Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll arrive in Quito this afternoon and get picked up at the airport for the drive to your hotel in the new city, which takes about an hour. The rest of your evening is yours to settle in and try some Ecuadorian dishes or international options at the hotel restaurant.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Ikala)
- Day 2
Quito
Your German-speaking guide meets you this morning and takes you up the cable car to Pichincha mountain. You'll do a short walk at roughly 4000m/13,100 feet to get a feel for the altitude. Later, after lunch, you'll walk through Quito's old town with your guide, seeing major squares and historic sites like the Jesuit Church La Compañía, San Francisco Monastery, and the Basilica Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Ikala)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Pichincha mountain range
- Short walk at Pichincha (approximately 4000m)
- Guided city tour of UNESCO World Heritage old town
- Visit Jesuit Church La Compañía
- Visit San Francisco Monastery
- Visit Basilica Cathedral
Landmarks Pichincha Jesuit Church La Compañía San Francisco Monastery Basilica Cathedral - Day 3
Quito to Otavalo
After breakfast, your guide collects you and you drive north to Otavalo to drop off luggage at your hotel. Then you head to Cuicocha (Guinea Pig Lagoon) in the Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve for a walk around the lake at the base of the often snow-capped Cotacachi volcano. You'll see orchids and bromeliads throughout the hike. On the way back, you stop in the small town of Cotacachi to check out its traditional leather goods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda Pinsaquí)
Included Activities
- Hike around Cuicocha lagoon in Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve
- Visit Cotacachi small town
Landmarks Cuicocha Lagoon Cotacachi Volcano Cotacachi - Day 4
Otavalo to Cayambe
You drive to Cayambe and board 4x4 vehicles heading to Ruales Oleas refuge. Cayambe volcano sits right on the equator and at 5790m/19,000 feet is Ecuador's third highest peak. You'll walk a loop trail going uphill to the glacier and past a small lagoon, then return to your starting point before heading back to your hacienda near Otavalo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda Pinsaquí)
Included Activities
- 4x4 vehicle transportation to Ruales Oleas refuge
- Hike to glacier and Laguna near Cayambe volcano
Landmarks Cayambe Volcano - Day 5
Otavalo to Papallacta
This morning you head toward the Amazon through Cayambe Coca National Park. Beyond the pass at over 4000m/13,100 feet, the 'Way of the Bear' trail starts. You'll walk through wet páramo highland past mountain lakes looking for deer, Andean foxes, and possibly spectacled bears. After that, you spend the afternoon soaking in Ecuador's hot springs at Termas de Papallacta, where saunas and massage are available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Termas Papallacta)
Included Activities
- Hike 'Way of the Bear' trail in Cayambe Coca National Park to La Milagrosa waterfall
- Access to Termas de Papallacta hot springs
Optional Activities
- Sauna at Termas de Papallacta
- Massage at Termas de Papallacta
Landmarks Cayambe Coca National Park La Milagrosa Waterfall Termas de Papallacta - Day 6
Papallacta to Cotopaxi National Park
After your final soak in the volcanic hot springs this morning, you drive to Antisana National Park. The Antisana volcano at 5753m/18,875 feet is Ecuador's fourth highest and one of the best spots to see condors. You'll walk around Mica Lagoon to a viewpoint and stop at Secas Lagoon before heading south toward Cotopaxi. Your lodge sits in the national park with great views of the world's second highest active volcano. Before sunset, you take a short walk around the property.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tambopaxi Lodge)
Included Activities
- Visit Antisana National Park
- Hike around Mica Lagoon to viewpoint
- Stop at Secas Lagoon
- Short walk around Cotopaxi lodge before sunset
Landmarks Antisana National Park Antisana Volcano Mica Lagoon Secas Lagoon Cotopaxi Volcano Cotopaxi National Park 
- Day 7
Cotopaxi National Park
You drive to the parking area and hike uphill to the José Ribas refuge, where hot coca tea waits for you. From there, you can continue to the snow line of Ecuador's second highest mountain at 5897m/19,350 feet if conditions are good. Then you descend to Limpiopungo Lagoon for a loop walk and grab a late lunch in the park. Later, you drive west over the western mountain range past Latacunga and Zumbahua to reach the green Quilotoa Lagoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Samay Quirutoa)
Included Activities
- Hike to José Ribas refuge on Cotopaxi
- Optional hike to snow line of Cotopaxi (5897m)
- Loop walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon
Landmarks José Ribas Refuge Cotopaxi Volcano Limpiopungo Lagoon Quilotoa Lagoon - Day 8
Quilotoa
You hike almost entirely along the crater rim around Quilotoa Lagoon. Starting with a descent to the Shalala viewpoint, you climb steadily to Cerro Juyende, the highest point. You're back in the village by early afternoon. After that, you drive south past Ambato to Chimborazo, where your lodge offers views of Ecuador's highest mountain from within the national park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Chimborazo Lodge)
Included Activities
- Crater rim hike around Quilotoa Lagoon
- Hike to Shalala viewpoint
- Hike to Cerro Juyende
Landmarks Quilotoa Lagoon Shalala Viewpoint Cerro Juyende Chimborazo Volcano Chimborazo National Park - Day 9
Chimborazo National Park to La Candelaria
You drive to the first refuge and spot many of the reintroduced vicuñas on the way. Then you hike slowly and steadily uphill to over 5000m/16,400 feet to the second refuge and on to Laguna del Condor. At 6268m/20,565 feet, Chimborazo is the highest mountain measured from Earth's center. You leave the park in the afternoon, drive through Riobamba to the small village of La Candelaria, where a warm dinner waits at your hacienda.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda Releche)
Included Activities
- Hike to second refuge and Laguna del Condor on Chimborazo
Landmarks Chimborazo Volcano Laguna del Condor - Day 10
La Candelaria to Collanes (Trek Begins)
You head out early for your trekking adventure. After about an hour uphill on a field track, the real trail into Sangay National Park begins. You walk through mostly wet terrain to the Collanes Valley while mules carry your main luggage. After several breaks, you reach the refuge in early afternoon where you warm up by the fireplace. The nine snow-capped peaks of Altar (5319m/17,450 feet) look beautiful in the evening sun, and you'll cook dinner together in the fully-equipped kitchen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Berghütte Refugio Collanes)
Included Activities
- Trek to Collanes Valley in Sangay National Park
- Mule transport of main luggage and food with mule driver
Landmarks Sangay National Park Collanes Valley Altar Volcano - Day 11
Collanes
You hike through a Polylepis forest into the volcanic crater to see Laguna Amarilla. Your guide knows the best route through the terrain. The lake is more green than yellow now due to decreasing sulfur content in the extinct volcano, but you can take a very cold swim if you want. Some of Altar's unclimbed snow-capped peaks, known to indigenous peoples as Capac Urcu (the Chief Mountain), stand nearby. You're back at the refuge by early afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Polylepis forest to Laguna Amarilla in volcanic crater
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Laguna Amarilla
Landmarks Laguna Amarilla Altar Volcano - Day 12
Collanes to Baños
You load up your mules and hike down the Collanes Valley, leaving Sangay National Park behind. You'll be back at your hacienda by midday and say goodbye to the mule drivers. After a hot shower and hearty lunch, you drive to the spa town of Baños de Agua Santa at 1800m/5,900 feet. Once you check in, you have time to walk around town. In the evening, you relax in the hot thermal springs of La Virgen, directly beneath its waterfall.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel la Floresta)
Included Activities
- Hike down Collanes Valley leaving Sangay National Park
- Mule transport of main luggage and food with mule driver
- Access to La Virgen hot thermal springs beneath waterfall
Landmarks Baños de Agua Santa La Virgen Waterfall - Day 13
Baños
You take an excursion toward the Amazon to see the waterfalls of the Pastaza Valley. You swim at Ulba Waterfall, then hike over adventurous suspension bridges and ride a cable car across the gorge at the 'Bridal Veil' and 'Devil's Pool' waterfalls. Lunch happens in the small village of Río Verde before you return to Baños. If you prefer, you can do this by rental bike instead. The rest of the afternoon is free to do as you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel la Floresta)
Included Activities
- Visit Pastaza Valley waterfalls
- Swim at Ulba Waterfall
- Hike suspension bridges at Bridal Veil Waterfall
- Cable car ride across gorge at Devil's Pool Waterfall
Optional Activities
- Rental bike excursion to Pastaza Valley waterfalls
Landmarks Pastaza Valley Ulba Waterfall Bridal Veil Waterfall Devil's Pool Waterfall Río Verde - Day 14
Baños to Quito
After breakfast, you drive to the Ulba Valley to visit Casa del Árbol (Tree House) and the 'Swing at the End of the World'. In good weather, you'll have great views of the active Tunguragua volcano (5023m/16,475 feet). You walk downhill to Bellavista and Café del Cielo, visit the Virgin Mary statue of Baños, then climb over 600 steps to the cemetery and back to the village. Later, you drive back to Quito and arrive at your hotel in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Casa del Árbol (Tree House) in Ulba Valley
- Visit Swing at the End of the World
- Visit Café del Cielo
- Visit Virgin Mary statue of Baños
- Hike to cemetery and back through village
Landmarks Casa del Árbol Swing at the End of the World Tunguragua Volcano Café del Cielo Virgin Mary statue of Baños
