11 Apr 2023
The tour operator company's guide and driver assigned to our group were not exactly what we were expecting. At times we got the impression that we were a burden that day for both of them. At the beginning, heading for Cochasquí Pyramids, the tour guide, Dani, was very talkative. He did explain quite well the history of the archaeological site, but that was it. The 2nd part of the tour we all felt was a "holdup" having to pay US$10 for a rose plantation visit that was short and not worthwhile spending the time there. The plantation guide's walkthrough was less than 15 minutes, and then it was time to go. Sure they gave us a bunch of four roses that has been the most expensive bunch we have bought in our lives for $10 when in Costa Rica they are quite cheap as they are in Ecuador. Finally, the visit to the Equator Line was interesting due to all the knowledge the local Equator Line's guide had in his mind. Yet the place is not that great if compared to Mitad del Mundo or to Monumento de la Mitad del Mundo. After that, being a bit unhappy with the service, all of us decided that it was better to go back to Quito and continue our day without having to ask our guide and driver to stop to have lunch. I cannot regret going to Cochasquí Archaeological site, but the rest was "a great time filler" that can be indeed improved.