The Best of Ecuador 7 Day Tour From Quito to Cuenca

Day 1 · Quito City Tour and Middle of the World

1. 1

   Quito Old Town

   2 hours

   Your journey begins in the historical heart of the capital, where we will get the chance to admire the majestic basilica cathedral and Plaza Grande, a beautiful square surrounded by historically significant buildings such as the government palace and the iconic cathedral. Our tours are flexible, and you can customize your experience however you like, allowing you to choose from a variety of historical sites including the San Francisco Plaza and monastery, the church ‘La Compañia’ and the lively area of La Ronda.

2. 2

   El Panecillo

   2 hours

   Next up, we’ll ascend the Panecillo hill to get a perfect panoramic view of the city of Quito and the impressive Andean volcanos in the background, an excellent moment to take some photos. You may decide your own pace during the tour, allowing you to experience the city to its fullest.

3. 3

   Mitad Del Mundo

   2 hours Admission included

   We continue our journey to the Mitad del Mundo monument where you will be given time to explore the area or the Inti Ñan Museum, a unique opportunity to gain insights into the indigenous culture (Quitus) and to learn about their fascinating understanding of the sun cycles. Furthermore, there's an opportunity to visit the Pululahua volcano crater.

Overnight in Quito

Day 2 · Cotopaxi National Park

1. 1

   Laguna de Limpiopungo

   3 hours Admission included

   The second day of our journey towards the city of Cuenca begins as we departure from Quito, heading to the majestic Cotopaxi volcano. Situated at an altitude of 5,897 meters, it is Ecuador's second highest peak and one of the country's absolute highlights. As we enter Cotopaxi National Park, you will have the opportunity to observe and learn about the unique páramo biodiversity of the area and gain insight into its ecological significance. Our Cotopaxi adventure begins with a short walk around the stunning Lake Limpiapungo, after which we will continue to the parking lot, where the most exciting part of the day will commence.

2. 2

   Cotopaxi Volcano

   4 hours Admission included

   We will now embark on a spectacular hike to the first refuge of the volcano, situated at an altitude of no less than 4,810 meters above sea level.

   Once we arrive at the base camp, there will be plenty of time to recover from this incredible hike and celebrate your accomplishment with a hot cup of soup. For those eager to ascend even further, we offer the option to continue up to the glaciers, however, only if the weather permits it. Your health and preferences are our priority, and therefore, we can tailor your experience to suit your desires.

Overnight in Banos

Day 3 · Amazon Rainforest

1. 1

   Mirador Indichuris

   4 hours

   On our third day, we will leave Baños and travel ahead to the city of Puyo, the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Our drive, lasting about 1.5 hour, will certainly be worth it as you will get to enjoy stunning views.

   You will notice that the scenery and vegetation gradually start to shift as you travel through these different climates.

   Just beyond Puyo, a little deeper into the Amazon Rain Forest,

   we will make our first stop of the day and visit a Quichua family belonging to the indigenous Indichuris population, who will share insights into their characteristic culture and traditions.

   A little further, we will arrive at the Indichuris viewpoint , from where you can take a moment to enjoy an incredible view stretched over the Amazon and the Pastaza river.

   On top of that, you will be given the rare opportunity to embark on a canoe ride down the river, allowing you to explore more of the Ecuadorian Amazon under guidance of a local expert (Optional activity).

2. 2

   Cascada Hola Vida

   2 hours Admission included

   Next up, a delicious lunch awaits for us in a local restaurant near the Mirador in which you could try Allampaco, a traditional dish featuring steam-cooked tilapia fish wrapped in bijao leaves.

   After our lunch, we will head to the next natural wonder on the list, the Hola Vida waterfall, an ideal perfect for relaxation and a refreshing swim. Before reaching the waterfall, we will take a short walk through the jungle, where you can admire the diverse trees and enjoy the incredible sound of birds living there.

3. 3

   Puyo

   1 min

   Last but not least on our day planning, we will make a stop at a local cacao farm, where you may witness the fascinating process of transforming cacao beans into flavourful chocolate. Speaking for itself, you'll also have the chance to taste the results yourself.

Overnight in Banos

Day 4 · Baños - Route of the Waterfalls

1. 1

   La Casa del Arbol

   2 hours Admission included

   Next up, we'll depart from the town of Baños de Agua Santa to one of the tour's main highlights: the breathtaking waterfall route

   We will start off our day with a short hike toward 'La Casa del Árbol,' or 'Tree House,' a place where a National Geographic photo contest winner was taken, offering stunning views and an opportunity to take photos on the swing overlooking the valley.

2. 2

   Cascada El Pailon

   2 hours Admission included

   Our next destination is known as El Pailón del Diablo, a breathtaking giant waterfall that ranks among Ecuador's top 10 largest waterfalls. Together, we'll embark on a beautiful 2-kilometer hike, after which we will be rewarded with incredible views of the waterfall from different perspectives.

3. 3

   Cascada el Manto de la Novia

   one hour Admission included

   Now, we will continue following the waterfall route, making several stops to witness and admire some miraculous waterfalls, including 'Manta de la Novia,' known to be a paradise for adventure seekers. Here, you'll be able to experience the cable car ride through the green valley toward the enormous waterfall, or you might even decide to participate in one of the spectacular zip-line activities.

4. 4

   Riobamba

   2 hours

   fter this day of incredible nature and exciting activities, we will head to our next destination: Riobamba, located approximately half an hour from the town of Baños. Here we will rest for the night and prepare for a special day waiting for us.

Overnight in Riobamba

Day 5 · Devils Nose Mountain and Ingapirca Ruins

1. 1

   The Devil's Nose Train Ride

   3 hours Admission included

   On day 5 of our adventure, we will depart early from Riobamba and head toward Alausi, a beautiful traditional town in the Andes particularly known for its main attraction, 'The Devil's Nose', an incredible train ride through the steep mountainous landscapes, offering stunning views from the window. Nevertheless, due to certain inconveniences, the train ride hasn't been operating lately. On the other hand, we still have the amazing opportunity to do a short hike which allows us to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes around the area. In addition, you'll learn about the fascinating engineering behind the Devils Nose Train.

   For the ones who enjoy a bit of an adventurous activity, we offer the chance to do an exciting mountain bike activity (optional against extra cost).

   Afterwards, we will visit a local farm near Alausi, where you'll to learn about the traditional framing methods practised by the local community.

2. 2

   Ingapirca Ruins

   3 hours Admission included

   Our journey continues to the town of Cañar, where we are about to visit the Archeological complex of Ingapirca, the most impressive and best preserved Inca ruins of Ecuador. Here we will learn everything about the fascinating history of the ancient Cañari and Inca civilizations including their highly sophisticated architecture, engineering, and rituals. Discover the Inca-constructed Temple of the Sun and the Canari-constructed Temple of the Moon and dive deeper into the beliefs and spirituality of each culture.

   After we explored the Ingapirca site, we continue to our final destination: the breathtaking city of Cuenca, a place full of fascinating architecture, surrounded by the mountains. The journey to Cuenca will last approximately 1.5 hour, however, a ride definitely worth it as you will get to enjoy the beautiful landscapes.

3. 3

   Cuenca

   2 hours

   After we explored the Ingapirca site, we continue to our final destination: the breathtaking city of Cuenca, a place full of fascinating architecture, surrounded by the mountains. The journey to Cuenca will last approximately 1.5 hour, however, a ride definitely worth it as you will get to enjoy the beautiful landscapes.

Overnight in Cuenca

Day 6 · Cajas National Park

1. 1

   Laguna La Toreadora

   2 h 30 min Admission included

   Today we will travel to one of Ecuador's most breathtaking national parks: Cajas. As we arrive after a brief but beautiful drive from Cuenca, we will start with a moderate hike for the next 2.5 hours (Depending on the pace of the group) through the highlands with its moorland ecosystem of wetlands and lakes. Our naturalist guide will spot some of the endemic flora, and explain some of the main facts of the geology, history, and culture of the area. Next, we will get to the unique forest of polylepis trees, which are considered some of the highest growing trees in the world.

2. 2

   Hydrocrowd Stations in Laguna Llaviuco

   1 h 30 min

   To continue our tour, we get to the lower part of Cajas Park. Here we will embark on a 1 ½ hour soft hike around Llaviuco Lake to explore the ecosystem of Montane Forest, also known as "Cloud Forest". You'll get the chance to enjoy stunning views of this lake and glacier valley while our naturalist guide shows you some of the main aspects of the area including local flora and fauna.

3. 3

   El Cajas National Park

   one hour

   As we come back from the hike, we will stop at a local restaurant to relax and enjoy a delicious lunch. The speciality is trout, however, we offer other options such as chicken or beef. We accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals as well.

Overnight in Cuenca

Day 7 · Cuenca Half Day City Tour

1. 1

   Plaza Abdon Calderon

   2 hours

   The last day of our Ecuador adventure will be spent in the stunning city of Cuenca. We begin in the San Sebastian neighborhood, a traditional neighborhood of Cuenca that constitutes the city's western colonial border. We will have the opportunity to visit the Modern Art Museum where the famous Bienal International of Cuenca takes a place, it belongs to a select group of macro art events established in Latin America and the Caribbean. We will be able to explore not only the exhibits but also the historical house with its traditional architecture. Next up, its time to explore the San Francisco market, the flower market, Abdon Calderon Park, the cathedral “El Sagrario”, known as the “Old Cathedral”, and finally, we will get to witness the “New Cathedral” which is considered one of the biggest churches in Latin America, in which you'll find the famous gold leaf altar.

2. 2

   Homero Ortega

   one hour Admission included

   We continue our tour to a Panama hat factory, where we’ll observe and learn about the fabrication of a fiber called “Paja toquilla.” Our guide will tell you not only about the process of making this hats but also the story of why the call them "Panama Hats" and the importance of this product in the local economy. These hats range from classic simple ones to colorful, elegantly designed and costly ones.

3. 3

   Mirador de Turi

   one hour

   To conclude our journey, we will visit the beautiful neighborhood of Barranco and “Mirador de Turi”, a scenic viewpoint from which we'll enjoy the beautiful vista of the Cuenca landscape. A perfect moment to reflect upon our journey and share memories with each other. We assure all passengers will be safely dropped off at their accommodation, at the airport or bus station.