Compare Handpicked Ecuador by Adventure World vs Complete Ecuador by Gray Line Ecuador

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:

Transfer Airport / Hotel in Quito

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast

1914 Original trolley city tour of Quito + Northern and south Hemisphere Experience in the Middle of the World

We will visit the historic center, the largest and best preserved in South America, in one of our original trolleys, which are a replica of the trams that circulated in Quito in the last century.

Visit to the Basilica del Voto Nacional Church, where we will make a brief stop for an explanation of its facade, to later move towards the Panecillo viewpoint, an iconic place in the city, renowned for its beauty, and where is a giant statue of the ""Winged Virgin"", where you can admire a beautiful landscape of colonial and modern Quito. Later we will continue to the Plaza de San Francisco, one of the representative places of the city and full of history, from where we will walk to the Plaza Grande, historical and political center of the city, surrounded by innumerable attractions including: the Cathedral, the Palace of Government, the Archbishop's Palace and the La Compañía church.

We continue our tour meeting the traditional La Ronda neighborhood, in whose romantic setting we can find workshops where our visitors will learn with a group of authentic artisans, how their works are elaborated, and trades of yesteryear that keep alive the cultural traditions of this charming city. (Entrance to churches are not included).

We will stop at the “Zona Rosa” of the city, approximately an hour and a half to have free time for lunch (not included), and later we continue with our excursion “Northern and south Hemisphere Experience in the Middle of the World”.

We go to the ""Middle of the World City"", where you can see the monument that divides the northern hemisphere from the southern hemisphere of the planet. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line that divides the world and it is a must-see place for those who visit Quito. Includes entrance to the Middle of the World complex ,where you can live experiences that defy the laws of physics and occur only in this part of the world. After visiting this privileged place and registering it in your passport, you will always see Ecuador and the Middle of the World in a different way.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast

Discover Baños, Fun and Adventure at the Edge Of the Amazon Jungle - 2 days

Departure from Quito through the avenue of ""Volcanoes"" (Panamericana Sur), en route to visit a flower plantation in the area, where we will have the opportunity to see the world-renowned Ecuadorian roses. We continue the journey to reach the city of Baños, where we will visit the spectacular viewpoint ""The Tree House"" to experience the adrenaline boarding the ""End of the World Swing"" admiring an extraordinary view of the Tungurahua volcano.

Later we will have a panoramic tour of the city with its streets sweetened with the development of traditional ""Melcocha"", a candy made by hand in a log, an absolutely delight just to watch.

Free time for lunch (not included). And in the evening we enjoy the route of the waterfalls, rainforest and mixed crystal clear rivers, a unique place for nature lovers. Accommodation.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you can choose from the following activities during the morning: rafting / canopy / bike ride, bike, quads, buggies or 4X4 jeeps. Free time for lunch (not included). During the afternoon departure towards Riobamba. Lodging in a Typical Hacienda.

Note: Entrance fees and optional activities must be paid directly by passengers.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast departure to the train station located in Alausí. From her we´ll enjoy a train ride towards the famous “Devil’s Nose”, a magnificent work incrusted in the Andes, (train ride takes approx. 2 hours). After the train ride visit to the Ingapirca Inca Ruins, the biggest Inca archaeological complex in Ecuador from the XV and XVI centuries, (ticket to the complex not included). Arrive to the City of Cuenca to spend the night. 

** Train Operation is subject to change

Day 6:

Meals: Breakfast

City Tour Cuenca.

We will travel through the city visiting the Calderon Park, the New and the Old Cathedral, the Flower Market, Modern Arts Museum. We continue the tour to the Homero Ortega Panama Hat factory to observe the complete process of manufacturing. We will also observe the “broken bridge” and finally visit the tourist balcony of “Turi” where we can see a panoramic view of the whole city of Cuenca. Lodging.

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer Cuenca / Guayaquil.

We leave from Cuenca to “Cajas National Park” known for its glacial lakes and high mountain vegetation. Here we will walk through this beautiful place to see some of the lakes and primary forest. We will also visit “3 Cruses” which forms the continental water division. We will walk to observe this curious place. From this point we will begin a dramatic decline to reach the coast of Ecuador. Starting we will begin observing the Andean mountain scenery and then ending up seeing totally different vegetation of the Ecuadorian Coast with large plantations of bananas and cocoa beans. Arrive to Guayaquil.

Day 8:

Meals: Breakfast

City Tour Guayaquil.

Transfer Hotel / Airport