Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Ecuador specialists
Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Ecuador, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.
Cotopaxi National Park
Travel south out of Quito to an area dubbed by the 19th century German explorer Von Humboldt as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". Cotopaxi National Park is at the heart of this area and is deservedly Ecuador's most-visited mainland national park.
Quito city tour
Visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Otavalo market visit
The market features a dazzling array of crafts, textiles and jewellery, all of which are of high quality and good value.
Amazon fauna & flora excursions
Daily activities include visits to the butterfly farm, ascending the observation tower, a canopy walk, treks on well-marked trails, and canoe rides through the blackwater creeks.
Learn about life in the Amazon with 'Me to We'
A stay at the Minga Lodge offers a unique opportunity to get to grips with what life is really like in the Amazon. Culturally, this is far more in-depth, interactive and rewarding than a regular Amazon visit and allows you to spend time with the local community during your stay.
El Cajas National Park
The El Cajas National Park is a 28,000 hectare area of some 230 lakes and quinoa forest starting at 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) that is home to a variety of wildlife including the Andean gull, black frogs, hummingbirds and condors as well as a variety of indigenous plants including many rare bromeliads and orchids.
Termas de Papallacta exploration
As well as the soothing springs and excellent spa facilities on offer at Papallacta, there are numerous self-guided or naturalist-guided ecological paths in which you can appreciate the local flora and fauna as well as stunning views of the glacial landscape and the extinct volcano Antisana rising 5,704 m above sea level.
Jungle excursions
There are jungle treks where experienced and knowledgeable guides will answer your questions and identify wildlife, piranha fishing excursions in the blackwater creek and stargazing in the evening.
Gualaceo countryside tour
The valley of Gualaceo is 22 miles (36 kilometres) from Cuenca, at an elevation of 7,446 feet (2,370 metres) above sea level. The ride starts along the Santa Ana valley and then high in the mountains, through very scenic landscapes, which change at every curb.
Cuenca scenic tour
Have a comprehensive but leisurely tour of the colonial city of Cuenca. The tour includes the Plaza of San Sebastián, a colourful artisans' market, and the Museum of Modern Art, which features an excellent collection of contemporary fine art.
