Highlights of Ecuador

Highlights of Ecuador

Discover colonial cities and traditional towns, spectacular mountainous landscapes and search for exotic wildlife in the Amazon – this action-packed 13-day tour visits all of Ecuador’s highlights.

Outline Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Arrive Quito

    You will be met on arrival in Quito and transferred to your hotel.

  2. Day 2: Quito city tour, free afternoon

    This morning, embark on a private tour of Quito in the company of an experienced local guide. You’ll visit Quito's colonial quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved colonial cities in South America.

  3. Day 3: Otavalo

    Leaving Quito this morning, you journey two hours north to Otavalo, a beautiful town set against a backdrop of mountains in the high Andes.

  4. Day 4: Otavalo Market

    This morning, visit the Otavalo Market to see the local men in their colourful ponchos and women in their intricately woven blouses and beaded jewellery.

  5. Day 5: Fly to the Amazon

    This morning you have a 30-minute flight over the eastern Andes to Coca in the Amazon basin. On arrival you will transfer a short distance to the port and board a motor canoe along the Napo River to your lodge in Yasuni National Park.

  6. Day 6: Clay lick visits

    An early start this morning, as you depart the lodge at 6.30am for an hour-long journey ending at a fabulous clay lick, where parrots, parakeets and macaws gather in a fabulous profusion of colour.

  7. Day 7: Canopy tower and giant otter search

    After breakfast, continue your exploration of the forest. This morning will see you climb a 36m high tower within the tree canopy. This is a fantastic way to see the forest from a different perspective, and spot species that may not be so easily spotted from the forest floor.

  8. Day 8: Final day in the Amazon, return to Quito

    There will be time this morning for one last excursion on the river to seek out giant otters, monkeys, sloths and birdlife. Back at the lodge, you will transfer by motorboat to Coca and connect with your flight to Quito.

  9. Day 9: Cotopaxi National Park

    Depart Quito early this morning and journey along the Pan-American Highway to Cotopaxi National Park.

  10. Day 10: Drive via Banos to Rio Bamba

    Today your journey continues along the Pastaza River gorge to Banos.

  11. Day 11: Devil’s Nose Train and Cuenca

    Depart early this morning and follow a winding course along the edge of the Andes, via ravines and gorges, through Indian villages and past quinoa fields.

  12. Day 12: Cuenca

    Cuenca is one of Ecuador’s most beautiful cities, a colonial-era jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today you have a full day to discover its charms at a relaxed pace.

  13. Day 13: Via El Cajas National Park to Guayaquil

    This morning you leave Cuenca and travel west for one hour to El Cajas National Park.

Price guide

Price based on two travellers in shared twin/double accommodation and subject to availability at the time of booking.
Pricing

13 days from £3450pp

Pricing

13 days from £3450pp

Quito and the Galapagos

Sandy and I had a fabulous time in Ecuador and felt the entire trip was incredibly well organised. Thank you!

Linda and Sandy

Arctic Voyage

Exactly what we were after... Expedition staff and a gang of fellow travellers made it full of laughs.

Natasha