Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You arrive in Quito this afternoon with time to get settled before dinner. Head to your hotel and drop off your bags, then you can either relax or take a walk around the neighborhood to shake off the travel. There's an afternoon briefing scheduled to go over what's coming up in the next few days.
- Start point
- Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (AT YOUR HOTEL)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Ibis Quito )
Optional Activities
- Walk around the hotel area
- Day 2
Otavalo
Following breakfast, you'll drive to Imbabura province with photo stops along the route. A roughly 2-hour hike starts from el Lechero Tree trail and takes you down to Otavalo city, passing by Peguche waterfall. Once you reach Otavalo, the Indian market is worth checking out, then you'll grab lunch and have free time to walk around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Yellow Guest House)
Included Activities
- Drive through Imbabura province with photo stops
- Hike from el Lechero Tree to Otavalo (roughly 2 hours including Peguche waterfall)
Optional Activities
- Visit Indian market in Otavalo
- Explore Otavalo town
Landmarks Peguche Waterfall 
- Day 3
Otavalo
You'll head to Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve located at 10,000 feet and start hiking around Cuicocha Lake. This 8-mile trek runs 3 to 5 hours depending on your pace, and you might spot condors near the cliffs. A box lunch happens during the hike, and after finishing, you'll check out Cotacachi, known for leather goods, before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch)
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Yellow Guest House )
Included Activities
- Hike around Cuicocha Lake (approximately 8 miles, 3 to 5 hours)
- Box lunch during hike
Optional Activities
- Browse leather articles in Cotacachi
Landmarks Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve Cuicocha Lake 
- Day 4
Otavalo to Baños
From Otavalo, you'll travel toward Cotopaxi National Park with scenic stops along the Avenue of the Volcanoes for photos. The museum there covers hiking trails and the region's endemic plants and animals. Once you're done exploring, you'll drive to your hotel in Baños for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (La Floresta Baños)
Included Activities
- Drive along Avenue of the Volcanoes with photo stops
- Museum visit at Cotopaxi National Park
Optional Activities
- Hiking trails in Cotopaxi National Park
Landmarks Cotopaxi National Park - Day 5
Baños
You'll take a scenic drive into Baños city, then hop on bikes to ride toward the Avenue of the Waterfalls. From there, you'll continue to Rio Verde village to see Pailon Del Diablo waterfall, which gets its water from Llanganates National Park. After hiking to the base of the waterfall and having lunch, you'll bike back to Baños.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hostel (La Floresta Baños )
Included Activities
- Bike ride to Avenue of the Waterfalls
- Hike to base of Pailon Del Diablo waterfall
Landmarks Pailon Del Diablo Waterfall Rio Verde - Day 6
Baños
Today you'll pick your own adventure. Either raft on the Pastaza River with Class III rapids or try canyoning with rappelling through waterfalls. After whichever activity you choose, the afternoon is yours to relax and explore Baños on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (La Floresta Baños)
Optional Activities
- Rafting on Pastaza River (Class III)
- Canyoning with rappelling through waterfalls
- Free afternoon to explore Baños
Landmarks Pastaza River - Day 7
Baños to Alausi
You'll head out early to Chimborazo Fauna Reserve, where Ecuador's highest volcano at 21,000 feet comes into view. This is one of the few places in the country to spot Vicuña, the high-altitude camel from the Andes that was brought back from Bolivia and Chile in the 1970s. You'll climb to the second base camp at 16,000 feet for lunch, then continue toward Alausi City and your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Noris)
Included Activities
- Visit Chimborazo Fauna Reserve
- Climb to second Base Camp at 16,000 feet
Landmarks Chimborazo Volcano Chimborazo Fauna Reserve 
- Day 8
Alausi to Cuenca
You'll check out Alausi with its colonial buildings and colorful houses set in the Andes. If your visit lands on Friday through Sunday, you can take the famous train from Alausi to Sibambe, which features impressive zigzag tracks and mountain views including the Devil's Nose section. On other days, a guided city tour happens instead. After that, you'll visit Ingapirca, pre-Inca ruins and one of the better-preserved archaeological sites in the country, then head to Cuenca for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Victoria )
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Alausi
- Visit Ingapirca pre-Inca ruins
Optional Activities
- Train ride from Alausi to Sibambe (Friday-Sunday only)
Landmarks Ingapirca Ruins 
- Day 9
Cuenca
You'll spend time in Cuenca, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site from 1999. Check out key spots like Calderon Park, the Modern and Old Cathedrals, the Flower Market, and Larga Street with its colonial homes. Walking up to Turi viewpoint gives you panoramic views of the entire city, passing by the Tomebamba River and Broken Bridge. In the afternoon, the Panama Hat Museum shows you the history and traditional process of making these iconic hats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Victoria )
Included Activities
- City tour of Cuenca including Calderon Park, Modern and Old Cathedrals, Flower Market, and Larga Street
- Walk to Turi viewpoint
- Panama Hat Museum visit
Landmarks Calderon Park Modern Cathedral of Cuenca Old Cathedral of Cuenca Flower Market Larga Street Turi Viewpoint Tomebamba River Broken Bridge Panama Hat Museum - Day 10
Cuenca
You'll explore Cajas National Park on the historic Inca Trail, an 11 km trek taking 5 to 6 hours depending on group pace. Starting at Tres Cruces viewpoint shaped by glacial activity, you'll descend through Andean lagoons including Laguna Totoras and Laguna Toreadora. You'll pass through Polylepis forest with its unique moorland plants and animals, then end at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cajas before returning to Cuenca.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Victoria )
Included Activities
- Cajas National Park Inca Trail hike (11 km, approximately 5 to 6 hours)
- Tres Cruces viewpoint
- Laguna Totoras and Laguna Toreadora
- Polylepis forest walk
- Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cajas visit
Landmarks Cajas National Park Tres Cruces Viewpoint Laguna Totoras Laguna Toreadora Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cajas - Day 11
Cuenca to Guayaquil
After breakfast, you'll head down toward the coast. In the afternoon, you'll take a city tour of Guayaquil covering important sites like Centenario Park, Boulevard 9 de Octubre, Iguanas Park, the Basilica, Malecon Simon Bolivar, and Las Peñas Viewpoint for impressive city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel Guayaquil)
Included Activities
- City tour of Guayaquil including Centenario Park, Boulevard 9 de Octubre, Iguanas Park, Basilica, Malecon Simon Bolivar, and Las Peñas Viewpoint
Landmarks Centenario Park Boulevard 9 de Octubre Iguanas Park Basilica Malecon Simon Bolivar Las Peñas Viewpoint - Day 12
Guayaquil to Salinas
You'll travel from Guayaquil to the coastal city of Salinas, stopping along the way at San Vicente Hot Springs. This natural thermal complex has mineral-rich hot pools and crater mud believed to have healing and skin-rejuvenating properties, with many visitors applying the mud as a natural mask. After relaxing in the thermal waters, you'll have free time in Salinas to explore or rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Salinas)
Included Activities
- Visit San Vicente Hot Springs with hot spring pools and mud treatments
Optional Activities
- Free time in Salinas to explore or rest
Landmarks San Vicente Hot Springs - Day 13
Salinas
This day is about relaxation and going at your own pace. You can relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, or find a hammock under the palms if you prefer something quieter. Whether you read, nap, or simply watch the horizon, this is your time to recharge and take in the coastal atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Salinas )
Optional Activities
- Relax on beach
- Swimming in ocean
- Use hammock
- Explore surroundings
- Day 14
Salinas to Guayaquil
You'll travel back to Guayaquil City, about 2 hours from Salinas Beach. Your tour ends there, and you'll be able to continue with your flight or other travel plans to head home.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo (GYE), Avenida de las Américas, Guayaquil, Guayas 0905, Ecuador (DOMESTIC DEPARTURES)
- Meals
- Breakfast
