Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

14 days
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Small Group Tour
Often overshadowed by Peru and Brazil, Ecuador is a tiny pocket of underrated beauty. Explore the beating heart of this diverse country on our two-week tour, which encompasses the best of Ecuador's culture and nature. Journey to traditional Andean villages, snow-capped volcanic peaks, and lush jungle landscapes, getting a step closer to Ecuador's historic and...
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From$2,610
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • A two-week tour of all the natural and cultural highlights of mainland Ecuador
    • Explore traditional Andean villages and colonial architecture
    • Visit Cotopaxi National Park and sleep in the Amazon Jungle

What's this trip about?

    Often overshadowed by Peru and Brazil, Ecuador is a tiny pocket of underrated beauty. Explore the beating heart of this diverse country on our two-week tour, which encompasses the best of Ecuador's culture and nature. Journey to traditional Andean villages, snow-capped volcanic peaks, and lush jungle landscapes, getting a step closer to Ecuador's historic and modern customs. Volcanic peaks - Spot volcanoes as we traverse the Andean spine (the Avenue of Volcanoes) and walk in Cotopaxi National Park Indigenous Ecuador - Discover the heart of Ecuador, visiting indigenous communities in the mountainous surroundings of rural Otavalo Amazon adventures - Stay in the depths of Ecuador's rainforest and explore with an Amazonian guide Extend your trip - Spot wildlife in the Galapagos on one of our seven-night cruises.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CityQuito
End CityGuayaquil

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions

  • Cotopaxi
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Cuenca
  • Galapagos
  • Guayaquil
  • Otavalo
  • Pailon del Diablo
  • Palacio Real
  • Quito
  • Riobamba
  • Sucre

Activities

  • Hiking

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 20

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in Tumbaco, near Quito

Our tour starts today in Tumbaco, a quiet rural neighbourhood of Quito located around 20 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from the downtown city centre. Ecuador's mountain capital is the second highest in Latin America at 2,850 metres. It lies in a narrow vall...

Day 2 Travel to Otavalo; explore the rural Andean surroundings on foot and visit the local market

We'll go straight to rural Ecuador today, driving north towards the small market town of Otavalo, crossing over the equator line and stopping to commemorate this at the Quitsato Equator Monument. Set within a fertile valley encircled by imposing sacred mountains, Ota...

Day 3 Walk at the Laguna Cuicocha; share in rural life at indigenous highland communities

We'll drive out to the tranquil setting of Cuicocha this morning, a turquoise crater lake located at 3,100 metres, approached through a wonderful landscape of alpine vegetation. We'll walk on a segment of the trail that goes around the lake (an easy walk of approximat...

Day 4 Return to Quito; walking tour of the UNESCO Heritage Old Town

We'll enter downtown Quito for the first time today. Ecuador's capital is one of the best-preserved colonial cities of the Americas, and a UNESCO Heritage Site with a rich blend of colonial architecture, imposing churches and busy markets. We'll visit some of the main...

Day 5 Drive the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park; walks at the Limpiopungo Lagoon

Our journey today takes us through some of the most impressive mountain scenery in the entire country, into the landscapes aptly described by the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt as the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes'. Our destination is Cotopaxi National Park - just ...

Day 6 Drive to the Amazon via the thermal pools at Papallacta

Papallacta is located in a high valley on the Amazonian side of the central Andes chain. Taking a panoramic mountain road, we'll cross farmland, trout ponds, and native forest, and on clear days we might be able to see the spectacular frozen formations of the nearby A...

Day 7 Walk along the Misahualli River learning about local plants and bird spotting

Today we'll set out on a walk with our local Amazonian guide, who will explain the typical plants of this area and their daily use. During the hike, we'll pass through a labyrinth of high rocks and some impressively wild cave formations. The creeping plant life and ab...

Day 8 Explore the Amazon by canoe and look for wildlife

After breakfast, we set out for a canoe trip on the Misahualli and Napo River, to the protected forest reserve of Misicocha. We'll be surrounded by the extraordinary plant life and sounds of the primary rainforest. The plants here have myriad medicinal uses for the co...

Day 9 Travel to Banos and drive the 'waterfall route' to the Pailon del Diablo falls

We'll cross back into the highlands today as we leave the Amazon Jungle behind us, driving to the town of Banos. Sitting below the active Tungarahua volcano, the lively town is a beacon for adventure and a common jumping-off point for travellers heading into the jungl...

Day 10 Visit Chimborazo Forest Reserve; continue to Riobamba

Mount Chimborazo is, at 6,310 metres, the most distant point from the centre of the earth. We'll see Ecuador's highest peak today as we journey to Alausi via the Chimborazo Forest Reserve. This protected area is home to a wide variety of vegetation and animals, includ...

Day 11 Visit the indigenous community of Palacio Real and the Inca ruins of Ingapirca before continuing to Cuenca

We begin the day with a beautiful visit to the Palacio Real community, at the foot of the Chimborazo Volcano. It's here in Ecuador's heartlands that indigenous farming communities thrive, and the 80 families who make up Palacio Real breed llamas that are used for farm...

Day 12 Explore Cuenca on foot; visit the Diez de Agosto food market

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Cuenca is much calmer, less sprawling and frenetic than Quito, with a beautiful historical area and central market, including two cathedrals. The city has a proud intellectual tradition that has produced many notable writers, poets, a...

Day 13 Free time in Cuenca; fly to Quito

Today, we have a free day in Cuenca, which you might like to spend at the markets, shopping for last-minute souvenirs; or climbing up the spires of the cathedral after visiting one of the city's museums. The direct flights to Quito are in the evening, so we'll have a ...

Day 14 Trip ends in Quito

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Tumbaco, Quito. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Quito at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like ...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,610
Price per day$186
Last Updated: 3/14/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
30 Mar 2025
12 Apr 2025
$2,610
$500
07 Sep 2025
20 Sep 2025
$2,710
$480
21 Sep 2025
04 Oct 2025
$2,810
$480
12 Oct 2025
25 Oct 2025
$2,810
$480
29 Mar 2026
11 Apr 2026
$2,970
$510
24 May 2026
06 Jun 2026
$2,970
$510
06 Sep 2026
19 Sep 2026
$2,970
$510
20 Sep 2026
03 Oct 2026
$2,970
$510
11 Oct 2026
24 Oct 2026
$2,970
$510

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
10,321
Great
3,322
Average
522
Disappointing
158
Terrible
79
E

Eupalinos of Megara

Nov 2024

Written on

Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

This was one of the best "Discovery" tours I have been on with Explore. It felt like a real adventure, with the excursions to the volcanoes Cotopaxi and Chimborazo a...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2024

Written on

Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

Until Ecuador resolves its serious power outage issues accommodation properties must be selected that have back up power preferably solar but generator in the interi...

M

Marzena

Oct 2024

Written on

Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

We had a wonderful trip! The itinerary is full of great places to visit, learn about the country and Ecuadorians life, beautiful breathtaking landscapes, amazing uni...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2024

Written on

Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

Aspects of this trip were really good, but the itinerary needs some major revisions to make it better. The jungle is best left out, we stayed so close to civilisatio...

A

Ann

Oct 2024

Written on

Ecuador - Andes to Amazon

This was a great trip with a good range of experiences, scenery, nature, culture, communities and food. Our guide was very knowledgeable and great at spotting a...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus, Train,

Transportation & flights

Bus, Train
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Ecuador: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. In order for your visa to be granted on arrival, you will be required to show proof of travel insurance valid for the duration of your trip. Please also ensure your passport is stamped with the T3 permit (for 30 or 90 days) on arrival in Ecuador. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry; this is a strict legal requirement from the Ecuadorean government. Without this minimum validity entry to the country will be denied. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. USA: If your flights pass through the USA, even if only in transit, you will require either a visa or an ESTA (an e-visa). Please read on for more information. Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can apply for an ESTA under certain conditions. This applies if you enter the country by sea or by air, and this must be done online via https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. You must have a biometric passport to apply for an ESTA. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover. If you have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen since 2011 or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel with an ESTA and instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel. You should also be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Cuba since the 12th of January 2021, you will not be eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need. Your ESTA application will ask for Point of Contact information. Please note that if you're only transiting through the USA then this is not required. If you're visiting or staying in the USA on an Explore trip, then our USA contact information will be listed on your final documentation which you will receive approximately 3-4 weeks before departure. Entry requirements for the USA can change regularly, therefore, please ensure you have the most up to date information before you travel by checking the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html Canada: An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is required by British citizens transiting via Canada. For more information see the official Canadian government website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office
Health & Safety
We recommend protection against malaria, Tetanus, Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid and Polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary. Please note many countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean require a yellow fever vaccination certificates if travelling from infected areas. A detailed list of these countries can be found on the NaTHNaC website - http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. Also on the NaTHNaC site there is a list of Countries (and specific areas within a country) which are at risk of infection and a vaccination is therefore recommended. Yellow fever in only recommended for those travelling east of the Andes (Amazon Extension). Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 13
  • Dinner : 3
  • Lunch : 4
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-EC

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