Arrival in Quito
Welcome to Quito! Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by your English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon will be free to explore the city, learn about its history, enjoy its colonial architecture with its impressive mountain backdrop, and of course, meet the friendly locals.
Quito City and Middle of the World Tour
It’s time to tour Quito and learn about the city’s rich history and culture. Our expert and friendly tour guides will take you on a journey through Quito’s rich history and show you some of the colonial churches and monasteries in the old town that make this city so unique. For all this and more, Quito was the first city to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Afterward, we will head to the Mitad del Mundo monument, where you can stand on the line that divides the northern and southern hemispheres. You will learn the details of the French Geodesic Expedition and the discovery of the exact point of the middle of the world, visit the monument and the museum, and experience exclusive Equator activities and events.
Return to your hotel in Quito.
Otalvalo, Condor Park
Today we will start the day with an interesting trip to Condor Park, where we will meet the symbol bird of the Andes, the magnificent Condor, as well as eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons. We will then continue our journey to explore the Otavalo market, one of the largest and most vibrant indigenous markets in South America. You will find everything from colorful handicrafts to delicious local cuisine. Our excursion offers activities designed for the whole family, so it’s sure to be fun for everyone!
Quistato Sundial, Papallacta, Hot Springs, Hummingbird Farm
We begin our trip to the Amazon by making a mandatory stop at the Quistato Sundial. This huge sundial is 52 meters in diameter, and its large stone mosaic is a beautiful display for solstices and equinoxes. Not to mention, it’s the perfect place to take some stunning photos. We return to the road towards the Papallacta hot springs, where you can enjoy the warm waters naturally heated by the Antisana volcano and relax with your family.
With the batteries recharged after enjoying the hot springs, we continue the route to the Amazon. Before arriving, we will stop at a spectacular hummingbird farm, where we will observe a variety of species of the 125 that can be found in Ecuador.
We will then take a short 10-minute drive to our lodge. If there is enough time, you can explore part of the rainforest or visit the nearby village.
Full-Day Amazon Rainforest 1
The Amazon adventure begins! Learn how to fish in the river with the locals, take a morning walk through the jungle to observe hummingbirds, or even learn how to prepare local delicacies in an exceptional cooking class.
Continue to the port of Misahualli to take the canoe into the thick Amazon jungle. You will have the afternoon free to explore it with your family and enjoy close contact with nature before heading to your new lodge.
Full-Day Amazon Rainforest 2
At sunrise, you can take an optional walk to observe the spectacle offered by the colorful parrots, which approach the clay wall to lick their minerals.
Walk through the jungle and learn about the benefits of Amazonian plants, which have accompanied the communities since ancient times. Your guide will provide you with surprising information about them.
We will embark on a canoe to navigate the Napo River, where there is the possibility to swim, but if you prefer to stay dry, your guide will have other optional activities available.
In the afternoon, we’ll meet with local Kichwa communities to learn about their costumes and traditions
Chimborazo, Pailón del Diablo, Casa del Arbol, Baños
Today we say goodbye to the Amazon and head to the Ecuadorian Andes. The last quick canoe ride will take you back to the road to continue the journey to Baños. On the way, you will pass through the waterfall route and stop to visit the Pailon del Diablo, an impressive waterfall with a drop of 80mts (260 ft) splashing over its rocks, the same rocks that have given it its name, as they have a resemblance to the devil’s face.
In the afternoon we will go to the Tree House, known for its swing at the end of the world, where you can experience swinging in front of a cliff, with the Tungurahua volcano in the background, definitely a very fun experience.
Then we head to Baños, a beautiful town known for its hot springs and for being very close to the Tungurahua volcano, which is active and delights visitors with its incredible views.
The evening is free to explore downtown Baños, we recommend you try the delicious melcochas, a traditional sweet made with molasses.
Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve
After a delicious breakfast, we hit the road again to head to the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve; its flora, fauna, and breathtaking scenery will take your breath away. You will be able to see different animals, such as llamas and alpacas, which the locals have domesticated since Inca times.
In the afternoon, we will visit a local community that works to reinsert llamas into their natural Andean habitat.
Afterwards, we will head to Riobamba where you will have the night free to enjoy with your family.
Devil’s Nose Train & Ingapirca Archeological Site
Today our journey is full of history, and we begin by heading to the town of Alausí, a strategic place for Ecuadorian trade through its incomparable railroad that makes its way through the Devil’s Nose route, one of the most difficult in the world and at the same time one of the most beautiful. You will enjoy the stunning views of this incredible zigzagging route in a journey of approximately 2 hours.
After lunch, we head to Ingapirca, Ecuador’s most significant and best-preserved Inca complex. It was an important ceremonial area that united diverse cultures and symbolized the power of the Inca civilization. The Temple of the Sun is the most relevant site of the complex; it was used as an observatory to determine the solstices and equinoxes.
We continue south to the charming colonial city of Cuenca where we will spend the night.
Cuenca City Tour & Pumapungo Museum Visit
Discover the colonial charm of Cuenca on this half-day city tour. Stroll through the beautiful squares and admire the UNESCO-listed architecture. Visit the flower market, Calderon square, the new and old cathedral, San Francisco square and its handicraft market, and finally, the Turi viewpoint for panoramic views of the city, and learn about the manufacturing process of traditional Panama hats in a local factory.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Pumapungo Museum, one of the most significant museums in Ecuador. Here you will learn about anthropology, archaeology, ethnography, and pre-Hispanic art, as well as enjoy contact with nature and wildlife in its ethnobotanical park.
You will have the evening free to explore the city or relax with your family.
Road to Guayaquil & Cajas National Park Visit
We say goodbye to the beautiful city of Cuenca and take the road to Guayaquil on a journey of about 3:30 hours. On the way, we will pass through the Cajas National Park and La Toradora, which will surprise us with its awe-inspiring natural scenery.
In the afternoon we will arrive at Ecuador’s main port, Guayaquil, where you will have the rest of the day free to explore the city.
Guayaquil City Tour & Departure
On the last day of your trip, you will explore one of Ecuador’s most vibrant cities, Guayaquil. Learn about the culture and history of this fascinating place. Visit emblematic places such as the Malecon 2000, Seminario Park, the oldest and one of the most traditional parks in Guayaquil, also known as Iguana Park because of the large number of iguanas that live here. Visit the Cathedral, the City Hall, the Rotonda Monument and the colorful Las Peñas neighborhood. You will see the beautiful architecture of the city and learn about its rich history.
Finally, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight home.
