Classic Ecuador
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Boasting an incredible richness and diversity that belies its small size, Ecuador is South America in microcosm. Although boasting grand colonial architecture, ancient indigenous culture and exotic produce to please history and culture buffs, Ecuador’s real draw has to be its assortment of spectacular landscapes.
Beginning amongst the ornate splendour of Quito, you’ll have a chance to explore its colonial centre, as well as the “centre of the world” at the equatorial ...
Boasting an incredible richness and diversity that belies its small size, Ecuador is South America in microcosm. Although boasting grand colonial architecture, ancient indigenous culture and exotic produce to please history and culture buffs, Ecuador’s real draw has to be its assortment of spectacular landscapes.
Beginning amongst the ornate splendour of Quito, you’ll have a chance to explore its colonial centre, as well as the “centre of the world” at the equatorial line, before heading into the misty cloud forests outside the capital. A couple of days spent hiking and exploring its foggy ecosystem is followed by a trip up to the volcanic Andean Mountain Range, passing through the scenic ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ and enjoying a chocolate tour along the way. In the presence of Ecuador’s most famous volcano, Cotopaxi, you’ll travel across its national park on horseback with your local cowboy guide. The climate then begins to warm up as you transition from the mountainous altitudes of the Andes to the lush waterfalls and hot springs of Baños, not missing the opportunity to walk around the rim of a volcano and peer into its crater lake below.
The tour ends in the steamy forests of the Amazon, where hiking and rafting excursions and indigenous tours are interwoven with ample time to relax by the pool in the middle of the tropical rainforest. Enjoy three nights at your comfortable rainforest lodge before returning to the capital for your flight home.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Arrive Quito
Day 1 Arrive Quito
On arrival to Quito, you will be met and welcomed by your local guide at the airport. Transferring straight to your hotel, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing and acclimatising to the new heights and surroundings of Ecuador’s capital.
Day 2 Quito: Architecture, History & Food
Day 2 Quito: Architecture, History & Food
The day begins with an overview of the city taking one of South America’s highest cable cars up to Cruz Loma hill for a wonderful panorama of Quito. Weather permitting, it is possible to see some of the country’s highest peaks from here. Back down in the town, you’ll then learn about the country’s history via a walking tour through the historic centre’s colonial streets filled with impressive 16th and 17th-century buildings, palaces, cathedrals, churches and monasteries. In addition to exploring local crafts and trade on the picturesque La Ronda street, there’ll also be a chance to sample local produce and learn medicinal traditions - with the opportunity to try a herbal cleansing - at the central food market.
Day 3 Quito – Bellavista Cloud Forest: Straddle the Equator
Day 3 Quito – Bellavista Cloud Forest: Straddle the Equator
Slowly heading out of the capital, you’ll first make a stop at the country’s namesake, the equator. Some time to explore the museums here provides the ideal setting to experience physics first-hand via a series of scientific experiments only possible at the equatorial line, as well as the opportunity to straddle both hemispheres at the same time. Peer into the nearby extinct Pululahua volcanic crater before driving further away from the capital and into Ecuador’s cloud forests to arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon you can join one of the lodge’s activities for an introduction to surrounding reserve.
Day 4 Bellavista Cloud Forest: Guided Forest Hiking
Day 4 Bellavista Cloud Forest: Guided Forest Hiking
Today, embark on a full day of guided hiking in the cloud forest delving into its unique ecology and biodiversity. A network of forest trails of varying difficulty surrounds the lodge which you’ll explore with the reserve’s naturalist guide, on hand to point out birds and local flora along the way. The active day can be broken up with meals and downtime back at the lodge.
Day 5 Bellavista Cloud Forest – Mindo – Cotopaxi: Chocolate Tour
Day 5 Bellavista Cloud Forest – Mindo – Cotopaxi: Chocolate Tour
After an early morning bird hike, say goodbye to your cloud forest accommodation and make for your next lodge in Ecuador’s volcanic Andean Mountain Range. The scenic drive begins with a detour to the peaceful countryside town of Mindo where you can enjoy a chocolate tour at a community project. One of Ecuador’s most delicious exports, the tour includes a demonstration of the chocolate-making process from the cacao fruit up until the end product, finishing with a sumptuous tasting. The journey then continues along the stunning ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ to your hacienda, close to the Cotopaxi National Park’s northern entrance.
Day 6 Cotopaxi: Horse Riding with Cowboys
Day 6 Cotopaxi: Horse Riding with Cowboys
Horse riding is a time-honoured tradition in the Andean region and especially in the altiplano (high plateau) of Cotopaxi National Park. After breakfast, ride with real chagras (Andean cowboys) out into the ruggedly beautiful national park, exploring its stretches of mountainous landscape while mixing in a bit of local flavour and transport. Heading back to the cosy hacienda in time for a warm, homemade lunch, the afternoon is then set aside to relax at the quaint lodge and perhaps enjoy a soak in the jacuzzi.
*Your morning tour can also be done via mountain bike, foot or vehicle to suit all preferences.
Day 7 Cotopaxi – Quilotoa – Baños: Crater Lake Walk
Day 7 Cotopaxi – Quilotoa – Baños: Crater Lake Walk
The drive up to Quilotoa is one of the most spectacular in the Ecuadorian Andes, passing through various indigenous villages before arriving at the rim of the Quilotoa volcano crater for a glimpse of the green, mirror-like lake below as you walk around its ring. Then, continue the transition into Ecuador’s tropical regions as you make your way to the spa town of Baños.
Day 8 Baños: Valley of the Waterfalls Hiking
Day 8 Baños: Valley of the Waterfalls Hiking
Head out on a full morning’s day trip into the area of outstanding natural beauty that surrounds Baños, known as the Valley of the Waterfalls. Immerse yourself in nature, hiking and taking a cable car between some of the beautiful waterfalls sprinkled across the area. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy free time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.
Day 9 Baños: Free Day
Day 9 Baños: Free Day
A rest day allows you to take it easy as the latter part of the trip begins to wind down, giving you the opportunity to explore the small town of Baños independently at your leisure. Named ‘Baths’ for the number of hot springs in and around the town, you may wish to rejuvenate after your active week and mingle with the locals at the one of nearby hot springs – though do expect them to be very crowded at certain times of the day.
Day 10 Baños – Tena: Into the Amazon
Day 10 Baños – Tena: Into the Amazon
During the final descent from the rugged Andes to the steamy rainforest, you will notice how quickly the scenery transforms into lush green vegetation during today’s drive to Tena, the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Arrival at your lodge coincides with an exotic Amazonian lunch being served, after which you can settle into your cabin and enjoy an afternoon swimming and relaxing by the outdoor pool in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest.
Day 11 Amazon: Rainforest Exploration
Day 11 Amazon: Rainforest Exploration
A day of varied activities today gives you a well-rounded introduction to the culture, wildlife and natural elements of the world’s most famous rainforest. Following breakfast, the first activity is a stop at the market in the Amazonian city of Tena, to discover the tropical fruits and produce found in this region. Continuing along the Napo River in your motorised canoe, you’ll disembark deeper in the forest to explore its endemic flora, distinct from the cloud forest, by foot with your lodge guide. The hiking excursion through the forest’s dense vegetation takes approximately two hours before arriving at a wildlife rescue centre to get to know some of the region’s fauna including monkeys, tapirs and sloths. Following a typical jungle lunch wrapped in palm leaves by the river, the day concludes with the chance to meet a small indigenous Kichwa family, speaking with them about everyday life the rainforest, before returning back to the lodge later in the afternoon.
Day 12 Amazon: River Rafting
Day 12 Amazon: River Rafting
Though suitable for children and those without prior experience, you’re sure to have an adrenaline-packed day rafting on one of the nearby rivers. Exhilarating white-water rapids will get the heart pumping while the calmer stretches allow time to appreciate the passing scenery during this morning activity. The rest of the afternoon can be used to enjoy the lodge’s facilities or, alternatively, book one of their additional private tours.
Day 13 Amazon – Papallacta – Quito: Hot Spring Soak
Day 13 Amazon – Papallacta – Quito: Hot Spring Soak
After breakfast begin your return journey to the capital with an optional stop along the way to bathe in the beautiful Papallacta hot springs. The town of Papallacta is famed for exquisite hot pools said to have curative properties. If you haven’t already taken the opportunity on the trip so far, a dip in a thermal spring might be just what you need after two weeks of action-packed activities.
Day 14 Depart Quito
Day 14 Depart Quito
Enjoying a final breakfast in Ecuador, you may have time walk around Quito or enjoy a lie this morning, depending on your flight time, before your driver picks you up from the hotel and takes you to the airport where your Ecuadorian adventure comes to a close.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Patio Andaluz, Quito
Patio Andaluz is a beautiful boutique hotel located in the centre of Quito's old town, perfectly located for sightseeing and to immerse yourself in life in the heart of the Ecuadorian capital. Retaining its historic, colonial architecture complete with exposed wooden beams and white-washed brick work, the hotel is traditionally set around quaint courtyards. Though found in the protected historic quarter, the 32 wooden-furnished rooms offer a comfortable amount of space. There is a small restaurant and bar on site in addition to the ample dining choices found nearby. Overall, a fine, well-located boutique option drawing on some local character and history.
Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve Lodge, Bellavista Cloud Forest
A truly unique place to stay, Bellavista is an ecolodge in an idyllic natural setting. Guests can stay above the forest canopy, some prefer the wonderful four-storey, thatch-roofed geodesic dome while others opt for the unusual Bamboo House or half-timbered Trailhead House; all options are sure to satisfy. Deep in the forest, the 700-hectare property hosts an excellent network of trails over 10km in length and ranging from easy to adventurous, with some ending in the chance to cool off by a waterfall. Excursions into the cloud forest are led by one of the reserve's trained naturalist guides, carried out with aplomb. In between activities Ecuadorian Amazonian meals (with some international influence) are served three times a day in the humble restaurant.
Hacienda El Porvenir, Cotopaxi National Park
On the gentle slopes of Rumiñahui Volcano, in a truly privileged position, Hacienda El Porvenir is the ideal spot from which to explore the Cotopaxi National Park, just 4km from the northern entrance, and to get to know the Andean way of life. Sat at a cool 3,600m, the laid-back farmhouse is surrounded by four volcanoes. With a capacity for just 42 guests, staff do their utmost to make your stay as welcoming and personalised as possible in true rural, Andean fashion. Rooms are kept warm and cosy with a simple, homely style whilst the lodge also has a lounge with a fireplace and indoor jacuzzis. The quaint restaurant serves traditional, home cooked meals and additional trekking and horseback riding activities can be arranged. Being a working ranch, a day out with one of the authentic Ecuadorian cowboys is a draw while staying at El Porvenir.
Posada del Arte, Banos
This delightful, family run boutique property is conveniently located on a quiet street within walking distance of Baños' main attractions. The quirky Posada is a colourful showcase for Ecuadorian artists packed with over 50 works of art, and the welcoming staff and attractive decor make it one of the best midrange options available. All 15 rooms feature private bathrooms with 24 hour hot water and are decorated with original paintings. Guests can enjoy the attractive gardens and comfortable lounge to relax, read, listen to music, or enjoy a crackling fire. From among the plants beneath the third floor skylight can be heard the gentle rush of the waterfall, which tumbles from the mountains just a half block away. The comfortable restaurant serves a variety of cuisine, from excellent local fare to international favourites.
Hakuna Matata Lodge, Tena
Located on the shores of the crystal-clear Inchillaqui River, 10km from Tena at relatively high altitudes (for the tropics) between 500m and 850m, this private hacienda is the perfect place to explore the Napo region. The spacious cabañas close to the river have en-suite facilities with hot showers, comfortable mattresses and are fully mosquito proofed. The lodge is home to an excellent restaurant serving international-style dishes with local produce, and the bar offers a variety of juices, cocktails, wines, beers and liqueurs. Guests can enjoy spectacular views of the Llanganati Mountains from the unique pool measuring 88ft x 72ft, fed by warm spring water making it great for swimming, diving or just splashing around. As well as daily excursions, the lodge is great for relaxing with deck chairs, hammocks and a massage bench set up around the grounds.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
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WILD MILES
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Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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