Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll touch down in Quito where a local representative meets you at the airport and drives you to your hotel in the historic center. The evening is free, so you can settle in, walk around, and get oriented to the city at your own pace.
- Day 2
Quito to Otavalo
After breakfast, you'll walk through the colonial old town before heading to pick up your rental car. Your German-speaking rep gives you driving tips for the journey ahead. From there you'll drive north through the Guayabamba Valley, past Lake San Pablo to Otavalo. In the afternoon, stop at either Peguche waterfall and village or Condor Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit colonial old town of Quito
- Car rental pickup with orientation
Optional Activities
- Visit Peguche waterfall and village
- Visit Condor Park
Landmarks Lake San Pablo Peguche Waterfall Condor Park - Day 3
Otavalo
Check out the vibrant Plaza de Ponchos market, which really comes alive on Saturdays. You have options today: hike and boat at Cuicocha lagoon, see the leather workshops in Cotacachi with its museum, or head to El Angel nature reserve or the Mojanda lagoons for some serious hiking.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Plaza de Ponchos market
- Trip to Cuicocha lagoon with hiking and boating
- Visit Cotacachi leather village and museum
- Visit El Angel nature reserve
- Visit Mojanda lagoons with hiking
Landmarks Plaza de Ponchos Cuicocha Lagoon Cotacachi El Angel Nature Reserve Mojanda Lagoons - Day 4
Otavalo to Papallacta
Drive through Cayambe and El Quinche into the Eastern Cordillera highlands. At Papallacta Pass, you'll reach the Cayambe Coca reserve and a viewpoint at 4300m elevation with incredible views. Later, arrive at Papallacta hot springs where you can swim, take a short hike by the river, or spend time in the spa area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Papallacta hot springs with swimming
Optional Activities
- Hike along Papallacta river
- Use spa area at Papallacta
Landmarks Cayambe Coca Reserve Papallacta Pass Viewpoint Papallacta Hot Springs - Day 5
Papallacta to Cotopaxi National Park
Start with one more swim in the volcanic hot springs. Then drive south on the Volcano Road to Cotopaxi National Park. You'll walk about 45 minutes from the parking lot to reach the volcano's refuge. If weather cooperates, keep going to the snow line for fantastic views before driving to your hotel near the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cotopaxi volcano refuge with guided walk (approximately 45 minutes)
Optional Activities
- Hike to volcano snow line (weather dependent)
Landmarks Cotopaxi Volcano Cotopaxi National Park - Day 6
Cotopaxi National Park to Banos
Leave early and drive via Latacunga to Zumbahua and on to Quilotoa, one of Ecuador's most beautiful mountain lakes. Hike down to the lakeshore and try the optional mule ride down into the crater. Afternoon brings a drive to Banos at 1800m elevation, and you'll take a short tour in the evening to get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Quilotoa mountain lake
Optional Activities
- Hike to Quilotoa lakeshore
- Mule ride at Quilotoa
Landmarks Quilotoa Lagoon Zumbahua - Day 7
Banos
Banos is ideal for outdoor activities. Head toward the Amazon region to see the Pastaza Valley waterfalls. Visit the Bride's Veil and Devil's Pool for short hikes and a cable car ride. The Bellavista viewpoint and thermal springs are also worth your time. Pick from rafting, horseback riding, or cycling depending on your mood.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Bride's Veil waterfall with short hike
- Visit Devil's Pool with short hike
- Cable car ride in Pastaza Valley
- Visit Bellavista viewpoint
- Visit thermal springs
- Rafting
- Horseback riding
- Cycling
Landmarks Pastaza Valley Bride's Veil Waterfall Devil's Pool Bellavista Viewpoint - Day 8
Banos to Guamote
Drive back into the highlands and stop at weekly markets in Salasaca, Riobamba (if it's Saturday), and Guamote (Thursday market). Then head to Chimborazo National Park where you might spot llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. You can reach the first refuge of Ecuador's highest mountain on your own, then drive south past Colta Lake to Guamote.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Salasaca market
- Visit Riobamba market (Saturdays)
- Visit Guamote market (Thursdays)
- Visit Chimborazo National Park
- Hike to first refuge of Chimborazo mountain
Landmarks Salasaca Market Riobamba Market Guamote Market Chimborazo National Park Colta Lake - Day 9
Guamote to Cuenca
Continue south to Ingapirca, Ecuador's largest and most important Inca fortress. Consider detouring to the sand dunes of Palmira desert along the way. See the Sun Temple and archaeological museum, then drive to Cuenca for a short evening tour to explore this historic city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ingapirca Sun Temple
Optional Activities
- Visit Palmira desert sand dunes
- Visit Ingapirca archaeological museum
Landmarks Ingapirca Palmira Desert - Day 10
Cuenca
Spend the day exploring Cuenca's colonial old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the old and new cathedrals, the flower market, and the Central Bank archaeological museum. Stop by Panama hat production workshops to see how the hats are actually made. By afternoon, climb to El Turi viewpoint for panoramic city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- City tour of colonial old town
- Visit old cathedral
- Visit new cathedral
- Visit flower market
- Visit Central Bank archaeological museum
- Visit Panama hat production workshop
- Visit El Turi viewpoint
Landmarks Cuenca Historic Center Catedral Vieja (Old Cathedral) Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral) Flower Market Central Bank Archaeological Museum El Turi Viewpoint - Day 11
Cuenca to Guayaquil
Drive to Cajas National Park and take a short hike, then continue toward the coast to reach Guayaquil, Ecuador's port city. After settling in at your hotel, visit the Iguana Park nearby or walk along the Malecón 2000 waterfront to the Santa Ana viewpoint for city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike in Cajas National Park
Optional Activities
- Visit Iguana Park (Lizard Park)
- Walk along Malecón 2000 waterfront promenade
- Visit Santa Ana viewpoint
Landmarks Cajas National Park Iguana Park Malecón 2000 Santa Ana Hill - Day 12
Guayaquil to Puerto Lopez
Take the Route of the Sun to the seaside resort of Salinas, then continue on to the surfing hub of Montañita. Drive along the coast to Puerto López, stopping at the archaeological museum in Santa Elena on the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Salinas seaside resort
- Visit Montañita surfing area
- Visit Santa Elena archaeological museum
Landmarks Salinas Montañita Santa Elena Archaeological Museum - Day 13
Puerto Lopez
Visit Machalilla National Park and the small village of Agua Blanca in the tropical dry forest, which has its own archaeological museum. In the afternoon, head to the pristine beach of Los Frailes and climb up to the viewpoint for great coastal views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Machalilla National Park
- Visit Agua Blanca village
- Visit Agua Blanca archaeological museum
- Visit Los Frailes beach
- Hike to Los Frailes viewpoint
Landmarks Machalilla National Park Agua Blanca Los Frailes Beach - Day 14
Puerto Lopez
After breakfast, you'll be picked up for a day trip to Isla de la Plata, also called the Little Galápagos because of its blue-footed, red-footed, and masked boobies. From June to September, you might see humpback whales. The rest of the day is free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch)
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Isla de la Plata with snorkeling equipment and box lunch
Landmarks Isla de la Plata - Day 15
Puerto Lopez to Canoa
Drive along the coast via Bahía de Caraquez to the small fishing village of Canoa where your hotel sits right on the beach. In the afternoon, take a trip from San Vicente to the Corazón mangrove island, visit the Río Muchacho eco-farm inland, or just relax on the wide sandy beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Trip to Corazón mangrove island from San Vicente
- Visit Río Muchacho eco-farm
- Beach time in Canoa
Landmarks Bahía de Caraquez Canoa Corazón Mangrove Island Río Muchacho Eco-Farm - Day 16
Canoa to Mindo
Cross the equator at Pedernales, then take a fantastic route through Valle Hermoso back into the Andes and the tropical mountain cloud forest. You'll arrive in Mindo, Ecuador's hummingbird paradise, where you can take a short hike to the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Short hike to river in Mindo
Landmarks Pedernales Equator Crossing Valle Hermoso Mindo Cloud Forest - Day 17
Mindo
After breakfast, take a cable car to access the waterfall trail with several swimming spots along the way. In the afternoon, visit the Mariposario butterfly breeding station. You can also arrange canoping, tubing, and horseback riding on site. By evening, listen to a frog concert at Mindo Lago with expert commentary.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride to waterfall path with swimming
- Visit Mariposario butterfly breeding station
- Canoping
- Tubing
- Horseback riding
- Frog concert at Mindo Lago with expert guide
Landmarks Mindo Waterfalls Mariposario Mindo Lago - Day 18
Mindo to Quito
On your drive back to Quito, stop at the archaeological excavations at Tulipe. Along the route, visit the hummingbird paradise of Los Armadillos, the Pululagua Crater, and the Equator Monument at the Middle of the World with its ethnographic and Inti Ñan solar museums.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Tulipe archaeological excavations
- Visit Los Armadillos hummingbird sanctuary
- Visit Pululagua Crater
- Visit Equator Monument and ethnographic museum
- Visit Inti Ñan solar museum
Landmarks Tulipe Archaeological Site Los Armadillos Pululagua Crater Equator Monument - Middle of the World Inti Ñan Solar Museum - Day 19
Departure from Quito
You have time to pick up last-minute souvenirs or relax with a freshly squeezed tropical fruit juice at one of Quito's cafés before heading to the airport. Return your rental car to the agency office at the same time as your original pickup.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Shop for souvenirs in Quito
- Café visit for refreshments
