Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito to Amazon Eco-Lodge
You'll leave Quito early and head into the Andes, stopping at scenic viewpoints to see Antisana Volcano along the way. The route takes you down through the inter-oceanic highway toward the Amazon basin, where you'll pass three waterfalls known as Las 3 Marías before reaching the city of Tena. From there, a motorized canoe carries you through tropical forest to your eco-lodge situated on the Napo and Arajuno rivers. After settling in, you can relax by the water and then join a nocturnal jungle hike where you'll search for tarantulas, frogs, and insects in the darkness.
- Start point
- Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (Hotel pick-up, 07:00 - 07:30)
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Cottage (Amazon Eco Lodge)
Included Activities
- Viewpoint visit to see Antisana Volcano (weather permitting)
- Stop in Tena city for walking and shopping
- Motorized canoe transfer through tropical forest to eco-lodge (20 minutes)
- Nocturnal hike on eco-lodge trails
Landmarks Antisana Volcano Las 3 Marías Waterfalls Tena 
- Day 2
Amazon Eco-Lodge
Following breakfast, you'll take a canoe across the Arajuno River to enter a protector forest with a guide who'll point out monkeys, native plants, and tropical birds while explaining jungle ecology and medicinal uses of local plants, about 2.5 to 3 hours total. In the afternoon, you'll travel to an Amazonian Kichwa community to learn how residents live and interact with their jungle surroundings. You'll help prepare chicha from fermented yucca, taste traditional food, watch community children perform traditional dances, and look through local handicrafts for sale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Kichwa dishes), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Cottage (Amazon Eco Lodge)
Included Activities
- Guided canoe crossing of Arajuno River
- Protector forest visit with native guide (approximately 2.5 to 3 hours)
- Observation of monkeys, jungle plants, and birds
- Jungle interpretation and medicinal plant information
- Visit to Kichwa community
- Participation in chicha (fermented yucca drink) preparation
- Tasting of traditional dishes
- Traditional dance performance by community children
- Indigenous handicraft shopping
Landmarks Arajuno River Protector Forest - Day 3
Amazon Eco-Lodge to Baños
Early morning brings a 15-minute canoe ride upriver to the Parrots clay lick where hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather to eat minerals from the clay wall, so bring binoculars for viewing. After a 20-minute motorized canoe ride to Arajuno Bridge, you'll travel to La Casa del Árbol (Tree House) at 8,727 feet elevation, a viewing point for Mama Tungurahua Volcano where you can try the famous end of the world swing and take photos. Once you reach Baños, you can rest at your hotel or explore this small adventure city with its squares, a Neo-Gothic Basilica built in 1904, plus various bars and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (La Floresta)
Included Activities
- Canoe ride to Parrots clay lick (15 minutes)
- Observation of parrots and parakeets at Saladero
- Motorized canoe transfer to Arajuno Bridge (20 minutes)
- Visit to La Casa del Árbol (Tree House)
- End of the world swing activity
- View of Mama Tungurahua Volcano
Optional Activities
- Self-guided walking tour of Baños city
Landmarks Parrots Clay Lick (Saladero) La Casa del Árbol (Tree House) Mama Tungurahua Volcano Baños Neo-Gothic Basilica 
- Day 4
Baños to Quito
You'll hike down to Devil's Cauldron waterfall, an impressive cascade with enough water flow to fill an Olympic pool in an hour, then walk paths beside the green river and descend to a suspension bridge 328 feet high for a close view of the waterfall's full force. Next, you'll cross the Pastaza River by Tarabita cable car to see the Bride's Mantle waterfall in Llanganates National Park, surrounded by orchids and other local plants. There's an optional stop at a melcochas shop to watch sugar cane taffy being made and packaged before heading back toward Quito with drop-off available anywhere in the city or at the airport.
- End point
- Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (Hotel drop-off, 17:00 - 18:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike to Devil's Cauldron waterfall
- Walk along green river paths
- Suspension bridge crossing (328 feet high)
- Cable car crossing (Tarabita) of Pastaza River
- Visit to Bride's Mantle waterfall
- Observation of orchids and local plants
Optional Activities
- Visit to melcochas store to observe sugar cane taffy manufacture and packaging
Landmarks Devil's Cauldron Waterfall Bride's Mantle Waterfall Llanganates National Park Pastaza River
