre International Airport

27 km

Transfer included

Airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport Airport transfer included: Mariscal Sucre International Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.

Menu