Welcome to the spirit of the Andes, a journey with metropolitan touring through the heart
of this spectacular mountain range that works its way right the way through South America
and is particularly beautiful here in Ecuador and we actually have two itineraries, one
that spends one night before reaching Cuenca in the south and the other spends two nights
but both of them include the dramatic trail train ride through the Andes called the Devil's
Note.
We believe it will give you a fantastic vision of this part of the planet and we look forward
to welcoming you soon.
This is the Hacienda San Agutín de Callo, it's just outside the Cotopaxi National Park.
The Hacienda itself is a beautiful place, its history dates back to the time of the
Incas, you can see the stone walls, the very finely carved stone of the Incas.
It then became a Augustinian monastery and fortunate for us it's also a hotel and a
restaurant today and this is part of the spirit of the Andes.
By ensuring this is where we have lunch, we're in Provech.
Here we are in San Agustín's beautiful dining room, they serve all sorts of delicious dishes
here but this is my favourite and probably everyone's favourite, this is called Locro
de Papa.
From here we're off to a nearby rose plantation, the Ecuadorian Andes grows some of the finest
roses you'll find anywhere in the world and from there we're heading south down to another
one of the most amazing things about Ecuador are the differences, a little over an hour
ago we were up in the mountains looking at snow cat pigs and now we're down here surrounded
by lush tropical vegetation with its amazing waterfall as a backdrop, called the Pailond del
Javalo, the devil's cauldron and it's one of the highlights of the trip.
This is the LLC train station about two hours south of Villalbamba in the central Ecuadorian
Highlands, this is where the ride begins down the famous devil's nose towards the coast.
This is the end of the line for the train ride down from LLC, this is Cibambe train station
behind me, we've come down in an incredible 1500 metres, about 5000 feet in the space of
a little over three-quarters of an hour.
From here we head back up the hill and from there by land south into Canyar province and
on to Cuenca.
These are the Inca ruins of Inca Pirca, there's a temple to the sun and various other structures
all around here in this very strategic place here in the southern Ecuadorian Andes.
The Incas built these structures back in the 15th century and although they were only here
about 80 years such was their influence but the people all up and down Ecuador still speak
the tongue of the Incas which is Kichwa, this is definitely a must see on the spirit of
the Andes itinerary.
Cuenca is Ecuador's third largest city, it's a cultural world heritage site and it's many
travellers favourite.
There's so much to do here, it's a great city to explore by foot, there are lovely squares,
flowers, stalls, churches, there are also lots of little shops and aquariums, artisans,
sweet shops, restaurants with fine dining and the surrounding region is really great
for adventure.
In fact so many travellers like it, they decide to stay so be warned the same might happen
to you.
This is the end of the spirit of the Andes journey, I think if you ask a hundred people
what the spirit of the Andes is you'll get a hundred answers so the best thing is for
you to come, travel with us and find your own answer.
