Ecuador tours: Traveling Through the Ecuadorian Countryside

1. Animal and Handicraft Markets - on Monday and Thursday only- EASY
Full day - lunch included. Depart from Luna Runtun by minivan. We drive to Pillaro, an authentic little village where the rythm of life does not seem to belong to this world. On our way, we can admire Tungurahua and Caiharahuaso (another impressive volcano). A little further along the route, the snowcapped Chimborazo glacier (6310 meters - 20696 feet) emerges from the fields of corn and potatoes. Enjoy the 100-year old handmade road and reach an entertaining animal market where cows, pigs, sheep, guinea pigs, and chickens are going to be exchanged or sold. Continue the journey to Quisapincha, a little village where you can buy excellent leather jackets, trousers, etc, at excellent price, eat freshly made bread cooked with wood and drink a "colada" (a local speciality). Lunch. Visit the Quinta (large farm) of Juan León Mera, a famous Ecuadorian writer, painter, and politician. On the way back to Luna Runtun, we stop over in Salasaca, the location of an Indian market and the largest ethnic group of the province of Tungurahua, which has preserved 500 years of traditions, customs, and political organization. Finally we pass through Pelileo, a village which produces excellent and cheap jeans. Great shopping opportunity.

2. The Priest and the Witch - Half day
An original city tour which starts with a hike from Luna Runtun to the city along the Inca Emperor Huayna Capac trail. Enjoy the sights and sounds of numerous birds and of the impressive scenery of the highlands.

Visit the Cathedral, a 1920s gothic construction built with volcanic stone by the Belgian Father Tomas Halflans, and the Museum of the Virgin of the Holy Water, which displays the clothes and jewelry given by the devout for blessings received. Here, you'll discover the miracles of the Virgin and her influence over the catholic population over the past centuries.

Ambato street offers an excellent opportunity to meet the famous sugar cane candy makers and taste the delicious "Melcocha", Ecuador's most well known candy. Visit the tagua ("vegetable ivory") and balsa wood handicraft makers, art galleries, handicraft shops, and, afterwards, the Saint Martin Canyon, the zoo (one Ecuador's most impressive), and much more. Great shopping opportunities.

3. La Nariz del Diablo (on Wednesday and Sunday only) - Full day - min. 4 people
Depart from Luna Runtun by minivan early in the morning. In 1895, Eloy Alfaro, a former Ecuadorian president, decided to build a railway which, due to the topography of the Ecuadorian Andes, would prove to be one of the world's most impressive engineering feats. Those that constructed the railway faced a huge obstacle: an almost perpendicular wall of rock called the Devil's Nose. Thanks to superb engineering, the builders were able to solve the problem by constructing a zigzag carved out of the rock which allows the trail to reach the town of Alausí. Return by minvan at the end of the day.

Luna Runtun's Ecuador Tours
	Hiking and Trekking in Ecuador (Baños tours)
	Ecuador Amazon Rainforest Adventure (Ecuador tour)
	Canoeing and Rafting Adventures (Baños tour)
	Baños Mountain Biking Trips (Banos tours)
	Horseback Riding Tours (Banos tour)
	Traveling Through the Ecuadorian Countryside (Ecuador tours)

Note: Luna Runtun reserves the right to alter, change, or omit part of the explorations itinerary, without prior notice, should it be deemed necessary or advisable for the well-being of its guests.