Flowers! Imagine hectares and hectares of roses, orchids, lilies, carnations, sunflowers and so much more! What an unforgettable sight!

Blossoms and Blooms Tour

The swirl of color, heady aromas, picturesque views, the velvety texture of petals… These are the simple joys that flowers bring… And it’s yours to enjoy as you take a tour through Ecuador’s world of flowers. Like a bud slowly and gently unfolding, discover each treasure one by one and find out why Ecuador’s unique flower landscape has propelled it into its enviable position as one of the world’s most important flower producers and exporters.

The first stop of our journey would be the famous Otavalo Indigenous Market.  Here, you can start shopping for souvenirs, even as you allow your body to adjust to the air at the high altitude of the Ecuadorian Andes. Dine at a Pinsaqui hacienda that retains its colonial elegance and stately beauty, which owes much of its charm to its fabulous gardens. After your guided tour of the gardens, you will head back to Quito.

Day 2 starts with forays into two of the country’s most important gardens. The first one boasts of some 5,000 orchid plants made up of 500 species. Meanwhile, Pakakuna showcases various flowers from different parts of the world. What a delight it is to see flowers in full bloom!

Then, get the opportunity to know a wide array of rose varieties at the Bellaflor, one of the country’s leading rose plantations. Indeed, a rose by any other name (and every other color and kind!) is just as sweet and just as lovely. The visit will take you to a fascinating journey to the world of roses and the international cut flower trade – flower farming technologies, bouquet production and exportation of cut flowers.

The next stop in our Blossoms and Blooms tour would be Quito’s famed Botanical Garden, which holds a wide variety of plant species from the Ecuadorian Coast, as well as the Amazon Rainforest, the Andes and other parts of the world. This will give you a wonderful overview of the richness and diversity of the flora of Ecuador.

Then, you will have the opportunity to stroll along some of Quito’s historical and fascinating spots – the colonial section in Quito (which has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site), La Campania Church and the San Francisco Square. Then drop by the Equatorial Line. If you are so inclined, you can even try some of the Equator experiments. Cap the evening with a Gala Dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the historic center of Quito.

The next day, you will head for Ecuagenera, where you will find one of the largest orchid growers in South America. The heady fragrance and striking beauty of these exotic flowers is sure to wow avid orchid lovers!

Then it’s off to shop for a different kind of bloom, the kind that sparkles – the jewelry in the village of Chordeleg! You will then spend the night at Cuenca, which you will tour the next day. Cuenca, also a UNESCO Heritage Site, has many historical places of interest, such as the Panama Hat factory which you will also visit. Don’t forget to buy rubber boots – you will need these the next day! You will tour Cajas National Park as well as the Magic Flowers in Guayaquil, where ginger, heliconias and other tropical plants grow in profusion.

On the last full day, you will meet with the chief garden designer of the city of Guayaquil. Stroll along Seminario park lovely gardens, with large Iguanas as company. This fascinating tour will end with a cruise along the River Guayas. The cruise will take you to the country’s main port – the Guayaquil harbor area. And as a grand goodbye, you will enjoy the superb farewell dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city.

Get to know Ecuador through the fascinating route of the flowers… it will provide you with memories that will forever bloom in your heart.

Peter Lauffer is the Ecuador Editor for Wandering Educators. You can find him at www.ecuadortraveler.com

All  photos courtesy and copyright of Peter Lauffer