Ecuador Tours

Program

Upon arrival at Guayaquil airport, you will be accompanied to your hotel.

After a short tour of the port metropolis on the Rio Guayas, you first drive through rice and banana fields towards the Andes. You’ll visit a small cocoa plantation along the way at the El Cajas National Park with its numerous lakes and impressive mountain landscape to the colonial city of Cuenca.

You spend the morning in Cuenca and visit a Panama hat factory, where you can learn more about the production of the finest straw hats in the world and also purchase them.

After lunch, you will continue your journey north and reach the largest and most important Inca ruins in Ecuador. Your accommodation for today is at the comfortable Posada Ingapirca, located not far from the Inca site.

On a tour of the beautiful temple and fortress complex of Ingapirca, you will learn a lot about the history of the site and the culture of the Incas and the Cañaris.

On the way to Riobamba, you will visit the oldest church in Ecuador, the Inglesia de Balbanera on Lake Colta.

The journey continues through the picturesque landscapes around Chimborazo (6,268 m above sea level), the highest volcano in the country. In the Arenal, a desert-like landscape, you will see beautiful vicuñas (wild relatives of alpacas). Drive to a parking site at an altitude of 4,800 m, from where you can hike up to the Edward Whymper refuge at 5,800 m in 45 minutes.

In the afternoon you will reach Baños de Aguas Santas, the gateway to the Oriente in the subtropical Pastaza Gorge.

Fortify yourself with a hearty breakfast before you set off on today’s excursion to get to know the Road of the Waterfalls, which leads along the Pastaza Gorge towards the Amazon lowlands. At the Rio Verde river, walk along the path through the gorge and the subtropical forest to the thundering waterfall “Pailon del Diablo” (Devil’s Pan). Take a ride on a tarabita, a small open cable car, over the Pastaza River.

In the afternoon, you can explore the small pilgrimage town of Baños and relax in the large public thermal baths.

Today you set off on your journey into the Amazon lowlands. The landscape gradually changes. You will find deep gorges and numerous waterfalls. Finally, the still hilly Amazon lowlands lie before you. In Puyo you can visit a balsa wood factory.

You reach Liana Lodge by canoe from Puerto Barantilla on the Arajuno River.

Explore the rainforest under the guidance of a nature guide with extensive knowledge about the nature and culture of the Amazon rainforest. Choose two of the following activities to do in the two days: a jungle hike, a visit to the AmaZOOnico (animal sanctuary), a visit to a Kichwa community or a rafting tour.

Today you travel to Papallacta in the eastern Andes. The magnificent Papallacta thermal baths are located at an altitude of 3,300 m in bizarre surroundings. In fine weather, the snow-capped Antisana volcano (5,753 m) can be seen. In the afternoon, you can optionally enjoy the comfortable spa area of the thermal hotel (not included in the price).

In the morning you will have the opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths once again and take a short hike through the mystical landscape along the wild and romantic mountain stream of Rìo Papallacta. Trees overgrown with orchids, bromeliads, mosses and lichens line the path.

Alternatively you can take a trip to the Antisana reserve. It is the fourth highest volcano in Ecuador, which also has a snow-covered peak visible from Papallacta when the weather is good. There’s a short hike to the mountain lake Mica in the typical Pàramo vegetation. Here you have the best chance of observing the mighty condor in the wild and, with luck, the shy spectacled bear, the white-tailed deer and various other bird species, such as the mountain caracaras and the Andean ibis birds.

Continue south on the Panamericana to the “Avenue of Volcanoes”.

On a natural road through the magnificent landscape to the Cotopaxi volcano (5,897 m). You will reach a bizarre and barren landscape at an altitude of 4,500 m by vehicle. From there you have the option of climbing up to the Jose Ribas refuge at 4,800m. Close to the refuge is an impressive glacial chasm and you’ll take a short hike to the mountain lake Limpiopungo, which lies between Cotopaxi and Rumiñahui.

After breakfast, you first drive south on the Panamericana and then on winding side roads through one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes of the Ecuadorian Andes. In this barren region, farmers farm up to an altitude of 4,000 meters. High above the deep Toachi Canyon, you reach the deep green crater lake of Quilotoas. On your return to Lasso, you can visit a traditional naive painting studio in Tigua and a rose plantation near Lasso.

Today you drive via Quito through spectacular landscapes of the Andean highlands to the “Mitad del Mundo” monument, which was built on the equator line about 20 km north of the city of Quito. You suddenly find yourself with one foot in each hemisphere. Visit the interesting museums or the planetarium and get to know the southern night sky better.

As you continue your journey, the flora becomes richer in vegetation until you finally arrive at an altitude of around 1,500 m above sea level. During your journey, you will of course be informed about the diversity of the ecosystem. The village of Mindo, situated in a subtropical basin, is known for its butterflies, orchids and over 400 bird species. With a bit of luck, you will have the opportunity to spot rare bird species, butterflies and plant species along the way.

The Mindo-Nambillo cloud forest is one of the best areas in the world for international birdwatchers. Its abundance of hummingbirds and many other bird species and orchids make this area a biological sensation. Birdwatching is therefore an essential part of this program. We set off at dawn for bird watching. A unique natural spectacle awaits you here. With a bit of luck, you will spot hummingbirds, toucans, herons, parrots, woodpeckers, owls, tanagers, kingfishers and the very interesting “red cock of the rock” (optional tour, not included). As if that were not enough, you will then drive to an orchid garden and the butterfly house, where you can marvel at a large variety of different and rare butterfly species.

Today you travel to the Lakes Province in the north of Ecuador.

On the way, you have the option of visiting either the ruins of Tulipe near Pacto or the pyramids of Cochasqui, ruins from the pre-Inca period. You cross the equator near the town of Cayambe. The journey takes you past the mighty and extinct Imbabura volcano, at the foot of which lies the picturesque San Pablo Lake. Finally, you reach Otavalo, a city whose indigenous markets are among the most important in South America.

In the morning we continue to the azure blue Cuicocha crater lagoon. On a short hike along the steeply sloping crater rim, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanic giants Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe. You will then continue to Cotocatchi, where you will be introduced to the local Andean life of the Otavalo natives. The town of Cotacachi is known beyond Ecuador for its leather goods, many of which are handmade here. The tour continues to Peguche with its weavers, who still produce the typical wall hangings in the traditional way using naturally dyed wool. And the music studio, where you can see demonstrations of Andean instruments. Take a walk to the Peguche waterfall, an important place in the Andean cosmovision.

Today you will visit the famous Otovalo market which has been around for 400 years. Colorful fabrics, clothing, jewelry, wall hangings with various motifs, knitted sweaters, colorful belts, hammocks and other wool and fabric items as well as carvings made of stone, wood or jade are just some of the goods that are haggled over here. Saturday is the main market day and all the streets of Otavalo are filled with market stalls.

Afterwards, we’ll drive to your hotel in the old town of Quito.

On Saturday, many Quiteños are out and about in the old town and all the churches hold masses almost every hour. Visit the interesting museum La Casa del Alabado – Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which brings together some of the most representative works of pre-Columbian art in Ecuador. Observe around 5000 archaeological pieces, 500 of which make up the permanent exhibition. This privately-owned museum with contemporary exhibits is located in an elegant colonial-era house and presents an impressive collection of pre-Columbian artefacts, organized thematically by topics such as shamans and pigmentation.

Today you will go on a city tour of Quito’s historic, charming old town, one of the most beautiful capitals in South America. The city, whose name means “center of the world”, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Discover the Independence Square, which is lined with the Government Palace, the 16th century cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace. Continue the tour with a visit to the baroque church “La Compaña de Jesùs”, which is decorated all over with gold leaf.

The afternoon is at your leisure.

Depending on your flight time, the driver will take you to the airport.