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Culture + Community in Ecuador’s Andean Highlands with Claire McWilliams + Bibliotecas para Imbabura

... at a glance

Group Size

2-8

Duration

5 nights/6 days

Departure Date

April 12-17, 2025

More Information On Where You Are Going...

This trip will allow visitors to experience the diverse culture and breathtaking scenery found in Ecuador’s Andean Highlands! Two days of the trip will take place in Quito, the capital city, with lodging in the heart of the Historic Center. This unique part of Ecuador’s capital is one of the most well-preserved colonial city centers and was named a UNESCO heritage site. The remaining 3 days will be spent exploring the province of Imbabura. Imbabura is known for its natural beauty, indigenous culture, gastronomy and artisan crafts. Specifically, visitors will learn about local life and culture in Cotacachi and Otavalo, including a visit to a community school.


Tucked between the green, misty peaks of the Andes and blessed with a warm, welcoming character, the lively city of Quito brings rich history together with modern energy. Those who visit will find everything from overflowing market stands and shamanistic healers to a nightlife that features, among other things, upscale clubs, charming lounges and salsa dancing.



Tour Highlights

  • Learn more about rural education 

  • Be immersed in Ecuadorian life and culture

  • Enjoy traditional lunches

  • Explore Quito, Cotacachi!

  • Kichwa Language & Culture Class with Muyumi Kanki Kichwa Cultural Center

  • Bibliotecas para Imbabura school project and visit at Escuela de Educación Básica San Jacinto


Accommodations

You are staying in the heart of Quito. This accommodation is so special, it's an antique Spanish-colonial house, resurrected into what it is today: Hotel Mama Cuchara. 


So settle in and enjoy the charm and amenities! This property is located in a safe and well-situated in the best-preserved, least altered historic center of UNESCO’s world heritage sites in Latin America – the Centro Histórico of Quito – Hotel Mama Cuchara enjoys an ideal location among the hotels in this iconic neighborhood, a walkable distance from the Plaza Santo Domingo, La Ronda, and many of the city’s most popular historical sites.



Itinerary

For a full day-to-day itinerary, please reach out directly to us via the "Request To Book" or contact form below to get the conversation started!


Get To Know Claire McWilliams...

Claire, native to the Midwest, has now called Quito, Ecuador home for over six years. She first got to know Ecuador as a university student on a semester abroad, where she lived with a host family in a small mountain town, improved her Spanish, and had her first experience as a teacher supporting English classes at a rural Andean community school. Even though it was just a semester, Claire was so impacted by the experiences she had that she spent many vacations back in Ecuador, visiting host families, traveling to new areas, and learning more and more about Ecuador’s history and culture. Years later, she moved to Quito as a teacher at an international school and has been living life there ever since. 


Throughout her time in Ecuador, Claire has started a small nonprofit to support rural community schools in the northern province of Imbabura. This nonprofit, Bibliotecas para Imbabura, works to supply schools with books and other resources they need in order to form their own school libraries and foster the growth of students’ literacy skills. Most recently, the nonprofit has been implementing programs to support teachers in their professional development as well. 


Now, Claire is thrilled to combine her passion for education, her love of Ecuador, and Spanish language skills to host a trip where visitors will be immersed in Ecuadorian life and culture, learn more about rural education, and explore all of the beauty the country has to offer.

Annemarie from Salt Water Farm
Claire McWilliams

I'm ready for adventure...

  • I'm interested in a planning a trip from scratch, can you do this? How does the process work?
    Tell us where you want to go (and a bit about you!) You'll complete our Travel Planning Form and let us know where you want to go. We’ll work on crafting selections for you: hotels, activities, etc. We will email you to confirm we've received your form Then, we will present you with the preliminary plans for your chosen destination (Crafting + collaboration time!) You’ll send us feedback and we’ll work through edits together Once decisions have been made, we'll start booking and squaring the pieces of the puzzle away. After we finalize details, we will deliver the final digital itinerary to you. The countdown is on!! We hope you will keep in touch during and/or after your trip so we can live vicariously through your travels.
  • This sounds fun. How much does it cost?
    Here's the breakdown: Hotels: We may earn a commission on paid hotel bookings (paid by the hotel). So, for hotel direct (and only) bookings, this is complimentary, no extra fee is charged. Trip Planning Guarantee Fees: For services that require research for flights, multiple destinations, home rentals, and/or usage of points/miles, we may charge a planning "guarantee fee" and may increase depending on the complexity of the booking. This will always be transparently presented at the first stage at contact and agreed upon before proceeding. This amount will go towards your overall booking, but it is not refunded to you should you decide not to move forward on a trip. Please understand that a lot of work happens behind the scenes and sometimes in the industry, we are not getting paid 30-90 days after a client departs from their trip. If you choose not to move forward with the trip, we are out time, energy and money. Thank you for your understanding - and your support in our small business! Flights: Clients typically book flights on their own and it is something that we suggest doing. However, if you need assistance, please let us know. Please note that ticketing fees apply. There is a ticketing fee of $50-$75 depending where you are flying internationally. We can always search and suggest routes on our end for you if you want to book on your own.
  • Do I pay anything upfront?
    Well, this is a two part question... If your trip is highly detailed and results in a trip planning fee, you will pay the trip planning fee up front. Please note, each itinerary is built from scratch and we invest an amount of time before we deliver the final product. For other bookings, this is a case-by-case basis. Some partners require full-payment up front, but others may only require a small deposit. Others just might require a credit card on file to reserve your spot/room and payment on arrival. As you can see, there are many moving pieces as it is dependent on what you are booking and at what level. Before moving forward and collecting any payments, we will talk through the options and what's required at the time of moving forward to the booking step.
  • What is your cancellation policy?
    This is dependent on the scale of your trip and how far along we are in the planning and reservation process, but long story short: we want you to be happy and we want to see you experience your dream trip. But, please note that every booking style comes with its own terms and conditions - this will be reviewed with you in writing before moving forward. We always recommend travelers insurance as that would have your back due to extenuating circumstances. Click here to learn more about travelers insurance.
  • Okay, so, why should I work with you instead of booking the trip myself?
    Easy! The obvious bit first: we work together taking the hours of research off your plate. We know that organizing a trip can be time consuming... and a lot of deep breaths! If you have a number of tabs open on your computer, then it’s your sign, let's work together. In the end, you’ll save time and energy and your travels will be seamless and memorable. It may be the yogi in us , but we have a knack for listening to your story and translating that into finding authentic experiences that fit what you are looking for; thus you’ll travel confidently knowing everything has been taken care of for you. We have a community to back us and together, are well versed in the travel and tourism industry. Meaning, we remain at the forefront of emerging destinations and travel trends. Perks, freebies, upgrades, etc are just the icing on the cake! Trust us, we take pride (and have so much fun!) doing what we do. P.S. As an affiliate of Fora, we have access to a global network of hotels and preferred partner programs and can enrich your trip with VIP perks like room upgrades, early check-in/late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and resort credit - all at no additional cost to you! If that’s what you fancy!
  • I almost forgot! Can you tell me more about travelers insurance?
    Certainly! Bottom line: We strongly recommend, if not require, our travelers secure travel insurance to cover you should the unknown hurdles present itself - which happens more often than you’d think! Travel insurance helps protect the financial costs you have paid into your trip as well as provides medical coverage for when you are traveling, if necessary. Traveling, near or far, without insurance can be a gamble... what if someone gets sick? What if the weather has a mind of its own on your travel day? What if you lose your checked luggage? What if there is a medical emergency and you may need to be transferred to a better hospital? Situations like these happen more often thank you think and without insurance, they can add up! Plus, you might lose any non-refundable deposits/payments on top of it. We are a proud partner of Travel Insured International. We have partnered with this company for one shining reason: their customer service is outstanding. In short, travel insurance will help protect the financial costs you have paid into your trip, as well as provide medical coverage for when you are traveling, if necessary. We are happy to walk you through the steps or answer any questions you might have. Please click here to begin your quote. To purchase travel insurance from our partners at Roam Right, click here! We have also partnered up with Faye, you can click here for more information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly and we will be able to walk you through next steps.