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ToursSouth AmericaEcuadorCuenca

Cuenca Strenuous Tours & Trips

48 Cuenca trips. Tours from 21 tour companies. 79 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

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Strenuous
Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures
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Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures

By G Adventures
preferred
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arequipa, Cuenca, Cusco, Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Ollantaytambo, Puno, Quito, Sacred Valley, Urubamba

Highlights

  • Experience traditional life in a local community in the amazon
  • Witness colonial cities and volcanoes
  • Sandboard the dunes of huacachina
  • Spot condors at colca canyon
  • Conquer the inca trail to machu picchu
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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-29%$5,344
35 days From$3,799
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The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure
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The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

By G Adventures
preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arequipa, Atacama Desert, Buenos Aires, Colon, Cuenca, Cusco, Ilha Grande, Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Montevideo, Nazca, Ollantaytambo, Paraty, Puno, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Sacred Valley, Sao Paulo, Sucre, Urubamba, Uyuni

Highlights

  • Mingle with the locals of a small community in the amazon
  • Go sandboarding on the dunes of huacachina
  • Spot condors at colca canyon
  • Conquer the inca trail on the way to machu picchu
  • Experience traditional life on lake titicaca
Show more

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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-27%$10,979
65 days From$7,999
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Mediterranean Flavors
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Mediterranean Flavors

By Cosmos
none
4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Assisi, Barcelona, Cinque Terre, Cuenca, La Spezia, Madrid, Marseille, Rome, Valencia, Venice, Verona

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

Trip dates & details
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14 days From$2,649
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Discover South America
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Discover South America

By Geckos Adventures
none
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Buenos Aires, Cuenca, Inca Trail, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Mendoza, Ollantaytambo, Otavalo, Puno, Quito, San Francisco, Sucre, Uyuni

Highlights

  • Roam the amazon jungle at night while pretending you're david attenborough (it has a calming influence). float down the river, keeping an out for the glaring eyes of jaguars and caimans
  • The floating islands of uros on lake titicaca seem like the sort of thing pixar would come up with. spend the night under the stars in a traditional island village
  • Whether you trek the classic inca trail, the inca quarrytrail or take the scenic train route, trust us, this is going to be one of the highlights of your awesome lives
  • Don't worry, we won't hog all of your time. you'll have plenty of opportunity to bounce around cuzco, digging deep into the pockets of incan history
  • The wicked witch of the west had her flying monkeys and red shoes. the witches of la paz have dried llama foetuses and alpaca blankets. while both sound imaginary, the witches' market in la paz is a true bolivian experience

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
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42 days From$5,620
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Ecuador and Peru Highlights
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Ecuador and Peru Highlights

By Geckos Adventures
none
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Aguas Calientes, Cuenca, Cusco, Inca Trail, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Otavalo, Puno, Quito, San Francisco

Highlights

  • Unesco is a pretty good judge of character, right? with its colonial architecture, plazas, churches and colourful local life, there's a reason they've listed quito's old town as a world heritage site
  • There's nothing like munching on a red tomato from an ecuadorian market, eh? saunter (yes, saunter) around the otavalo markets and find yourself smack bang in the middle of souvenir city, population: you
  • Visit the colonial city of cuenca
  • Get your adrenaline kicks in banos – or just plonk yourself in a hot spring
  • Head out on a city tour of lima visiting miraflores, down town and end in the bohemian neighbourhood of barranco.
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
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23 days From$3,645
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Traverse South America
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Traverse South America

By Geckos Adventures
none
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Aguas Calientes, Buenos Aires, Cuenca, Cusco, Inca Trail, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Puno, Quito, Uyuni

Highlights

  • Roam the amazon jungle at night while pretending you're david attenborough (it has a calming influence). float down the river, keeping an out for the glaring eyes of jaguars and caimans
  • The floating islands of uros on lake titicaca seem like the sort of thing pixar would come up with. spend the night under the stars in a traditional island village
  • Whether you trek the classic inca trail, the inca quarrytrail or take the scenic train route, trust us, this is going to be one of the highlights of your awesome lives
  • Don't worry, we won't hog all of your time. you'll have plenty of opportunity to bounce around cusco, digging deep into the pockets of incan history
  • The wicked witch of the west had her flying monkeys and red shoes. the witches of la paz have dried llama foetuses and alpaca blankets. while both sound imaginary, the witches' market in la paz is a true bolivian experience

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
34 days From$5,755
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Ultimate South America
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Ultimate South America

By Geckos Adventures
none
4.9/5 Excellent
25 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Aguas Calientes, Buenos Aires, Cuenca, Cusco, Inca Trail, La Paz, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Puno, Quito, Uyuni

Highlights

  • The boffins at unesco have perfected the science of picking the world’s best stuff. with its colonial architecture, plazas, churches and colourful local life, there's a reason they've listed quito's old town as a world heritage site
  • There's nothing like munching on a red tomato from an ecuadorian market, eh? saunter (yes, saunter) around the otavalo markets and find yourself smack bang in the middle of souvenir city, population: you
  • When humans and nature work in perfect harmony you get a place like cuenca – colonial streets and buildings to wander and el cajas np’s stunning lakey landscapes to hike while looking out for llamas
  • Get your adrenaline kicks in the party and adventure playground of banos – or just go for ‘me time’ and plonk yourself in a hot spring
  • Head out on a city tour of lima visiting miraflores and downtown, and join the peruvian hipsters in the neighbourhood of barranco

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"FANTASTIC. Start to finish it is such a fantastic taste of Central America, all the destinations are interesting and you can do as much or as little as you choose."

Trip dates & details
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40 days From$7,500
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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10 Days Andes Classic
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10 Days Andes Classic

By Responsible Travel
none
5/5 Excellent
16 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cuenca, Guayaquil, Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

  • Explore the beautiful historical old towns of Quito and Cuenca
  • Tour the Otavalo Indigenous market, the biggest market in South America
  • Take in sweeping views of the Cotopaxi volcano
  • Explore Cajas, the National Park of 200 lakes
  • Hike in Cotopaxi National Park

Themes

Birding, Climbing & Mountaineering, Cultural, Family Friendly, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"We just returned from a wonderful 3-week trip in Ecuador that included Quito, Amazon jungle, touring down the Andes to Cuenca, and Galapagos cruise. Our travel agent Alvaro did an excellent job helping us plan our trip - he was very knowledgeable, patient, and kind. All our guides were excellent, special shout-out to Christian, Sergio (aka Mike Tyson), and Pablo. Our favorite experiences were the Napo Cultural Center in the Amazon, biking/hiking at the Cotopaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes, and cruising the Galapagos."

Trip dates & details
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-19%$3,321
10 days From$2,700
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Andes to Amazon
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Andes to Amazon

By Exodus Travels
premier
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cuenca, Guayaquil, Quito

Highlights

  • Visit colonial Quito, the Otavalo indigenous market and Cuenca's Unesco reserve
  • Stay overnight in the peaceful Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
  • Spend two nights soaking up the sounds of the Amazon Rainforest
  • Visit the ruins of Ingapirca and Cajas National Park
  • Take a mangrove boat trip by the Pacific coast and visit a cacao plantation

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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-26%$5,164
14 days From$3,825

Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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Highlands of Ecuador
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Highlands of Ecuador

By G Adventures
preferred
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cotopaxi, Cotopaxi National Park, Cuenca, Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

  • Wander quito and colonial cities
  • Marvel at an active volcano
  • Shop at the otavalo market

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
-25%$1,112
8 days From$839
More
Ecuador in 13 days - Tropical Discovery & Galapagos Dreams - Superior
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Ecuador in 13 days - Tropical Discovery & Galapagos Dreams - Superior

By Exoticca
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Although they’re cheaper than other brands, they still make sure all parts of the trip, like hotels, meet a high minimum standard.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cuenca, Galapagos, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Quito, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz

Highlights

  • Baños
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Cuenca
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"The trip was well laid out. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The only complaint is some of our travel documents that were sent out were not in English. If your sending documents out correspondence should be in both the native language and the language of the people the correspondence to. Other than that a great first time experience."

Trip dates & details
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-12%$4,673
13 days From$4,099
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Ecuador - Andes to Amazon
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Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

By Explore!
premier
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Cotopaxi, Cotopaxi National Park, Cuenca, Galapagos, Guayaquil, Otavalo, Pailon del Diablo, Palacio Real , Quito, Riobamba, Sucre

Highlights

  • A two-week tour of all the natural and cultural highlights of mainland Ecuador
  • Explore traditional Andean villages and colonial architecture
  • Visit Cotopaxi National Park and sleep in the Amazon Jungle

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"The trip itinerary was well thought through with the right balance of challenging walks, rest time, cultural activities and time to socialise. Joao, our guide, was exceptional. He really took on board any feedback and made sure we had the best time. The scenery in Madeira surpassed my expectations. I would recommend this trip to anyone wanting an active weeks’ holiday."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
-19%$2,977
14 days From$2,420

Health Safety +

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7 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Strenuous

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Cuenca Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
79  Reviews
Write a review
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Excellent
21
Great
7
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Wonderful

Amazon to Andes involves a fair amount of bus time, but the diversity encountered is well worth it. Some exertion is required, since walks of a couple of hours at...

Tour:  Andes to Amazon

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Memorable trip, huge variety, breathless scenery, superb guide.

Ecuador is a very interesting country, much of it at significant altitude. In March, on day one, on the equator the temperature in Quito at over 2000 metres was on...

Tour:  Andes to Amazon

A

Anonymous

Apr 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Fabulous Trip

Absolutely brilliant trip. Everything I’d hoped for. Loads to see and do. Lovely country, lovely people. Interesting and varied accommodation. Great group ...

Tour:  Andes to Amazon

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Andes to Amazon

A great trip - to somewhere that most tourists don't visit. Fantastic scenery, lots of wildlife, loads of views of volcanoes and some quirky places to stay. Some d...

Tour:  Andes to Amazon

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Stunning beauty in a geologically active area.

Ecuador is a fascinating, varied and often stunningly beautiful. Apart from high up on some volcanoes, it is very green, with deep valleys dissecting the layers ...

Tour:  Andes to Amazon

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Top Cuenca Travel Companies
G Adventures Reviews
Exodus Travels Reviews
Explore! Reviews
Exoticca Reviews
ROW Adventures Reviews
On The Go Tours Reviews
Cosmos Reviews
Audley Travel Reviews
Titan Travel Reviews
Adventure Unbound Reviews
Gray Line Ecuador Reviews
Latin Adventures Reviews

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