Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive in Quito and check into your hotel by mid-afternoon. After getting settled, you have the rest of the day to explore the city at your own pace. This gives you a chance to walk around the neighborhood, grab a bite, or just relax before your group activities start.
- Day 2
Quito
This morning, a local guide takes you through Quito's historic center. You'll see Independence Square with the Government Palace and Bishop's Palace, then walk through La Compañía church to see its ornate exterior. Next comes San Francisco church, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the El Alabado Museum where you can see pre-Colombian art in a restored colonial house. By evening, you'll head to a local restaurant to try Ecuadorian dishes for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant featuring Ecuadorian dishes)
Included Activities
- City tour with local guide visiting Independence Square, Government Palace, and Bishop's Palace
- Visit to La Compañía church
- Visit to San Francisco church
- Behind-the-scenes immersion tour of El Alabado Museum pre-Colombian art collection
Landmarks Independence Square (Plaza Grande) La Compañía Church San Francisco Church El Alabado Museum 
- Day 3
Quito to Otavalo
Early today, you travel north toward Otavalo through mountain terrain and pass the Guayllabamba gorge and snow-capped Cayambe volcano (18,996 ft/5,790 m). At the Quitsato Sundial Monument on the equator line, you'll stop briefly. Next, you visit a wool weaving workshop to see traditional backstrap loom techniques. Then comes the famous Otavalo Market where you can browse handwoven crafts, belts, tapestries, and ponchos. You return to Quito later with your evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Quitsato Sundial Monument on the equator
- Wool weaving workshop visit with demonstration of traditional techniques
- Otavalo Market visit
Landmarks Guayllabamba Gorge Cayambe Volcano San Pablo Lake Quitsato Sundial Monument Otavalo Market 
- Day 4
Quito to Amazon (Ahuano)
You head east toward the Amazon, stopping at a rose plantation to learn about Ecuador's famous roses and sustainable farming. After that, you continue into the Amazon basin and reach Ahuano Point on the Napo River. Check in at La Casa del Suizo, a rustic lodge with cabañas overlooking the river. Settle in and spend time on your private hammock taking in the views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of rose plantation with sustainable farming education
Landmarks Napo River - Day 5
Amazon (Ahuano)
Each morning here, you join a Quichuan guide for motorized canoe rides and forest trails. Your guide shares knowledge about local plants, animals, and medicinal uses you'll see. After returning for lunch, you can relax at the lodge or try optional activities like a balsa raft experience with afternoon tea, or visit a nearby Quichua village to see blowpipe demonstrations and chicha preparation. Dinner at the lodge features fresh Ecuadorian-influenced cooking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at the resort featuring fresh dishes with Ecuadorian influences)
Included Activities
- Motorized canoe rides through forest trails with Quichuan local guide
- Forest exploration with indigenous guide knowledge of flora and fauna
Optional Activities
- Balsa raft experience with afternoon tea
- Visit to Quichua village with blowpipe demonstrations
- Watch preparation of chicha, a local alcoholic drink
Landmarks Ecuadorian Amazon Basin - Day 6
Amazon to Baños
After your morning in the forest, you have lunch at the ecolodge and then travel west through the Andes. The landscape changes as you head toward Baños, passing high mountain peaks and volcanoes. This town sits below Tungurahua Volcano and has a Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin of the Holy Water. You'll have free time to stroll through street cafés, restaurants, and shops to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Landmarks Tungurahua Volcano Baños Cathedral - Day 7
Baños to Riobamba
After breakfast, you follow the River Cutuchi with views over the Amazon basin. Then comes a short 1.5 mile hike through forest to Devil's Cauldron waterfall, crossing a hanging bridge before getting splashed by the water. From there, you continue south to Riobamba where you'll stop at the base of Chimborazo volcano (20,564 ft/6,268 m) before checking in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike to Devil's Cauldron waterfall (approximately 1.5 mi./2km)
- Visit to base of Chimborazo volcano
Landmarks River Cutuchi Devil's Cauldron Waterfall Chimborazo Volcano 
- Day 8
Riobamba to Cuenca
You travel south from Riobamba to Cuenca, stopping at Ingapirca, an important pre-Spanish Inca site built in the shape of a puma. Learn about Inca customs and beliefs here. When you arrive in Cuenca, an afternoon tour takes you through the UNESCO World Heritage historic center around Plaza Mayor with two cathedrals and city hall. You'll see colorful colonial buildings, the flower market, and Todos los Santos church with its painted ceilings. The evening is yours to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Ingapirca Inca ruins with civilization insights
- Sightseeing tour of Cuenca's historic center
- Visit to Todos los Santos church
Landmarks Ingapirca Inca Ruins Plaza Mayor (Cuenca) Santa Ana de los Rios de Cuenca Todos los Santos Church Tomebamba River 
- Day 9
Cuenca Region Villages
Today you visit artisan villages around Cuenca. In Gualaceo, check out markets for woven shawls and ponchos. Stop in Bullcay for Ikat weaving, then head to Chordeleg to see jewelry makers working with gold and silver filigree and ceramic potters. Next is Sigsig where you'll watch Toquilleras craft Panama hats and try making your own to take home. You return to Cuenca for a special dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit to Gualaceo markets for hand-woven crafts
- Visit to Bullcay for Ikat weaving
- Visit to Chordeleg for jewelry and ceramic pottery
- Visit to Sigsig for Panama hat making demonstrations
- Hands-on straw craft activity
Landmarks Gualaceo Bullcay Chordeleg Sigsig - Day 10
Cuenca to Guayaquil
You drive west to Guayaquil, and the vegetation changes dramatically from Páramo grassland to rice, cacao, and banana plantations. Visit a woman-owned cacao plantation and business where you'll have lunch at the hacienda and taste high-quality chocolate. You'll see how local sweets and chocolates are made. After this, you continue to Guayaquil where the evening is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at the Cacao Project onsite hacienda)
Included Activities
- Guided tour through Cacao Project plantations with cultivation education
- Lunch at Cacao Project hacienda
- Chocolate tasting
Landmarks Cacao Project - Day 11
Guayaquil
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. Safe travels until next time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
