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Photo: Ministerio de Turismo Ecuador · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Loja Trekking: El Cisne, Malacatos and Vilcabamba

Two days covering the essentials of the province: El Cisne sanctuary, colonial Loja, Malacatos coffee and Vilcabamba.

  • 2 days / 1 night
  • Easy.
  • El Cardenal Hotel, Loja
Ask for availability and price View photos (4)

Designed for groups arriving in Loja early in the morning. After settling in and having breakfast, day one goes up to the Basilica of El Cisne —mass, handicraft market and museum— and returns via Catamayo and San Pedro de la Bendita, with the afternoon in colonial Loja.

Day two heads south: the main square of Malacatos, a ground-coffee workshop and the Vilcabamba valley, with lunch there before returning.

Pale blue and white Gothic façade of the El Cisne Basilica and its tower, among the village rooftops and the mountains
Pale blue and white Gothic façade of the El Cisne Basilica and its tower, among the village rooftops and the mountains
Photo: Ministerio de Turismo Ecuador · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The village of El Cisne on the hillside, with the pale blue basilica standing out above the tiled roofs
The village of El Cisne on the hillside, with the pale blue basilica standing out above the tiled roofs
Photo: Arabsalam · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
View of the Vilcabamba valley with the town on the valley floor, surrounded by green mountains
View of the Vilcabamba valley with the town on the valley floor, surrounded by green mountains
Photo: The lifted lorax (Wikipedia en inglés) · Dominio público · Wikimedia Commons
Rocky summit of Mandango hill and the trail climbing along the ridge, with mountains behind
Rocky summit of Mandango hill and the trail climbing along the ridge, with mountains behind
Photo: Arabsalam · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 · 07:30 · Arrival and breakfast

    Check-in and breakfast.

  2. 09:00 · Basilica of El Cisne

    Religious circuit: sanctuary, mass, handicraft market and museum of the Virgin.

  3. 14:00 · Lunch in San Pedro de la Bendita

    Return via Catamayo and lunch in San Pedro de la Bendita.

  4. 16:00 · Colonial Loja

    Visit to Loja’s historic centre and return to the hotel.

  5. Day 2 · 09:00 · Malacatos

    Malacatos main square and a ground-coffee workshop.

  6. 11:00 · Vilcabamba

    A tour of Vilcabamba and lunch in the valley.

  7. 14:00 · Return

    Return to Loja.

Includes

  • Accommodation at El Cardenal Hotel (1 night, double room with Wi-Fi)
  • Breakfasts and lunches
  • Transport throughout
  • Guide

Not included

  • Drinks
  • Dinners
  • Entrance fees to museums, zoos and other sites
  • Handicraft purchases
  • Anything not listed in the programme

What to bring

  • Layered clothing and a warm jacket
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Sunscreen and a cap
  • Water bottle
  • ID document
  • Cash for handicrafts

Loja Trekking: El Cisne, Malacatos and Vilcabamba

Ask for availability and price

We quote it according to the date and the size of the group. Tell us when and how many are travelling and we will reply with availability and price.

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