Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll get picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel. After you check in, the evening is yours to rest and get settled before everything starts.
- Day 2
Quito to Mindo
Morning takes you through colonial Quito's old town where you'll walk past squares and churches, including La Compañía with its ornate facade. Around midday, pick up your rental car and head north toward Mindo. On the drive, stop at the Equator monument where you can stand on the line itself, then check out the Solar and Ethnographic Museums before arriving in Mindo by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk through colonial old town of Quito
- Visit La Compañía Jesuit church
- Visit Equator monument at 'Middle of the World'
- Visit Solar Museum
- Visit Ethnographic Museum
Landmarks La Compañía de Jesús Middle of the World Monument - Day 3
Mindo
After breakfast, take a cable car up to the waterfalls area where you can swim in the pools. Later in the afternoon, visit the Mariposario to see the butterfly breeding station up close. If you're interested, options like canoping, tubing, or horse riding are available. When evening arrives, head to Mindo Lago for a guided frog concert and learn about the local species from an expert guide.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to waterfalls path
- Swimming at waterfalls
- Frog concert at Mindo Lago with expert explanation
Optional Activities
- Visit Mariposario butterfly breeding station
- Canoping
- Tubing
- Horse riding
- Day 4
Mindo to Pacto
Drive deeper into the cloud forest heading toward Pacto. Stop at the Tulipe archaeological museum to see Pre-Inca Yumbo artifacts (note it's only open Wednesday through Sunday). After settling in, take a 15 km drive on dirt road into Mashpi Amagusa Protected Area where you'll spot iridescent tanagers, endemic green tanagers, parrots, and toucans in their habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mashpi Amagusa Protected Area for bird watching
Optional Activities
- Visit Tulipe archaeological museum of Pre-Inca Yumbo culture
- Day 5
Pacto to Otavalo
Head north through Guayabamba Valley and past Lake San Pablo toward Otavalo. If you want a detour, the pre-Inca pyramids of Cochasquí are worth the stop. Later in the day near Otavalo, choose between visiting the Peguche waterfall and village or exploring Condor Park to see the birds up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit pre-Inca pyramids of Cochasquí
- Visit Peguche waterfall and village
- Visit Condor Park
Landmarks Lake San Pablo - Day 6
Otavalo
Spend time at Plaza de Ponchos where the market is especially lively on Saturdays. You have several options for the day: hike and boat around Cuicocha lagoon, explore Cotacachi's leather workshops and museum, or trek to the Mojanda lagoons. Pick whichever appeals most to you and spend the afternoon there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Plaza de Ponchos
Optional Activities
- Trip to Cuicocha guinea pig lagoon with hiking and boating
- Visit Cotacachi leather village and museum
- Trip to Mojanda lagoons
Landmarks Plaza de Ponchos - Day 7
Otavalo to Cotopaxi National Park
Drive south on the Road of Volcanoes past Quito to reach Cotopaxi National Park. From the parking area, hike about 45 minutes to the volcano's refuge. If the weather cooperates, continue hiking toward the snow line to take in the views. You'll spend the night near the park.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Cotopaxi volcano refuge (approximately 45 minutes)
Landmarks Cotopaxi - Day 8
Cotopaxi to Banos
Start early with a drive through Latacunga to the village of Zumbahua and up to Quilotoa lake in the mountains. Hike down to the shoreline or, if preferred, take a mule for part of the way. In the afternoon, drive to Banos (at 1800m/5900 feet), a resort town where you'll have a short evening tour to get oriented to the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike to Quilotoa lake shore
- Evening city tour of Banos
Optional Activities
- Mule ride at Quilotoa lake
Landmarks Quilotoa - Day 9
Banos to Puyo
Visit the 'Swing at the End of the World' which offers views of the active Tugurahua Volcano. Then drive into the Amazon region where you'll stop to see several waterfalls in Pastaza Valley including Ulba Fall, Bridal Veil, and Devil's Pool in Río Verde. You'll do short hikes and take a cable car ride before reaching Puyo late in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Swing at the End of the World
- Visit Pastaza Valley waterfalls (Ulba Fall, Bridal Veil, Devil's Pool in Río Verde)
- Cable car ride
Landmarks Tugurahua - Day 10
Puyo to Puerto Napo
Drive to Río Napo and head to the village of Misahuallí where capuchin monkeys frequently come down to the sandy beach. Swim in the river and take a boat ride. When conditions allow, hike to Las Latas waterfall. From there, continue through Tena and Archidona to your lodge where you can sit back and listen to jungle sounds during dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Misahuallí village
- Swimming at Misahuallí beach
- Boat ride on Río Napo
Optional Activities
- Hike to Las Latas waterfall
Landmarks Río Napo - Day 11
Puerto Napo to Papallacta
Travel back into the Andes via the scenic route through Baeza to Papallacta. Once you're settled, drive 5 km on a dirt road to Cayambe Coca National Park. Hike independently to either Loreto Cocha Lagoon or Laguna de Baños with its waterfall. End the day relaxing in Papallacta's natural hot springs where spa facilities and massage services are available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Enjoy hot springs at Papallacta
Optional Activities
- Hike to Loreto Cocha Lagoon
- Hike to Laguna de Baños and waterfall
- Hike La Isla trail (approximately 1 hour) through endemic highland forest
Landmarks Cayambe Coca National Park - Day 12
Papallacta to Quito
The morning is free for swimming and relaxing in the hot springs. There's an optional 1-hour walk on the marked La Isla trail that takes you through endemic highland forest by the river if you want to get out. By midday, drive to Tababela Airport to return your rental car and catch your flight back to Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- La Isla trail walk (approximately 1 hour) through endemic highland forest
