Three Days: Cotopaxi's Coca Tea, Quilotoa, and the Swing at Baños

Three days through the Andes with a local guide, at a pace that lets each stop last as long as it needs to. The first day goes into Cotopaxi National Park, the second highest volcano in Ecuador, with a stop at Machachi first for snacks, bathrooms and a cash machine. Inside the reserve there is the Limpiopungo lagoon, with the cone across it on a clear day and endemic birds on the water, and the walk up to the first refuge at 4,684 m, where the coca tea is worth trying. The night is at El Chaupi, next to the volcano. The second day runs to Quilotoa, past the houses and galleries of Tigua, which is known for its painting. At the lagoon there is the lookout and then the trail down to the water. The afternoon ends in Baños, with free time in town. The third day starts early on the road towards the jungle: the cable car over the Pastaza river, the option of a zipline, and the Devil's Cauldron waterfall. Then the Casa del Árbol, with the swing at the end of the world above Baños, before the drive back to Quito. What is not included: meals, the hotels, the hot springs at Baños and the zipline. The hotels can be booked through the operator when the tour is confirmed. The order of the days can change with operating conditions, and the final itinerary is confirmed the day before. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.