Since the beginning of times the lands of the Equator were famous for its craftsmanship. During the colonial period Ecuadorian artisans became artist and reached levels equal and sometimes higher than the greatest masters of Renaissance.
Ceramics were discovered here, the alloy of gold and platinum was developed at la Tolita two thousand years before the appearance of the Incas and our textile industry supported the Spanish kingdom economy during 300 years….
Have you heard about the Panama hats? They are made in Ecuador .
In our Itinerary, clients will see artisans making: Bread dough figurines, pullovers, tapestries, hammocks, textiles, leather goods, naive paintings, traditional Indian clothing and ornaments, back strap looms, candies, woodcarvings, 18/24 karat gold jewelry, panama huts, ikat scarves, balsa wood crafts, ceramics, Vicuña & Alpaca sweaters and much more
It is a Site lecture on Hispanic art of the first UNESCO cultural heritage site to admire Flemish school paintings, Spanish style sculptures and monuments of the best architects of the Italian Renaissance – Baroque period. Program includes Plaza del Teatro, San Agustín (1581), the Presidential palace, Independence Square, the Metropolitan Cathedral (1550), the masterpiece of the baroque La Compañía (1605) and San Francisco (1535) the biggest religious art museum of Latin America and as contrast we end up the day at CAPILLA DEL HOMBRE, the bleeding heart of America and priority project for world culture (Sr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, General Secretary of UNESCO) 
We leave early in the morning to reach the archaeological site of Cochasquí. This is a pre-Inca pyramid complex and site museum. We will learn about pre-Columbian Andean cultures and it solar religion; a typical lunch based on the famous potatoes soup will be served, once in Quito . We visit the collection that displays from the arrowheads of "El Inga" ( 10.000 a . C.) up to the Inca vessels (from 1.437 to 1.534 d. C.), the museum shows cultures such as La Tolita ( 500 a . C. Until 500 b. C.) Who molded ceramics in sea sand with strong mythological motives among those, they emphasized the puma. All the gold and platinum in the museum belong to this culture. We will be able also to appreciate the finest carvings in colorful painted wood by the Quiteño School of Arts dating from XVI century to the XVIII century, as well as canvas of the most important Latin America painters of the contemporary age. 
The visit of the day is the workshop of Alberto Pulla, probably the best Panama hut maker in the Andes . His work is published at the most famous magazines like Vogue, Condé Nast and Spiegel. In the afternoon we will learn about Ikat scarves and the 18-karat gold jewelries of Chordeleg and the CIADAP artisans' museum. Lunch at Parador Turístico de Gualaceo. 
