About this Ecuador Tour
Trip Length: 8 days
Season: Year round
Private Tours: Available for any date of your choice
Activities: Sightseeing, Culture, Hiking, Nature, Wildlife, Gastronomy
Minimum Age: 3 years old
Begins/Ends: Quito, Ecuador / Quito, Ecuador
Nearest Airports: Mariscal Sucre, Quito, Ecuador (UIO)
Note: All transfers and all activities are done with your own private English speaking tour guide
STARTING AT
1.960 USD
Ecuador Highlights Tour
The Ecuador 360 Tour is a classic style 8-day trip covering some of the most important highlights of the country. This trip will allow you to discover the magic of Ecuador as you travel via the Avenue of Volcanoes in the high Andean mountains. This journey will also take you to the best tropical Amazon destinations. Explore the town of Baños, the charming colonial city of Cuenca and the local indigenous market at Otavalo. Learn all about the various local tribes and cultures that exist in Ecuador, while you balance wildlife spotting, natural wonders, cultural experiences and adventure, all organized by our team of local expert guides and trip planners.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
Transportation: Airfare Cuenca-Quito one way, airport transfers (national flight), private and comfortable land transportation, train, motorized canoe
Accommodation based on double or triple occupancy 4-star hotels & lodges in Ecuador
Activities: Indigenous Market, volcanic hot springs, encounter with indigenous people, road of the waterfalls, hiking up the glacier of Chimborazo, trekking, bird watching in the Amazon, canoeing and wildlife observation in the Rainforest, Amazoonico Animal Rescue Center, chocolate making with indigenous people, train to Devil's Nose, cultural visit of Cuenca & more
Meals: As listed in itinerary
Trip Leader: Certified expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader on every day of the tour and local guides
Not Included
Airport transfer (international flights)
Meals not described in the itinerary
Tips
Single Room supplement $350
Tour Dates
This tour is available to start on any day throughout the year
This tour is 100% private and we can customize any aspect of it
Our tour includes a private English speaking guide for all transfers as well as for all activities, this way you will make the most out of your time and enjoy each site and each ride without missing out on important stops and/or important information along the tour.
Ecuador 360 Highlights Tour
DAY 1: OTAVALO INDIGENOUS MARKET
The tour starts with a trip north from Quito in the early morning towards the Otavalo indigenous market. En route, we'll stop briefly at a stunning panoramic lookout of the Imbabura Volcano and San Pablo Lake. The small town of Otavalo bustles with activity and makes the perfect first stop to immerse you in a world of artisan goods, from colorful textiles, alpaca coats, paintings, jewelry, leather, and so much more.
Then in the afternoon, you'll head to Cotacachi market, where the town's masterfully crafted leather goods have earned it a well-deserved reputation. The day ends with a stop in the small village of Peguche, known for its hand-crafted musical instruments and its beautiful waterfall.
Overnight at a historic Hacienda in the area
DAY 2: PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS
Today we will drive through the winding Andean paramo, where you might see incredible animals like the cara-cara, Andean condor, deer, pumas, or perhaps even a spectacled bear. Then you will arrive at the day's only destination - Papallacta Hot Springs Resort, where you can soak your worries away in the volcanic waters of their pools backdropped by stunning mountains and colorful paramo flowers.
Overnight at Papallacta Hotsprings Spa
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 3: HUMMINGBIRDS IN THE CLOUDFOREST
An early morning marks your departure from the highlands and your descent into the tropical Amazon Rainforest, with a curvy and beautiful drive through the Sierra. At the Guango Reserve, you'll see many different species of hummingbirds, followed by an opportunity to see the blanket of clouds covering the Amazon at the Guacamayos-Macaw Lookout. Then, when you arrive in the Arajuno River, a motorized canoe will take you on a short ride to Itamandi Amazon Eco-Lodge for the evening.
Overnight at Amazon Rainforest Lodge
Meals included: Lunch and dinner
DAY 4: AMAZON CANOE RIDE AND WILDLIFE
Depart the lodge in the morning on a canoe towards the AmaZOOnico, where conservationists shelter animals in danger of extinction. You'll also have a chance to learn about the indigenous cultures when you visit a local Kichwa community. Here, you will learn about their way of life and their daily activities and also have the opportunity to learn how to cook some local recipes and perhaps even how to make chocolate in its purest form.
Overnight at Amazon Rainforest Eco-Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 5: VALLEY OF WATERFALLS IN BAÑOS
Witness a balsa carving shop as you drive further south to Puyo. We will also stop in Sangay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the infamous Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Afterwards, you will have some time to explore other famous waterfalls around the town of Banos. Later on, there is another chance to soak in the hot springs at the base of the active Tungurahua Volcano.
.
Overnight in Hotel in Baños
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 6: CHIMBORAZO VOLCANO AND VICUÑAS
This day takes you to the majestic Chimborazo Volcano, soaring to an elevation of 6,310 meters above sea level (the furthest point from the center of the earth!). This peak dominates the landscape for miles in every direction. You will have an opportunity to do a short hike to the Glacier's edge as well before heading to the classic mountain lodge for the evening.
Overnight at lodge in the Chimborazo Area
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 7: DEVIL’S NOSE TRAIN AND INGAPIRCA RUINS
Embark on one of the most daringly engineered railroads in South America - the Devil's Nose. From the small town of Alausi, you will board this switchback railway that zigzags from the highlands to the coast in a rapid descent. Afterwards, you'll visit the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, where you will learn about how this site is a unique fusion of Cañari and Inca architecture and how it was relevant as a religious site. The day ends in the colonial city of Cuenca.
Overnight at hotel in Cuenca
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 8: CUENCA CITY TOUR
Your final day takes us through the historic colonial town of Cuenca, visiting the major highlights including Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Turi panoramic lookout, and El Barranco. Then you'll visit a factory where the Panama hats are made. A short evening flight to Quito brings your 8-day tour to a bittersweet end.
Meals included: Breakfast
Ecuador Highlights 360 2 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
$2,550 3 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
$2,010 4 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
$1,960
2 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
3 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
4 Passengers - Per Person (2024 Prices)
Discounts available for selected dates throughout the year and for larger groups
Combine your Ecuador Highlights trip with one of these tour extensions
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP WITH THE LOCAL INSIDERS
Tell us what you need, and we will make your dream trip a reality!