The Best of Ecuador

Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador! Arrive at the Quito Airport and meet your guide for transfer to your hotel.

Enjoy a private tour of Quito’s historic districts today. As you drive from your hotel in the newer section of the city, notice how your surroundings change in character. You’ll see architecture from Ecuador’s colonial period, including beautiful churches, such as La Basilica Church and La Compañia Church. Tour a variety of plazas and local shops, taking time to experience the wonderful atmosphere of this city. Then your tour continues to El Panecillo Hill, a hill located in central Quito that offers amazing views of the whole city and the surrounding snow-capped volcanoes. In the afternoon, visit the Equator at “Mitad del Mundo” – the middle of the world. Here you can walk on the equatorial line, place one foot in each hemisphere, or try some experiments for fun.

Return to the airport in Quito today for a flight to Lago Agrio. After you land in Lago Agrio, a bus from the Siona Lodge will pick you up for the 1.5-hour drive to the east to reach the Cuyabeno Reserve. Along the drive, notice how increased human habitation has affected this important tropical region, especially the oil industry. The bus brings you to the bridge (“el puente”), where you’ll stop for lunch, then enter the reserve by canoe. Soon after your canoe hits the water, all signs of civilization will disappear. In this exotic wilderness, watch for amazing and diverse wildlife all around you. You may see anacondas, a variety of monkeys, and many birds, including cormorants, herons, and kingfishers. When you reach the lodge, you’ll receive more information about your stay in the Cuyabeno Reserve.

Spend the whole day today exploring the rainforest! Slip on some rubber boots (supplied) and go for an exciting walk through the jungle. Then sail through picturesque lagoons to enjoy the amazing scenery and watch for many varieties of wildlife. In the afternoon there are opportunities to fish for piranhas or search the river for pink dolphins. Later take a sunset swim in the lagoon, then after dark take a walk to experience the jungle at night. Rest well at the Siona Lodge after a magical and memorable day.

Experience daily life and learn more about the indigenous people of the Amazon with a visit to a local Siona community. Ride in a canoe from the lodge to two local communities where people farm the land and fish in the river. You will be welcomed to the home of a family who will teach you more about their daily life and demonstrate how they make yuca bread. There may also be an opportunity to visit the local shaman. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the village then return to the lodge. Watch for parrots, dolphins, monkeys, and other wildlife along the river.

Travel by canoe today, leaving the Siona Lodge and heading to Lago Agrio. Fly back to Quito and spend the night in a hotel.

Today is a day full of experiences and new impressions that will delight all your senses. Leave Quito bound for Mindo, where you will visit a chocolate factory. The 1-hour tour explains how cacao is harvested and processed and gives you opportunities to taste and sample their products. While in the area, you can also tour a farm that breeds approximately 20 different butterfly species. Here at this butterfly reserve, you’ll experience the full life cycle of butterflies from birth to flight. Finally, end the day with a visit to an orchid farm, where nearly 200 species of orchids are on display. This is also a wonderful place for bird (and hummingbird) watching. Spend the night in Mindo.

Leave Mindo for a fascinating, 3-hour drive to Otavalo. Along the way you’ll see fascinating areas that are dry, in stark contrast with the tropical rainforest, due to the “rain shadow” caused by the volcanoes. You can also see great examples of the geology that helped form the Andes mountains. Cross the Equator into the Otavalo region. Here, the Otavalo Indians proudly continue their long-held traditions. This lush and beautiful valley is surrounded by lakes and smaller volcanoes. Explore the Otavalo market, shopping for souvenirs or simply observing the daily life of the local people. After Otavalo, continue driving to Cotacachi, which is a small village that’s well-known for handcrafted leather goods. End the day with a visit to the stunning Cuicocha Crater Lake, surrounded by vibrant green mountains. From here, travel to a hacienda for dinner and a comfortable night.

After breakfast, travel to the Antisana Ecological Reserve in an area north of Quito known as “Volcano Avenue.” Antisana is a stratovolcano (or composite volcano) that ranks as the fourth tallest mountain in Ecuador. This volcano regularly attracts climbers from around the world. Explore the characteristic tropical volcano landscape, including evergreen forests and grasslands. While in Antisana Park, stop to visit Mica Lake to take in the scenery and natural environment. After your tour, spend the night at the renowned Hacienda Cienaga.

Travel today from Volcano Avenue to Pujili. If you are lucky enough to pass on a Thursday, stop first at the Saquisili market along the way. Continue on to the town of Tigua (3,800 m / 12,467’), where you can visit a traditional house for indigenous people and their guinea pigs. You can also see local handicrafts in this town, as well as an optional visit with some local residents. Continue traveling to the town of Zumbagua, where the Zumbagua Indigenous Fair is held on Saturdays, full of fruits, vegetables, and animals. Drive another 20 minutes to a viewpoint overlooking the Quilotoa Crater. Hike from the viewpoint (3,900 m / 12,795’) down to the lake (3,500 m / 11,483’). Return to the viewpoint where you can choose a restaurant to eat lunch. After lunch, drive to the town of Baños.

Baños is famous for its waterfalls, and today you will visit some of the largest and most famous waterfalls in the area. Begin after breakfast with a visit to “Waterfalls Avenue” where you will cross the lovely Pastaza River by zip-line. Here you’ll find stunning views of the waterfall called “Manto de la Novia.” Once across the river, walk through orchards and gardens to reach a large waterfall called “Pailon del Diablo.” Return to the town and enjoy free time for the afternoon.

Drive today from Baños to Ambato City to visit the exciting “Mercado mayorista” market. After exploring the market and taking in all the incredible smells, flavors, and colors, continue driving to Guaranda. Stop here for beautiful views of the Ecuadorian Andes mountains, and be sure to notice the rich colors all around you. Continue driving as you climb higher into the mountains. In the Chimborazo lands you can see vicuñas, a distinctive mammal that resembles a camel or an alpaca. When you arrive at the Carriel Reserve (4,800 m / 15,748’), take a short hike up to the Whimper Refuge (5,000 m / 16,404’). Both the views and the altitude will take your breath away. Descend again in the afternoon and travel to Riobamba, where you will spend the night in a hacienda on the edge of the city.

Leave Riobamba and drive about 84 km (52 miles) south to Alausí. Many tourists are drawn to this city to take a train ride through a massive rock called the Devil’s Nose. This train tour is not included in your tour but can be added if requested with enough advance notice. It is an exciting ride, hugging the edges of the slopes then zigzagging and descending 100 m. From Alausí, your journey continues to visit the ruins of Ingapirca. Several architectural features remain here from the Cañari-Inca civilization, most notably the Temple of the Sun. This distinctive structure, elliptical in shape and 37 m long by 12 m wide, was used for rituals and ceremonies. Later, travel on to arrive in beautiful Cuenca.

Take a guided tour of the city of Cuenca today. Begin in the historic colonial section of the city and see the old houses that line the banks of the Tomebamba River, which runs through the downtown area. Explore the central plaza on foot, as well as Calderon Park. Near the park you can see both the new cathedral and the old cathedral. The new cathedral is very striking as it is built with pink marble and features lovely stained-glass windows. The old cathedral was last renovated for a papal visit in 1985. You’ll also visit other impressive churches in Cuenca, including the church of San José de la Merced and the Monastery of El Carmen and the Immaculate Conception. You’ll also see the “El Rollo del Vecino” monument. End your tour with a stop at the Turi viewpoint before returning to your hotel.

Take a magical journey to Guayaquil today. Along the drive from Cuenca, watch how the landscape changes with the climate in just those few hours. Visit the Cajas National Park and see how ancient glaciers carved out horseshoe-shaped valleys long ago. There are more than 200 lovely lakes in this park, which supplies most of Cuenca’s drinking water. In addition to these lakes, the other main attraction of this park is the polylepis forest. These trees, which have an unusual, paper-like bark, look like something out of the pages of a fairy tale. In the afternoon, travel to the southernmost point of Ecuador’s coast and see where cocoa, bananas, and other tropical fruits are grown. End your day at a hotel in Guayaquil.

In the morning, make your way to the Baltra Island Airport and transfer to your cruise ship for your Galapagos Island Cruise. Cruise itineraries vary depending on which tour you choose. Some cruises will explore Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon.

(Sample itinerary) Visit Genovesa Island today, starting with Darwin Bay in the morning, then heading to the Barranco in the afternoon.

(Sample itinerary) Start the day with a visit to Bartolome Island. In the afternoon, stop at Sullivan Bay.

(Sample itinerary) Spend the morning at Black Turtle Cove on Daphne Island. In the afternoon, return to Santa Cruz Island.

(Sample itinerary) Explore Santa Cruz Island today. In the morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Venture to the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon.

(Sample itinerary) Start your day with a visit to Cormoran Point, then the Devil’s Crown. In the afternoon, head to Post Office Bay and the Baroness Lookout.

(Sample itinerary) Visit the lovely Suarez Point on Española Island in the morning today, then spend the afternoon at Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet, and Osborn Islet.

End your Galapagos cruise today with a visit to San Cristobal Island. Visit the Interpretation Center on the island, and also Kicker Rock, just off the coast. Then, from the airport at San Cristobal, fly back to Quito. Spend the night in Quito in preparation for your journey home.

Sadly, your Great Ecuador adventure has come to an end. Transfer to the airport is included. Have a pleasant journey!