ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Your Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrive in Quito

   Upon arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), you’ll be whisked off to your hotel in the Old Town district of Quito (the second-highest capital city in the world, at 2,850m/9,350ft above sea level) and meet our Local Insider at 6pm, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. In the evening, get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner, washed down with a cold Pilsener – Ecuador’s favorite beer. Be sure to get a good night’s rest ahead of an action-packed day exploring the city tomorrow.

   Accommodation

   Hotel Patio Andaluz

   Activities Included

   • Welcome dinner
   • Airport transfer
2. Day 2 Explore Quito and attend an Ecuadorian cooking masterclass

   Kick-start the trip with an optional morning visit to the Equator – head to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Intiñan Museum, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Regroup in Quito’s historic center (a Unesco World Heritage site) for a walking tour of the Plaza Grande, Presidential Palace and La Compañía church. After admiring the impressive array of colonial architecture and wandering down lively La Ronda street, you’ll embark on a gastronomic journey at Altamira restaurant. Learn how to prepare a variety of traditional Ecuadorian dishes in a cooking masterclass, capped off with a chocolate-tasting session.

   Accommodation

   Hotel Patio Andaluz

   Activities Included

   • Quito walking tour
   • Ecuadorian cooking masterclass and market visit
   • Chocolate-tasting session
3. Day 3 Discover the epic landscapes of Cotopaxi National Park

   Today, you’ll journey south towards Cotopaxi National Park, dominated by the 5,897m (19,347ft) high Cotopaxi stratovolcano – the second-highest peak in Ecuador. If the conditions are clear, you’ll spot the snow-capped summit as you hike around the Limpiopungo glacial lagoon. Learn all about the flora, fauna and eruption history of the park at the Interpretation Center. We’ll stop for lunch at the beautifully located Tambopaxi restaurant, set right in the heart of the national park. Gorge on authentic Ecuadorian dishes with a spectacular volcanic view, before continuing on to your mountain hacienda for the night.Note: Our 2024 departures will include a horseback riding experience in Cotopaxi, followed by a picnic.

   Accommodation

   Chilcabamba Lodge

   Activities Included

   • Limpiopungo Lagoon hike
   • Cotopaxi Interpretation Center visit
   • Lunch at Tambopaxi (2025 departures)
   • Horseback riding (2024 departures only)
4. Day 4 Hike round the majestic Quilotoa Lake

   Prepare yourself for another unforgettable hike as you venture to Quilotoa – a volcano on the westernmost edge of the Ecuadorian Andes, off the usual tourist trail. It’s known for its emerald-green crater lake. We’ll hike around the lake before making our way to the next stop, Baños – widely considered the adventure capital of Ecuador.Note: Our 2024 departures also include a visit to a Tiguan studio owned by Julio Toaquiza – an artist who pioneered a vibrant painting style, depicting life in the high Andes – followed by some shopping time at Salcedo Market.

   Accommodation

   La Floresta Hotel

   Activities Included

   • Quilotoa Lake hike
   • Tigua art studio visit (2024 departures only)
   • Salcedo Market visit (2024 departures only)
5. Day 5 Explore the magnificent Baños Waterfall Route

   Start your day by visiting the Swing at the End of the World. Attached to a mountaintop treehouse, it offers jaw-dropping views of the Tungurahua volcano and the gaping valley below. Feeling brave? Give it a go. Afterwards, embark on a tour to three waterfalls on the epic road from Baños to Puyo: Agoyán, Manto de la Novia and the 80m (262ft) high Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron). The water from these falls will eventually run into the Amazon River. Enjoy lunch with the Yaku Runa indigenous community before moving on to Tena – the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.Note: On our 2024 departures you will be exploring the Banos waterfall route via a guided cycling tour.

   Accommodation

   Kuyana Amazon Lodge

   Activities Included

   • Swing at the End of the World visit
   • Baños Waterfall Route tour (2025 departures)
   • Yaku Runa project visit
   • Baños Waterfall Route cycling tour (2024 departures only)
6. Day 6 Go white-water rafting on the Jatunyacu River

   Ready for an adrenaline rush? Today, you’ll go white-water rafting through the jungle on the Jatunyacu River – one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. Meaning 'big water’ in the native Quechua language, the Jatunyacu features a combination of wild rapids and flat, scenic stretches, allowing you to appreciate the rainforest scenery around you. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. Come nightfall, take a guided forest trek and listen out for birds, monkeys and reptiles.

   Accommodation

   Kuyana Amazon Lodge

   Activities Included

   • White-water rafting
   • Jungle night hike
7. Day 7 Follow the Natural Oils Trail at Kuyana Amazon Lodge

   After breakfast, you'll go on a guided hike to learn how natural essential oils are extracted from Amazonian plants for medicine and aromatherapy. Cool off with a refreshing dip in the waterfalls before making your way back to the lodge for lunch. It’s then time to leave the jungle behind and head up towards the Andes. You’ll eventually arrive in the village of Papallacta, where you can relax in hot springs or book yourself in for a soothing spa treatment at the hotel. Cap off your trip with a farewell group dinner.

   Accommodation

   Termas de Papallacta

   Activities Included

   • Natural Oils Trail guided hike
   • Waterfall swim
   • Farewell dinner
8. Day 8 Depart from Papallacta

   The time has come to pack your bags as your Ecuadorian experience comes to an end at 9am. After one final breakfast, you’ll be driven back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and catch your flight home – or extend your stay by joining our Galápagos Islands trip.

   Activities Included

   • Airport transfer