16 Day itinerary in Ecuador, South America
On this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit some beautiful places in Ecuador. You will travel around the avenue of volcanoes of Ecuador. The trip starts in Quito city. After, you will have time to relax and recharge your energies in the hot springs of Papallacta. Afterward, you will enjoy t... Read More
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Physical Difficulty
Recommended Age
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GUIDANCE
starting point
trip type
trip attributes
Meet local people
Hiking
Snorkeling/Diving
Nature & Wildlife
Start
Night
End
Equator line
Hot Springs
Andes Volcanoes
The Galapagos Islands
Equator line
Hot Springs
Andes Volcanoes
The Galapagos Islands
TOURIST CLASS
Accommodation Categories
TRANSFER IN
Our tour starts at the time of arrival in Ecuador. A specialized driver will pick you up at Mariscal Sucre Airport on the outskirts of Quito city. Then you will arrive at your hotel.
CITY TOUR QUITO – MIDLE OF THE WORD & INTIÑAN MUSEUM
After a delicious breakfast, we will take a city tour through the beautiful and magical Quito Colonial, the capital of Ecuador, which has an outstanding architecture. In addition, the biggest and best-preserved historically center in South America. We will visit the Basilica, one of the best representations of the neo-Gothic, the church of San Francisco, the Company of Jesus, the Cathedral, and The Big Way. After these visits, we will have time for lunch and continue to the arrive at Middle of the World monument to visit the interactive museum Intiñan. Overnight in Quito.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS
Today, after a delicious breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and continue the tour to Papallacta. Papallacta, situated at 3,700 meters amid an evergreen paramo landscape (Andean high grasslands), is renowned for its hot springs. At the Termas de Papallacta resort and spa, you can relax and enjoy its pools, naturally heated by the volcanic hot springs. Also, if the weather is clear, you can have the opportunity to see the giant Antisana Volcano (reaching a height of 5,758 meters) looming above. Overnight: Papallacta
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
PAPALLACTA – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, you will leave Papallacat and head South to Cotopaxi National Park. You will visit Lake Limpiopungo, located in the highlands of the park. Here, you will have a spectacular view of Cotopaxi Volcano's gigantic cone. Lake Limpiopungo offers a variety of birds, and occasionally even wild horses. A short walk around the lake will allow you to admire the Andean plant and animal life along the way. If time permits and the altitude doesn't affect you, you can hike to The Refuge Jose Ribas at 4800 m and enjoy the spectacular view. In the afternoon, you will arrive at your hotel. Overnight: Cotopaxi
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
QUILOTOA LAGOON – BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA
Early we will head to visit the Quilotoa Lagoon. First, we will enjoy the view of the Lagoon and the Crater from the viewpoint. Then, you can choose between these two options: You can walk along the crater’s rim to enjoy the splendid view or hike down a path to the crater lake. We can enjoy the flora of the place. In addition, they will have the opportunity to enjoy activities such as kayaking (optional). The return can become a bit longer, so you have the option to rent a mule for the uphill hike. We will then continue our journey towards Baños. Overnight stay in Baños de
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA - GUAMOTE
Located in a valley of waterfalls and hot springs, the city of Baños has much to offer its visitors. After breakfast, beautiful waterfalls and green areas surround the quiet village of Baños. We start our day with the Route of the Waterfalls until we reach the imposing fall of the Pailón del Diablo. Afterward, we will have time to enjoy the thermal baths to relax and swim (optional). The day would not be complete without looking at the active Tungurahua volcano. After a great day, we will continue to Guamote.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
GUAMOTE – INGAPIRCA ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX – CUENCA
Early in the morning, you have the chance to visit the local market of Guamote before you continue driving southwards. It depends on the day of the week because this market only opens on Thursday. Then, you can stop at Ingapirca Archeological Complex, well-known as one of the most important ruins from Pre-Inca times. In the afternoon, you will finally arrive in Cuenca, considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Overnight stay in Cuenca.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
CUENCA CITY TOUR
This morning, your guide will pick you up for a city tour. With the beauty and colonial ambiance of Cuenca, the experience of this tour is better on foot. Our three to four hours Cuenca city tour weaves its way through the old town center, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, to give you a short introduction to the city before heading to Turi to enjoy the incredible view. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight stay in Cuenca city.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
CAJAS NATIONAL PARK – FINCA CACAO & MANGO – GUAYAQUIL
Your first stop today is the beautiful Cajas National Park. This National Park comprises more than 200 interconnected high-altitude lagoons. The Cajas is not the only source of many rivers but even connects to the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. You have some time to enjoy the view from the lookout or take a short walk to one of the many lagoons. Afterward, you continue your journey westwards and stop at a Hacienda where you will get to know the process of chocolate making. Overnight: Guayaquil.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
GUAYAQUIL CITY TOUR
Today you are going on a city tour, starting with a visit to the Seminario Park, considered a popular meeting point for young Ecuadorian lovers. Furthermore, this little park is well-known for its land iguanas which laze about in the trees while they catch the sun. We will visit the Cathedral, built in classical gothic style, and then we move on to Guayaquil’s famous wide, tree-lined waterfront, “el Malecon” that runs alongside the river Guayas. The next stop will be the historic local government buildings, the “Palacio Municipal” and then the “Palacio de Gobernacion” (the Government Palace). Right in front of this palace is the Moorish Clock Tower, which was built in 1843. With an effort climbing its steep stairs, we can enjoy the views across the city. La Rotonda, another historical monument, is a statue that marks the meeting between Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin in 1822. The old district of Las Peñas, a vestige of Guayaquil to the north end of the Malecon, is a picturesque neighborhood built on the Cerro Santa Ana hill on the edge of the river. Climbing the stairway amid the brightly painted wooden houses, you will gain a different perspective of Ecuador’s largest city.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
TRANSFER TO AIRPORT – GALAPAGOS
According to the scheduled flight to the Galapagos Islands, our driver will be waiting for you at the hotel to take you to the airport 3 hours before the scheduled take-off. Before entering the airline counter, you will have to go to the Galapagos Government to pay the Ingala Migratory Tax (TCT) of 20 USD per person and go through baggage control. Remember not to bring fruits, seeds, weapons, or illegal substances to Ecuadorian laws. Once in the Galapagos Islands, you will be asked to pay the Galapagos National Park Entry Fee (PNG) of 100 USD per passenger. Keep these two documents (TCT-PNG) that you will be asked for when leaving the islands. After arriving at Baltra Airport, your guide will be waiting for you. Then you will continue the tour on Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy at a local farm in the highlands, where you have the opportunity to view giant turtles in the wild. Then continue to the port in Puerto Ayora to check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Station, where scientists meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis, animal protection, effects of tourism on nature, etc. Here you can visit the turtle rearing station, where the animals are cared for before being released into their natural habitat. Also, you can observe iguanas in this place. Overnight stay in Puerto Ayora.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SPEEDBOAT TO PUERTO VILLAMIL – TINTORERAS
Start your morning with a public speed boat trip to Isabela Island, a 2-hour trip. After arriving, make your way to the Flamingo Lagoon or the Giant Tortoise Breeding Station to learn about the local wildlife. After, you will join with a group tour to the Tintoreras Islet for a short hike and some snorkeling. See Humboldt penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and sharks, which rest in the natural channels formed by lava flows. Afterward, snorkel in the turquoise water and spot different fish, sea turtles, rays, and penguins. The evening is free. Overnight stay on Puerto Villamil.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
VISIT TO SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO
You'll do a six-hour roundtrip hike to its summit, from where you'll get to see the second-largest volcanic crater in the world. Walk around spectacular lava landscapes, taking in the northern volcanoes in Isabela and Fernandina Islands. During your climb, make sure to learn about the unique vegetation that inhabits the area. You will have some free time after you get back to Isabela Island. Overnight: Puerto Villamil
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Snacks
LOS TUNELES CABO ROSA – SPEEDBOAT TO PUERTO AYORA
Get ready for more wildlife encounters with a thrilling excursion to Los Tuneles, a perfect snorkeling spot. A series of lava flows have produced unique geological formations, like arcs and tunnels underneath and above the water, which is an excellent place to swim around the zone. You can find tropical fish, rays, turtles, sea horses, and white-tipped reef sharks! Keep your eyes open for penguins sitting on the rocks and prepare yourself for the possibility of swimming with majestic sea turtles. In the afternoon, you will catch a speedboat from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island. Overnight: Puerto Ayora.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Snacks
TRANFER OUT GPS – FLIGHT TO QUITO
We end our program in Galapagos Islands. You will have the transfer to the airport and take the flight to Ecuador Mainland. A specialized driver will pick you up at Mariscal Sucre Airport on the outskirts of Quito city. Then you will arrive at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
TRANSFER OUT – QUITO – INTERNATIONAL CONECTION
We end our program with the transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Meals
Transport
Activities
Extras
Not Included
TEAM LEAD
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Hiking
Snorkeling/Diving
Visit markets
Meet local people
Indigenous culture
Rafting
Kayak & Canoe
Nature & Wildlife
Hi, I am Karem, your local expert for your next adventure in South America! I´ve worked and lived in various locations in Ecuador including Galapagos and the Amazon Jungle. Lately, I enjoy connecting with Nature by peaceful trekking in the mountains
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