Compare Handpicked Ecuador by Adventure World vs Adventurous Ecuador by Culture Trip

Day 1: Quito

Arrive in the beautiful city of Quito, the world’s first city to be declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Standing at an altitude of 2,850m, Quito is the second-highest capital in the world after La Paz in Bolivia. The first three nights of your journey will be spent here.

Day 2: Quito

Meals: Breakfast

Begin exploring this vibrant mountain city. Packed with architectural treasures, Quito’s exquisite Centro Historico is the largest and most well-preserved historic centre of any Latin American city. Picturesque plazas and baroque 17th century cathedrals contrast spectacularly with the snow-covered peaks beyond. Visit the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and the impressive La Compania Church which, with its ornate golden altars and perfect symmetry, is one of South America’s greatest baroque masterpieces.

Day 3: Quito - Otavalo Market – Quito

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today you will drive north from Quito to the traditional Andean town of Otavalo. Along the way, you will be able to spot the two Andean Cordilleras (mountain ranges) that run parallel through Ecuador from north to south, offering an impressively varied topography: active volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, green valleys, farmland, and historic haciendas. Discover Otavalo’s artisan market, one of the most well-known and colourful indigenous markets in all of South America. Countless stalls are piled high with ponchos, woollen goods, tapestries, hats, sweaters, indigenous jewellery and much more. Enjoy lunch at Hacienda Pinsaqui, an enchanting 300 year old colonial hacienda where you will sample some of the best Andean cuisine around.

Day 4: Quito – Patate

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Drive south from Quito to the Cotopaxi National Park. The breathtaking snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano dominates the landscape. At 5,897m above sea level, rising majestically above the Andean mountains, Cotopaxi is Ecuador’s second highest mountain and is also considered by many to be the highest active volcano in the world. With its almost perfectly symmetrical cone shape, the Cotopaxi Volcano is one of Ecuador’s most recognisable sights. From here, you will continue on to the small town of Patate, where you will spend the night at the beautiful 300 year old Hacienda Leito.

Day 5: Patate - Baños – Riobamba

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will journey by road along the Pastaza River gorge to the picturesque and bustling town of Banos, located at the foot of the spectacular Tungurahua Volcano. Banos is well known for its thermal baths, impressive array of adventure sports and incredible waterfalls, including the 100 metre Pailon de Diablo waterfall. Continue on your journey to the scenic and old-fashioned town of Riobamba where you will spend the night at the delightful Hacienda Abraspungo.

Day 6: Riobamba - Alausi – Cuenca

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Travel to the town of Alausi, where you will hop on the Devil’s Nose Train Ride, one of the most thrilling train rides on the continent. As you zigzag dramatically through the Andes Mountains, you are rewarded with breathtaking views. Continue south to the fascinating site of Ingapirca, the country’s largest known Inca ruins, before ending a wonderful day in the colonial jewel of Ecuador, the city of Cuenca.

Day 7: Cuenca

Meals: Breakfast

Cuenca’s red-tiled roofs, flower-filled plazas and narrow cobble stone streets are reminiscent of a splendid past, while it’s many museums, cloisters, markets and churches are all testimony to a rich historical legacy. Cuenca is known as the jewel of Ecuador for good reason, and it is arguably the country’s most beautiful city. An impressive setting along the Tomembamba River, world-class restaurants, and a variety of art galleries, cafes and bars all add to Cuenca’s charm.

Day 8: Cuenca - Cajas National Park – Guayaquil

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Travel from Cuenca to Guayaquil, stopping en-route at the magnificent El Cajas National Park. The park, which is located in the western Cordillera of the Ecuadorean Andes, covers an area of 28,544 hectares and boasts no less than 235 lakes of glacial origin. At an altitude of 3,200-4,000 metres above sea level, the park’s humid Andean cloud forests act like a sponge and the park is a vital water source. With its incredible scenery, it is also a photographer’s dream. You will stop at two of the park’s lakes, Llaviucu Laguna and Laguna La Toreadora, where you can take some amazing photos. Arrive in Ecuador’s second largest city, Guayaquil, late in the afternoon where your journey ends.

DAY 1

Arrive in Quito

Upon arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, you’ll be whisked off to your hotel in the Old Town district of Quito (the second-highest capital city in the world, at 2,850m/9,350ft above sea level) and meet our Local Insider at 6pm, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. In the evening, get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner, washed down with a cold Pilsener – Ecuador’s favorite beer. Be sure to get a good night’s rest ahead of an action-packed day exploring the city tomorrow.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel Patio Andaluz

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Welcome dinner

DAY 2

Explore Quito and attend an Ecuadorian cooking masterclass

Kick-start the trip with an optional morning visit to the Equator – head to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Intiñan Museum, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Regroup in Quito’s historic center (a Unesco World Heritage site) for a walking tour of the Plaza Grande, Presidential Palace and La Compañía church. After admiring the impressive array of colonial architecture and wandering down lively La Ronda street, you’ll embark on a gastronomic journey at Altamira restaurant. Learn how to prepare a variety of traditional Ecuadorian dishes in a cooking masterclass, capped off with a chocolate-tasting session.

ACCOMMODATION

• Hotel Patio Andaluz

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Quito walking tour
• Ecuadorian cooking masterclass and market visit
• Chocolate-tasting session

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Intiñan Museum visit

DAY 3

Go horseback riding in Cotopaxi National Park

Today, you’ll journey south towards Cotopaxi National Park, dominated by the 5,897m (19,347ft) high Cotopaxi stratovolcano – the second-highest peak in Ecuador. If the conditions are clear, you’ll spot the snow-capped summit as you hike around the Limpiopungo glacial lagoon. Learn all about the flora, fauna and eruption history of the park at the Interpretation Center. Next, set out on a scenic horseback ride, where you’ll be introduced to the chagra cowboy culture of the Ecuadorian highlanders. Following a picnic lunch in Salitre, continue on to your mountain hacienda for the night.

ACCOMMODATION

• Chilcabamba Lodge

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Limpiopungo Lagoon hike
• Cotopaxi Interpretation Center visit
• Horseback riding

DAY 4

Hike round Quilotoa Lake and visit a Tigua art studio

Prepare yourself for another unforgettable hike as you venture to Quilotoa – a volcano on the westernmost edge of the Ecuadorian Andes, off the usual tourist trail that's known for its emerald-green crater lake. After a short walk round the rim, stop by a Tiguan studio owned by Julio Toaquiza – an artist who pioneered a vibrant painting style, depicting life in the high Andes. In the afternoon, you can shop for handcrafted souvenirs at Salcedo Market – it’s a great place to get under the skin of Andean culture. Next stop, Baños – widely considered the adventure capital of Ecuador.

ACCOMMODATION

• La Floresta Hotel

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Quilotoa Lake hike
• Tigua art studio visit
• Salcedo Market visit

DAY 5

Cycle the magnificent Baños Waterfall Route

Start your day by visiting the Swing at the End of the World. Attached to a mountaintop treehouse, it offers jaw-dropping views of the Tungurahua volcano and the valley below. Feeling brave? Why not give it a go? From here, you'll embark on an adventurous bike ride to three waterfalls on the road from Baños to Puyo: Agoyán, Manto de la Novia and the 80m (262ft) high Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron). The water from these falls eventually runs into the Amazon River. Enjoy lunch with the Yaku Runa indigenous community before moving on to Tena – the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.

ACCOMMODATION

• Kuyana Amazon Lodge

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Swing at the End of the World visit
• Baños Waterfall Route bike ride
• Yaku Runa project visit

DAY 7

Go white-water rafting on the Jatunyacu River

Ready for an adrenaline rush? Today, you’ll go white-water rafting through the jungle on the Jatunyacu River – one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. Meaning 'big water’ in the native Quechua language, the Jatunyacu features a combination of wild rapids and flat, scenic stretches, allowing you to appreciate the rainforest scenery around you. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. Come nightfall, take a guided forest trek and listen out for birds, monkeys and reptiles.

ACCOMMODATION

• Kuyana Amazon Lodge

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• White-water rafting
• Jungle night hike

DAY 7

Follow the Natural Oils Trail at Kuyana Amazon Lodge

After breakfast, you'll go on a guided hike to learn how natural essential oils are extracted from Amazonian plants for medicine and aromatherapy. Cool off with a refreshing dip in the waterfalls before making your way back to the lodge for lunch. It’s then time to leave the jungle behind and head up towards the Andes. You’ll eventually arrive in the village of Papallacta, where you can relax in hot springs or book yourself in for a soothing spa treatment at the hotel. Cap off your trip with a farewell group dinner.

ACCOMMODATION

• Termas de Papallacta

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Natural Oils Trail guided hike
• Waterfall swim
• Farewell dinner

DAY 8

Depart from Papallacta

The time has come to pack your bags as your Ecuadorian experience comes to an end at 9am. After one final breakfast, you’ll be driven back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and catch your flight home – or extend your stay by joining our Galápagos Islands trip.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Airport transfer