Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport and get transferred to your hotel. Check-in happens at 14:00, so you'll have the rest of the day to settle in and get ready for what's ahead in Ecuador.
- Day 2
Quito
After breakfast at the hotel, a 3-hour guided tour takes you through Quito's Old Town where you'll see the Basilica Church, Plaza Grande, Compañía de Jesús Church, and San Francisco Church. Then you head up to Panecillo Hill for views with the Virgin of Quito statue overlooking the city. In the afternoon, you'll drive to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and check out the Intiñan Museum to learn about Ecuador's position right on the equator.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Quito city tour - 3 hours exploring Old Town
- Visit Basilica Church
- Visit Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia)
- Visit Compañía de Jesús Church
- Visit San Francisco Church
- Visit Panecillo Hill viewpoint
- Visit Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
- Visit Intiñan Museum with interactive exhibits
Landmarks/POIs Basilica Church (Basilica del Voto Nacional) Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia) Compañía de Jesús Church San Francisco Church Panecillo Hill Ciudad Mitad del Mundo Intiñan Museum - Day 3
Papallacta to Amazon
You start with breakfast, then drive to Papallacta where you'll soak in the natural thermal pools (36°C to 40°C/97°F to 104°F) along the Papallacta River. After relaxing, you continue driving through the Andes down into the Amazon with photo stops at valleys and waterfalls. Later you take a 15-minute canoe ride to Casa del Suizo lodge, and in the evening visit Ahuano village to see Quichua culture, traditional chicha-making, spiritual rituals, and try blowgun shooting.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Dinner
Included Activities
- Thermal baths at Papallacta - soaking in hot springs pools
- Visit Ahuano village for Quichua cultural experience
- Learn traditional chicha-making and taste the beverage
- Participate in blowgun target-shooting
Landmarks/POIs Papallacta Napo River - Day 4
Amazon Rainforest Exploration
Breakfast at the lodge, then a 20-minute canoe ride down the Napo River gets you to Cosano for a 2-hour rainforest walk spotting birds and learning about plants. Alternatively, you can walk around The Island to see various insects and plants. After that you'll visit Amazoonico rescue center to see coatis, tapirs, monkeys, snakes, and birds. Later you head to the Mariposario butterfly house to watch different butterfly species and their metamorphosis.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the lodge), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canoe ride on Napo River - 20 minutes
- Guided rainforest walk at Cosano - approximately 2 hours
- Visit Amazoonico rescue center
- Visit Mariposario (butterfly house)
Optional Activities
- The Island walk - 1-hour alternative walk on a flat river island observing plants and insects
Landmarks/POIs Cosano Amazoonico - Day 5
Baños and Waterfall Route
You leave the lodge after breakfast and drive to Baños, a town known as the Gateway to the Amazon Region. On the way you stop at Pailón del Diablo waterfall (80 meters tall) and explore other falls along a scenic route. You'll see Agoyan Waterfall and cross on a tarabita cable car at Manto de la Novia. Then you check in at your hotel in Baños to rest up.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the lodge)
Included Activities
- Visit Pailón del Diablo waterfall
- Explore Agoyan Waterfall
- Visit Manto de la Novia waterfall
- Cross Manto de la Novia on tarabita (cable car)
Landmarks/POIs Pailón del Diablo Agoyan Waterfall Manto de la Novia - Day 6
Baños to Riobamba
After breakfast, you head to La Casa del Árbol to swing on the famous Swing of the End of the World at 2,600 meters above sea level, with views of Tungurahua volcano. Back in town you'll see how marshmallow candy gets made traditionally. Then you drive to Riobamba and check into your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Swing of the End of the World at La Casa del Árbol
- Traditional marshmallow (sugar cane candy) production demonstration
Landmarks/POIs La Casa del Árbol (Swing of the End of the World) Tungurahua Volcano - Day 7
Chimborazo Reserve to Ingapirca to Cuenca
You'll visit Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain at 6,310 meters, and the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve where vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas roam the stark highland landscape. Next you drive to Ingapirca, the largest archaeological site in Ecuador, to see the Temple of the Sun and ancient Cañari-Inca structures. Then it's on to Cuenca where you can spend free time in this UNESCO World Heritage city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Box lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve
- Visit Ingapirca archaeological site
- Explore Temple of the Sun at Ingapirca
- View Pilaloma building at Ingapirca
Landmarks/POIs Chimborazo Ingapirca - Day 8
Cuenca
Starting with breakfast in Cuenca at 2,560 meters above sea level, you walk through the Old Town on cobblestone streets past colonial buildings with hanging balconies and carved wooden doors. You'll see the colorful flower market, the Old Cathedral (now a Museum for Religious Art), and the blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. You'll also watch silversmiths work and visit a Panama Hat factory to see how they're made.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cuenca Old Town
- Visit main plaza and historic buildings
- Visit Old Cathedral (Museum for Religious Art)
- Visit Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
- Watch silversmiths at work
- Browse local handicrafts and flower market
- Visit Panama Hat factory
Landmarks/POIs Cuenca Old Town Old Cathedral (Museum for Religious Art) Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Day 9
Cajas National Park to Guayaquil
After breakfast, you head to Cajas National Park west of Cuenca, where the landscape has knob and kettle geography with bedrock and pristine lakes from 2,800 to over 4,400 meters in altitude. You'll explore the ecosystem home to rare animal species. In the afternoon you drive about 3.5 hours to Guayaquil, stopping at a cacao plantation for lunch before continuing to the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at Cacao y Mango Plantation)
Included Activities
- Visit Cajas National Park
- Lunch at Cacao y Mango Plantation
- Visit cacao plantation
Landmarks/POIs Cajas National Park - Day 10
Departure
You transfer to the airport for your international flight home, ending your Ecuador trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
