Ecuador offers visitors some of the most stunning natural beauty and cultural diversity on the continent. Wander the cobblestone streets of colonial Cuenca, tasting new foods and bargaining with local vendors. Spend three nights discovering the cultural diversity of the highlands from Cotopaxi to Quilotoa, and the Inca ruins of Ingapirca. Conclude your trip with a night at Ecuador's main port city of Guayaquil. This is the perfect overview tour of Ecuador!
Highlights
Hike on the earth's highest active volcano, Cotopaxi
Embark on a thrilling train ride over the Naríz del Diablo
Explore the unique ruins of Ingapirca and the colonial city of Cuenca
Visit the unique mangrove forest of Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Begin your journey with an exploration of the capital city of Quito. Drive north to visit "El mirador de Guápulo" (view point), from where you can admire its church and Quito's nearby valleys. Go south towards Quito's colonial center - one of the world's cultural heritage sites, where you can see many historical buildings including churches, museums, and monuments. From here continue to El Panecillo - the small, rounded hill which dominates the old town. From its summit you can see marvelous views of the whole city stretching out below, as well as magnificent views of the surrounding volcanoes.
Travel towards "La Mitad del Mundo" (the middle of the world) in the village of San Antonio, about 22 Km. north of Quito. Here visit the trapezium stone monument, which is built on the Equator, and the excellent Museo Etnográfico and Inti-Ñan.
Head south from Quito, along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes", viewing the breathtaking high plains surrounding the magnificent snow-capped Cotopaxi - the earth's highest active volcano (19347ft/5897m). This area provides excellent opportunities to spot the Andean condor.
After lunch in the Limpiopungo Valley (12540ft/3800m), ascend to El Parqueadero (15180ft/4600m). From this point hike for about an hour to El Refugio, the volcano's refuge lodge (15840ft/4800m). A short walk from here takes you to the nearest glacier.
Tonight overnight in one of Ecuador's most famous haciendas, the 400-year-old Hacienda La Cienega. This enchanting hacienda on the slopes of Cotopaxi has hosted many of Ecuador's former presidents as well as Alexander von Humboldt, founder of modern geography.
After breakfast this morning head south to Latacunga along the magnificent Central Valley, which is sheltered by two parallel mountain ranges. Visit Quilotoa, a beautiful emerald lagoon surrounded by several snow-capped volcanoes. After lunch, meet the famous Tigua painters. Their sheepskin paintings of traditional Andean village life have been highly regarded since before Incan times. This evening continue on to the town of Riobamba.
Head to Ecuador's most famous Inca ruin, Ingapirca. Take some time to explore the ancient citadel and the surrounding area of Cañar. Continue your journey south, following old dirt roads into the countryside. Pass a checkerboard of small farms growing corn, beans, potatoes, and other Andean staples as you make your way to Cuenca. Considered the most colonial city in all the Americas, red clay rooftops stretch throughout the city and baroque churches seem to stand on every corner.
Enjoy a full day of exploring colonial Cuenca with your guide. Choose the areas that interest you most. You may choose to depart early this morning and head to the markets at 10 de Agosto and San Francisco. From there, continue on to San Sebastion, the historical center and visit the Museum of Modern Art. Stop by the Parque de las Flores and visit Parque Calderón the city’s largest plaza and home to both the new and old cathedral. Choose from great museum options or visit a Panama Hat factory. You may choose to visit the famous Barranco along Calle Largo. Stop by Mirador de Turi for a great view of the city and finish up by visiting the Gallery of Eduardo Vega, whose ceramics have achieved international fame.
Your journey today takes you all the way to the coast. Along the way, stop to visit Cajas National Park.This amazing park in the highlands of Ecuador is located 30km west from Cuenca and with less volcanic activity than the northern highlands is formed by beautiful plateau with hundreds of water bodies with stunning views. The area will be toured for 1 to 2 hours either in the Cloud Forest or in the upper area of the Paramo.
As you get closer to the coast, econtinue with the descent towards the city of Guayaquil. On the way weather, vegetations and landscape change dramatically until we arrive to a small family farm that we will visit to observe the cultivation and process of the famous Ecuadorian Cacao; as well as banana and tropical fruit plantations. Includes lunch at the farm and finally, arrive in the coastal city of Guayaquil and head to your hotel.
Day 8: Depart Guayaquil
1 Breakfast
Head to the airport for your international flight home or extend your adventure with a trip to the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands!
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Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 189 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 189 reviews on
1 day ago
Claire made sure she knew what my expectations and priorities were and offered options based on that. She also suggested a visit to a city i did not know about. She was pleasant friendly informative and helpful
Al Kirkley
6 days ago
Cheska is a great asset for your company she is very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with
Susan Johnson
1 week ago
Adventure Life set us up with great guides and locations, seamless transportation, and good advice. Will work with them again. Thanks
Scott Sepsy
1 week ago
Amazing trip and the best customer service
Liz
1 week ago
Hannah and Nur got the gist of what we wanted our trip to be. They got us in hotels that were located centrally to historic tours. Tours and excursions that were significant, enriching and enjoyable. We had drivers that were on time/reliable. We got from location to location with ease. I would never have been able to plan this myself. I would not have known enough to ask for what we needed. This was above and beyond what I expected. Well done!