Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito to Otavalo
You'll land at Mariscal Sucre airport in the afternoon where your German-speaking guide meets you. From there, it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive to Otavalo, sitting at 2550m elevation. You'll settle in at your hotel for the first night after the journey.
Optional Activities
- Detour to Yasuni National Park before tour start for intensive Amazon rainforest experience
- Day 2
Otavalo
Start your morning at one of Latin America's most significant indigenous markets, walking through alleyways packed with handicrafts, fruits, and vegetables. After browsing, you'll head to Lake Cuicocha at 3250m where you can hike the crater rim or take a boat tour around the emerald lagoon. Either way, you'll get views of Cotacachi, Imbabura, and Cayambe volcanoes surrounding the water.
Included Activities
- Walk through Otavalo indigenous market
- Visit Lake Cuicocha
- Crater rim hike or boat tour around lagoon islets
Landmarks/POIs Otavalo Market Lake Cuicocha Cotacachi Imbabura Cayambe - Day 3
Equator Monument to Mindo
Begin at La Mitad del Mundo monument and visit the interactive Inti Ñan sun museum where you can stand with one foot on each hemisphere. Later, you'll drive through shifting vegetation patterns toward Mindo, a cloud forest village at 1250m. Stop at Mindo Lindo, a private nature reserve, to get your first real sense of the region's biodiversity.
Included Activities
- Visit La Mitad del Mundo equator monument
- Explore Inti Ñan interactive sun museum
- Stop at Mindo Lindo private nature reserve
Landmarks/POIs La Mitad del Mundo Inti Ñan Museum Mindo Lindo - Day 4
Mindo
Today you're heading into one of the world's most biodiverse regions. You'll ride a small gondola called a tarabita over a gorge, then hike to waterfalls where colorful parakeets, mountain toucans, and hummingbirds are all around you. In the afternoon, stop at a butterfly house to see different stages of butterfly development up close.
Included Activities
- Tarabita gondola ride across gorge
- Hike to waterfalls in tropical vegetation
- Visit butterfly house
- Bird and wildlife watching
Landmarks/POIs Mindo Cloud Forest - Day 5
Mindo to Quito
Before you reach Quito, take a chocolate tour to learn how Ecuadorian cocoa gets processed from bean to bar. In the afternoon, you'll explore Quito's historic old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll see the Plaza Grande with its government palace and cathedral, plus impressive churches including La Compañía.
Included Activities
- Chocolate tour with Ecuadorian cocoa tasting and processing explanation
- City tour of historic Quito old town
- Visit Plaza Grande
- Visit El Sagrario church
- Visit La Compañía church
- Visit Plaza de San Francisco with convent
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Grande El Sagrario Church La Compañía Church Plaza de San Francisco - Day 6
Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast, drive to Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes on Earth at 5897m. You'll stop at the national park information center to learn about its eruption history, then continue to Limpiopungo Lagoon. The hike at 3600m takes you through paramo vegetation where you might spot condors. By late afternoon, you'll be settled at a hosteria.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast)
Included Activities
- Breakfast (included)
- Visit Cotopaxi National Park information center
- Visit Limpiopungo Lagoon
- Hike in Paramo at 3600m
- Wildlife spotting including condors
Landmarks/POIs Cotopaxi Volcano Limpiopungo Lagoon - Day 7
Cotopaxi to Riobamba via Quilotoa
You'll drive through Andean landscape to reach Quilotoa Lagoon at 3800m, one of Ecuador's most beautiful volcanic lakes. Hike along the crater rim and watch the turquoise to emerald-green water shift with changing light and angle. Snow-capped volcanoes loom in the distance. Continue along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Riobamba, surrounded by four major mountains.
Included Activities
- Short hike along Quilotoa Lagoon crater rim
Landmarks/POIs Quilotoa Lagoon Chimborazo Carihuayrazo Altar Tungurahua - Day 8
Riobamba to Guamote
Head early to the Andean village of Guamote for its authentic Thursday market where local farmers gather to sell or barter their goods. You'll watch traders in traditional costumes do business and browse what's available. In the afternoon, pick up ingredients for Andean cuisine and prepare a meal with a local cook, learning traditional recipes.
Included Activities
- Visit Guamote authentic market
- Shopping for Andean cuisine ingredients at market
- Prepare Andean meal with local cook
Landmarks/POIs Guamote Market - Day 9
Guamote to Cuenca via Ingapirca
Travel south through the Andes to Ingapirca at 3120m, Ecuador's largest Inca site. Tour the well-preserved temple and fortress complex to understand Inca and Canari cultures. The Temple of the Sun stands out with its seamless walls and trapezoidal entrances. Late afternoon brings you to Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the mountains.
Included Activities
- Tour of Ingapirca Inca site
- Visit Temple of the Sun
Landmarks/POIs Ingapirca Temple of the Sun - Day 10
Cuenca
Spend your morning in Cuenca's historic center, walking past 19th-century buildings, neo-colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and wrought-iron balconies. Cuenca is known for its arts and crafts including ceramics, Panama hats, jewelry, and furniture all made by hand here. Watch artisans work in their studios and shops throughout the day.
Included Activities
- Tour of Cuenca historic center
- View local arts and crafts demonstrations
Landmarks/POIs Cuenca Historic Center - Day 11
Cuenca to Guayaquil
You'll cross Cajas National Park, which has hundreds of cold-water lakes, rugged rock formations, and paramo vegetation mixed with cloud forest. A short walk through the highlands gives way to tropical plantations with rice, cocoa, bananas, and pineapples. By afternoon, you'll reach Ecuador's largest city. Explore the Malecon 2000 waterfront and Parque Seminario where exotic iguanas roam freely.
Included Activities
- Short walk through Cajas National Park highlands
- Sightseeing tour of Guayaquil
- Visit Malecon 2000
- Visit Parque Seminario
Landmarks/POIs Cajas National Park Malecon 2000 Parque Seminario - Day 12
Guayaquil to Galápagos Islands
Fly across the Pacific to the Galápagos Islands, landing on Baltra before heading to Santa Cruz. Stop at Los Gemelos, twin craters with ferns, miconia bushes, and scalesia forest surrounding them. Lunch comes at a ranch where you'll see Galápagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You'll reach Puerto Ayora port town and check into your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on ranch with Galápagos giant tortoise observation)
Included Activities
- Domestic flight Guayaquil to Baltra
- Stop at Los Gemelos twin craters
- Lunch with Galápagos giant tortoise observation on ranch
- Transportation from Baltra to Santa Cruz island
Landmarks/POIs Baltra Island Santa Cruz Island Los Gemelos - Day 13
Santa Cruz Island
Head out to Las Grietas, lava formations with crystal-clear water for swimming and snorkeling. You'll walk past Playa de los Alemanes, a pink salt lake, and through tree cactus forest to reach the rocky gorge. Visit Charles Darwin Station to learn about biological research and conservation work. Late afternoon speedboat ride takes you to Isabela Island where you'll have free time on Puerto Villamil's white sandy beach.
Included Activities
- Visit Las Grietas lava formations
- Swimming and snorkeling at Las Grietas
- Nature trail walk through tree cactus forest
- Visit Charles Darwin Station
- Speedboat ride to Isabela Island
- Beach time at Puerto Villamil
Landmarks/POIs Las Grietas Playa de los Alemanes Charles Darwin Station Isabela Island Puerto Villamil - Day 14
Isabela Island
After breakfast, drive to the national park entrance and hike roughly 9km to Sierra Negra volcano crater rim at 1124m. This oldest and most active of Isabela's six volcanoes shows off one of the world's largest calderas from its edges. Continue over rugged landscape dotted with green cacti and active Chico volcano to a plateau with views of rust-brown lava fields and ocean. Hike back to the entrance, then relax on the beach or explore Puerto Villamil village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast (included)
- Hike to Sierra Negra volcano crater rim
- Hike over Chico volcano landscape
- Exploration of Puerto Villamil village or beach time
Optional Activities
- Los Tuneles Cabo Rosa snorkeling excursion
Landmarks/POIs Sierra Negra Volcano Chico Volcano Los Tuneles Cabo Rosa - Day 15
Isabela to Santa Cruz Island
Take a short boat trip to Las Tintoreras lava formations and hike through the bizarre lava landscape. You'll snorkel in shallow waters looking for Galápagos penguins (the world's northernmost penguin population), sea turtles, parrotfish, angelfish, and rays. Late afternoon speedboat ride brings you back to Santa Cruz where you'll have free time in the relaxed town.
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Las Tintoreras lava formations
- Short hike through lava landscape
- Snorkeling in Las Tintoreras bay
- Wildlife watching (penguins, sea turtles, tropical fish)
- Speedboat ride to Santa Cruz Island
Landmarks/POIs Las Tintoreras Santa Cruz Island - Day 16
Santa Cruz Island
Walk to Tortuga Bay along a hiking trail from Puerto Ayora, or head to Muelle de los Pescadores where sea lions and pelicans gather hoping for scraps from fishermen. Watch this natural spectacle of animals in their environment. An optional boat excursion to uninhabited islands is available if you want more intimate island exploration.
Included Activities
- Morning walk to Tortuga Bay or visit Muelle de los Pescadores
Optional Activities
- Boat day trip to uninhabited island (Plaza Sur with sesuvia and yellow land iguanas, Seymour Norte with magnificent frigate birds, or Santa Fe with endemic animals)
Landmarks/POIs Tortuga Bay Muelle de los Pescadores Plaza Sur Seymour Norte Santa Fe Island - Day 17
Departure from Galápagos
Early morning transfer to Baltra airport for your flight back to the continent. Check in for your international departure. It's time to leave the islands behind and head home.
- Day 18
Arrival at Home
You arrive at your departure airport, reflecting on your journey through Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. The trip wraps up as you head home with memories of mountains, markets, and wildlife.
