Start your exploration of Ecuador in Colonial Quito, a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and steeples and cupolas of the city´s many historic churches. The city has one of the best preserved colonial centers in all South America and this was recognized  in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site.

Walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the ornate La Compañía, and the San Francisco Monastery with its spectacular baroque carved main altar. 

Then visit the city’s most famous colonial street, La Ronda, where you learn about traditional work and historical games popular in Colonial Quito. 

Your 4 hour tour ends with a stop at the ‘Panecillo’, the hill that dominates the south of the city, and where you can admire the Our Lady of the Panecillo statue and enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

Remainder of the day to visit museums or wander the streets of Old Town. 

Overnight Quito. (B)

Today choose from a variety of tours:

For the Pre-columbian Art Buff: Casa del Alabado with a Curator (4 hours)

Experience pre-Columbian art and culture in the wonderful Casa del Alabado with the museum’s curator, an archaeologist with years of experience. This is an intimate behind the scenes look at pre-Columbian art and history. 

NOTE:  This tour is only available on Wednesdays from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

For the Artist:  Quitena Clay Sculpting (3 hours)

Visit the house-workshop of artist, Sara Palacio. Sara will explain how her home and work form part of an artistic endeavor to preserve and restore Quito’s cultural and historic identity. In the “muddy” workshop Sara produces her sculptures with clay brought from different regions of Ecuador. You have the opportunity of handling the clay and following the production process to create a small piece. Her “clean” workshop is where she uses techniques such as painting, printmaking and drawing. The visit also includes a tour of her extensive garden where you see several sculptures from her personal collection.

For the Chocolate Lover: Chocolate & Art Experience (3 hours)

For the ultimate chocolate experience, take an exclusive journey through 5,000 years of culture and awaken your senses with the finest chocolate & art that Ecuador has to offer. With a chocolate specialist from To’ak Chocolate and Fundación Guayasamín you have a one-of-a-kind journey that celebrates the rich history, art and chocolate of Ecuador. To'ak uses the oldest and rarest cacao variety on earth to make extremely limited editions of single-origin Ecuadorian dark chocolate. This is similar to experiencing fine wine or aged whiskey tasting. The setting for this tasting is in a private wine cellar of Fundación Guayasamín, a museum dedicated to the work of Oswaldo Guayasamín, perhaps Ecuador's greatest artist, as well as his private art collection.Your tasting includes raw and roasted cacao beans and four different editions of To’ak Chocolate while learning about different cacao varieties, terroir, fermentation methods, barrel-aging and how they influence the expression of chocolate. 

For the Foodie:  Ecuadorian Flavours  (3 hours)

Experience authentic Ecuadoran flavours in a gourmet cooking class presented by one of the city’s most renowned chefs and restaurant! You learn to prepare dishes with local, fresh and organic produce, three fundamental ingredients for your cooking class. As well you learn how to present them with style and sample the dishes. Discover the diverse flavours and colours of Ecuador through food.

Overnight Quito. (B)

Today an amazing journey awaits you. From Quito fly to Coca where you take a 2 hour boat trip to your ecolodge.  En-route watch for birds like herons and kingfishers. 

Over the next few days you can enjoy the following activities:

• paddle along lakes and rivers

• meet the local Giant otter family

• early mornings birdwatching

• visit parrot clay licks

• climb a canopy tower to discover a different world from the forest floor 

• hike along one of the many trails

• visit the Kichwa Community and share time with a family

• an up-close view of the spectacular that make their home in Yasuni National Park.

Overnight rainforest lodge. (BLD while at the lodge)

An early morning departure! Travel by canoe back to Coca. Keep your eyes open for sightings of giant otters, monk saki monkeys and birds. From Coca take a flight back to Quito. 

Overnight in Quito (B)

This morning depart for a two hour drive to Cotopaxi. En-route you see bustling towns and small villages along with beautiful alpine views (weather permitting). On a clear day, you see the snow-capped summits of both the Cotopaxi and the Antisana volcanoes.

At Cotopaxi National Pak, you visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history of its major volcanic eruptions as well as the local flora and fauna. Later, you hike around the windswept Limpiopungo Lake, surrounded by beautiful peaks with Cotopaxi looming in the distance.

Or if you prefer a longer, more challenging hike, you can hike up Cotopaxi to the Jose Ribas mountain refuge (4800m), a small hostel used as a base for climbers preparing to climb to Cotopaxi’s summit. From here you will have spectacular views of Cotopaxi itself and the surrounding volcanoes of the Andes.

Overnight in Cotopaxi area. (BD)

After breakfast you leave Cotopaxi and continue along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Stop at one of the traditional indigenous markets in the area.

The drive to Banos is about 3 hours. Here you visit the Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron), a huge waterfall 

that churns and burbles at the base of the waterfall. Supposedly there is a ‘devil’s face’ in the rocks from the suspension bridge. 

Later you stop at the top of a mountain for wonderful views but also for  the ‘Swing at the End of the World’. What started as a seismic monitoring station in a tree to observe Mt. Tungurahua, the nearby active volcano, the famed swing has become a place to take in the area’s incredible views and observe the brave daredevils who swing out over the canyon for an exhilarating ride! 

Our journey ends in Riobamba. (B)

Be prepared for a hair-raising start to your day!  Travel two hours to the town of Alausi where you board the Devil’s Nose Train. It is one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world, and remains an impressive piece of engineering.

 The biggest complication faced by the construction of the Trans-Andean railroad was the Devil’s Nose, a mountain with almost perpendicular walls. To overcome this obstacle, a zigzag route was built, enabling the train to climb or descend, first going one way and then reversing. You descend nearly 1,000 metres in only 12 km of track. The scenery transitions from Andean to coastal vegetation in this incredibly short distance. 

At the end of your train journey you enjoy views of the River Chanchan and learn about the traditions of the Puruhua people in Sibambe. You have the option of driving or taking a one hour uphill hike to the viewpoint.  The view of the Devil’s Nose Train is spectacular from here.

Your journey then continues to Ingapirca, the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador. This is the Inca Empire’s only remaining sun temple which served as a venue for ceremonies and rituals of the Cañari-Inca culture, and also had strategic military purposes. You explore the complex, learning about the various structures – from baths to the wineries.

You arrive into Cuenca late afternoon. (B)

NOTE:  The Devil’s Nose Train runs from Tuesday to Sunday and holidays.

This morning meet your guide for a half-day walking tour of Cuenca. The city is crossed by four rivers, surrounded by green valleys and has a skyline of shining church domes. Cuenca’s winding rivers, graceful ironwork balconies, and beautiful gardens are part of the pleasant atmosphere of this historic city. Cuenca is recognized as one of South America's prettiest colonial cities and is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.    

Walk along the shores of the Rio Tomebamba and its cobblestone streets. Your guide shows you Cuenca’s attractive colonial buildings, impressive churches and cathedrals such as the massive Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, which presides over the city's main plaza, the Parque Calderón.  

Overnight Cuenca. (B)

Visit the villages of Gualaceo and Chordeleg, 45 minutes east of Cuenca. Enjoy beautiful landscape, nature, and families who still are making textiles the same way as the "Cañaris" (the native inhabitants) did 500 years ago.  You also visit the workshops of a traditional jewelry maker, a guitar maker’s that forms part of the ‘Guitar Trail’, and a ‘Chola Cuencana’ who stills makes her straw hats in the traditional manner.Along the way you have the opportunity to visit an orchid farm that houses more than 2,000 species of orchids, as well as visiting shoemakers, jewelers, the food and fruit market, and more.

Overnight Cuenca. (B)

Depart for Bucay, a 3.5 hour drive with a stop at Cajas National Park for a short hike. The park is known for its trails through evergreen cloud forest and hundreds of lakes. It is rich with wildlife including Andean condors, giant hummingbirds and raccoon-like coatis. 

Your journey continues through a variety of ecosystems as you descend from the Andes into the lowlands with spectacular scenery, snowy peaks, misty forests and finally the coast.

At Bucay you visit the Hacienda La Danesa. Located in Ecuador’s tropical coastal region with the spectacular Andes Mountains as backdrop, Hacienda La Danesa is a traditional dairy farm that produces about 2,000 liters of milk per day, as well as fresh cheese. The hacienda also has cocoa and teak plantations and breeds beautiful pinto quarter horses. La Danesa is committed to improving local standards of living through tourism, and implements strict policies to create jobs in the neighboring communities, start-ups and sourcing local ingredients. You have the option of choosing activities such as a tour of the farm, mountain biking or river tubing.

End your day in Guayaquil. (BL)

Today transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Tour Length: 14 days/ 13 nights

Departures: Daily 

Minimum Number of People: 2 based on Double Occupancy

Ecuador's Three Worlds: Andes, Amazon and the Coast Includes:

• All ground transfers as noted in the itinerary

• 13 nights accommodation,

• Meals as noted in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, BL = Boxed Lunch, D = Dinner)

• Excursions, activities, and entrance fees as noted in the itinerary

• Park Entrance Fees

• Luggage transfer and support vehicle

• Guides on excursions and activities

Ecuador's Three Worlds: Andes, Amazon and the Coast Doesn’t Include:

• International flight

• Departure tax

• Domestic Flights 

• Travel Insurance

• Pre- or post-tour accommodation

• Meals not included in the itinerary

• Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic beverages

• Excursions, activities, and entrance fees not included in the itinerary

• Specialist Guides (ie. Ornithologist)

• Gratuities to guides 

• Personal Items

Start your exploration of Ecuador in Colonial Quito, a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and steeples and cupolas of the city´s many historic churches. The city has one of the best preserved colonial centers in all South America and this was recognized  in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site.

Walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the ornate La Compañía, and the San Francisco Monastery with its spectacular baroque carved main altar. 

Then visit the city’s most famous colonial street, La Ronda, where you learn about traditional work and historical games popular in Colonial Quito. 

Your 4 hour tour ends with a stop at the ‘Panecillo’, the hill that dominates the south of the city, and where you can admire the Our Lady of the Panecillo statue and enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

Remainder of the day to visit museums or wander the streets of Old Town. 

Overnight Quito. (B)

Today choose from a variety of tours:

For the Pre-columbian Art Buff: Casa del Alabado with a Curator (4 hours)

Experience pre-Columbian art and culture in the wonderful Casa del Alabado with the museum’s curator, an archaeologist with years of experience. This is an intimate behind the scenes look at pre-Columbian art and history. 

NOTE:  This tour is only available on Wednesdays from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

For the Artist:  Quitena Clay Sculpting (3 hours)

Visit the house-workshop of artist, Sara Palacio. Sara will explain how her home and work form part of an artistic endeavor to preserve and restore Quito’s cultural and historic identity. In the “muddy” workshop Sara produces her sculptures with clay brought from different regions of Ecuador. You have the opportunity of handling the clay and following the production process to create a small piece. Her “clean” workshop is where she uses techniques such as painting, printmaking and drawing. The visit also includes a tour of her extensive garden where you see several sculptures from her personal collection.

For the Chocolate Lover: Chocolate & Art Experience (3 hours)

For the ultimate chocolate experience, take an exclusive journey through 5,000 years of culture and awaken your senses with the finest chocolate & art that Ecuador has to offer. With a chocolate specialist from To’ak Chocolate and Fundación Guayasamín you have a one-of-a-kind journey that celebrates the rich history, art and chocolate of Ecuador. To'ak uses the oldest and rarest cacao variety on earth to make extremely limited editions of single-origin Ecuadorian dark chocolate. This is similar to experiencing fine wine or aged whiskey tasting. The setting for this tasting is in a private wine cellar of Fundación Guayasamín, a museum dedicated to the work of Oswaldo Guayasamín, perhaps Ecuador's greatest artist, as well as his private art collection.Your tasting includes raw and roasted cacao beans and four different editions of To’ak Chocolate while learning about different cacao varieties, terroir, fermentation methods, barrel-aging and how they influence the expression of chocolate. 

For the Foodie:  Ecuadorian Flavours  (3 hours)

Experience authentic Ecuadoran flavours in a gourmet cooking class presented by one of the city’s most renowned chefs and restaurant! You learn to prepare dishes with local, fresh and organic produce, three fundamental ingredients for your cooking class. As well you learn how to present them with style and sample the dishes. Discover the diverse flavours and colours of Ecuador through food.

Overnight Quito. (B)

This morning transfer from Quito to Otavalo. En-route visit one of the many rose farms found on the Route of flowers. Remainder of the day at your leisure. 

Overnight Las Palmeras Inn. (B)

Begin your day with a visit to a food market. You explore the market and learn about the different crops which are produced in the surrounding farmlands. Your guide provides information on fruits and vegetables while interacting with the “caseras”.

From the food market, you head into the heart of this bustling city market - the Plaza de Ponchos, the biggest Indian market famous for its craft work. Our recommendation: wander and explore it on your own, interact and get a feeling for it. Your guide is there to assist you in your exploration.

After Otavalo, you travel back in time to the small communities that surround this big busy commercial town and whose farmers, ranchers and craftspeople make the Otavalo market what it is. You explore the community of Peguche and its waterfall which is an Indigenous Ceremonial site for purification before the Inti Raymi celebration.

From here you hike to the town of Agato where you meet a family preserving the slowly dying form of weaving on a backstrap loom. The quality of their items is far superior to the machine-woven products found in the market. The money from any purchases goes directly into the community to revive and maintain this traditional art.

Your hike continues into a more rural area to learn about small scale agriculture. You meet people that continue to farm their land and learn about the products you saw earlier in the market, especially grain crops, like quinoa.

The scenery is gorgeous and from this vantage point in the foothills of Imbabura, you can see all the places we hiked through in the morning. If it's a clear day you can even see Cotacachi Volcano. At the end of the trail, our supporting vehicle will be waiting for us. 

Overnight Otavalo. (BBL)

After a quick transfer today’s four to five hour hike follows the trails of a working farm that has been in the same family for over 100 years. Here you can find pre-Inca burial mounds of the Caranqui Indians, Spanish influence and Ecuadorian traditions. Your guide explains the family’s inspiring history and their work with the local Zuleta community. Witness what a son of a liberal reformer and a wealthy, land-owning mother did during his lifetime that no landowner in Ecuador had ever done before and perhaps has done since. 

“Zuletenos” and “Zuletenas” are known to keep their culture and traditions – compare how the dress here is different from the traditional Otavalo clothing.

Enjoy a cooking class with a local “Zuletenos” or “Zuletenas” before sitting down to the lunch you cooked. You use ingredients that you learned about as you hiked through the countryside.

Overnight Hacienda Zuleta. (BLD)

Hacienda Zuletais a working hacienda that encompasses over two thousand hectares of pastureland, forest and protected areas of native primary forest. The farm includes dairy cows for milk, cheese and yogurt, potatoes, barley, and wheat. Sheep are raised for their wool. There are also about 100 horses, some pure Andalusians and some polo horses, and a mix of Andalusian, quarter horse and thoroughbred. If you enjoy horseback riding, this is a prime place for this activity.

A free morning to explore the Hacienda and its many activities independently. Some suggestions include:

Hiking, horseback riding, cycling, trying your hand at embroidery, a Zuleta tradition, or visit the Condor Huasi conservation centre where condors are breed to reintroduce the birds to the wild. 

After lunch you transfer from Hacienda Zuleta to Cotopaxi.

Overnight in Cotopaxi area. (BL)

Today’s hike begins at 4200 metres above sea level over grassland trails and will take about 3 hours to reach the peak. From Pasochoa you have a spectacular view of the mountains surrounding Quito, the volcano’s crater, as well as the impressive surrounding mountain crests: Antisana, Sincholagua, Quilindaña, Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, Corazón and the twin Iliniza peaks.

From here descend to the Pedregal Valley, a downhill walk of about 3 hours through grassland, ending at cozy Chilcabamba Lodge, situated at about 3,200 meters above sea level.

Altitude: 4,200 metres to 3,200 metres above sea level.  

Hiking Time: About 7 hours 

Difficulty:  Moderate

Type of Trails:  Grassland 

Overnight Chilcabamba Lodge. (BBL)

Today we head to Cotopaxi National Park, one of Ecuador’s most beautiful protected areas. When the weather cooperates, views of its snow-capped, almost symmetrical cone like summit are awe-inspiring. Our hike starts at the Pita River which provides essential drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Quiteños (as Ecuador’s capital city residents are known); its source is the pristine glacial melt water of Mt. Cotopaxi. The Pita’s rushing waters will accompany us throughout much of our adventure.

You then head toward an archeological site called Pucara de Salitre, where you can see a variety of migrant and resident Andean birds. On the way, you might see wild horses, deer or llamas that make the park their home, as well as gorgeous seasonal mountain wildflowers and breathtaking scenery.

Your tour ends at Limpiopungo Lake where your transportation is waiting to drive you to your mountain lodge.

This is a special and beautiful hike that is designed to raise awareness for both locals and visitors alike about the importance of this body of water, how conserving it is important, and how melting glaciers will impact our population.

Altitude: 3755 metres above sea level.  

Hiking Time: About 5 hours 

Difficulty:  Easy 

Type of Trails:  Forest and Grassland 

Overnight Tambopaxi Lodge

You transfer to the parking area of the Cotopaxi mountain refuge. From here you walk about an hour before reaching the refuge. Continue the hike for two hours to the edge of the glacier. Savour the spectacular panorama, including a view of Quito and its valleys, the distant mountains in the north, the road from Pasochoa, through the Pita canyon, to el Pedregal, Sincholagua, Rumiñahui and the magnificent Limpiopungo valley.

The descent takes about 2 hours on the same route.  Your transportation back to Quito meets you at the parking lot.

Altitude: 5,100 metres above sea level. Hiking Time: About 4 hours 

Difficulty:  Moderate Type of Trails: Sandy ground and Glacier

Overnight Quito. (BL)

This morning depart for Mindo cloud forest, an excellent place for watching the amazing bird called the Cock o’ the Rock. Cloud forests are at mid-altitude and are frequently misty with a cool humid environment that supports an abundant biodiversity. You travel through a kaleidoscope of landscapes before reaching your ecolodge. The lodge’s owners are dedicated to preserving and protecting the natural beauty of Mindo with the creation of a mini micro hydro site, and organic vegetable garden, a lovely main lodge with expansive sitting areas open to the cloud forest. This afternoon the local guide takes you on a 2 hour exploration beside the Rio Mindo and through the nearby forest. The guide identifies exotic birds and explains medicinal plants and their uses. (BLD)

Today you make an early start to visit the ‘cock of the rock’ lek, a place where these marvellous birds congregate to feed. 

After breakfast go on a nature walk along the Cordillera San Lorenzo. Your guide will talk about the birds and animals about that you will see along the way and if the weather permits help you catch a glimpse of spectacular birds such as the Golden-Headed Quetzal, Choco Toucan, Crimson Rumped Toucanet… among others.

Back at the lodge relax in the peaceful surroundings, explore the lodge’s trails, or enjoy whitewater tubing on the Mindo River (additional cost). If you are a chocolate lover make a point to visit El Quetzal Café for the freshest chocolate in the town of Mindo. They offer a free tour of the mini-plantation and show you the magic transformation from seed to elixir. (BLD)

Optional early nature walk before breakfast. Relax at the lodge and enjoy one last delicious lunch before you depart for Quito.

En-route visit “Tony’s House”, a well-known place to see more than 24 species of hummingbirds. The owner, Tony, an expert on the birds and their songs, has placed a lot of hummingbird feeders around his house, as well as in the forest, to attract the amazing variety of brilliantly coloured birds you will see here. More than 19 varieties can regularly be seen including some very rare examples. 

 Overnight Quito. (BL)

Transfer to the airport.

Tour Length: 14 days/ 13 nights

Departures: Daily 

Minimum Number of People: 2 based on Double Occupancy

Enchanting Ecuador Includes:

• All ground transfers as noted in the itinerary

• 13 nights accommodation,

• Meals as noted in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, BL = Boxed Lunch, D = Dinner)

• Excursions, activities, and entrance fees as noted in the itinerary

• Park Entrance Fees

• Luggage transfer and support vehicle

• Naturalist/Trekking guide on excursions and activities

Enchanting Ecuador Doesn’t Include:

• International flight

• Departure tax

• Domestic Flights 

• Travel Insurance

• Pre- or post-tour accommodation

• Meals not included in the itinerary

• Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic beverages

• Excursions, activities, and entrance fees not included in the itinerary

• Specialist Guides (ie. Ornithologist)

• Gratuities to guides 

• Personal Items