Home » Best of Ecuador (21 days)
This 21-day program covers the absolute highlights of the Ecuadorian Andes, the Amazon and the coast! In three weeks’ time you will discover stunning colonial city centers, breathtaking Andean landscapes, meet indigenous communities as well as visit both the Amazon and the coast. We included the must-do activities for you that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on and are leaving it up to you to choose the activities that you feel like doing on your free days. The convenience of using private transportation throughout the whole trip makes that you can really focus on enjoying your holiday without having to worry on how to get to the next destination. Plus, with the help of our personally put together welcome package you will always know where to go for lunch and dinner and what to do and see at every destination. Let the Best of Ecuador amaze you!
Day 1: Quito airport – Otavalo
Upon your arrival at the airport in Quito, you will be welcomed by your Spanish speaking driver. You will start your journey by discovering the landscapes of the Imbabura region during a 2-hour drive. You will spend the night in the indigenous city of Otavalo where you will encounter a lot of townspeople dressed in their traditional indigenous clothing, in which especially the Otavalo women stand out with their dresses and golden accessories. In your welcome package you will find all detailed information about your trip, tours and background information on the places that you will visit. Because of the elevation (2500 m /8,202 ft) we recommend to take it slow today.
Day 2: Otavalo (B)
After your breakfast you will have the whole day to get to know Otavalo and its surroundings on your own account. Otavalo’s market is known to be the biggest Andean artisan market of the continent. Every day, the main square Plaza de Ponchos is filled with stands selling all kinds of handicrafts, wool clothing, jewelry, souvenirs and food. Wednesdays and Saturdays are especially recommended as more vendors are present in the town and all streets around the plaza become part of the market too. You can also decide to visit the nearby village Peguche and its waterfall, the town Cotacachi, which is famous for its leather products or the Cuicocha crater lake. You will spend a second night in Otavalo.
Day 3: Otavalo – Mindo (B)
Today, after lunch you will you will leave Otavalo and head towards Mindo, a quiet village surrounded by a beautiful cloud forest. You will notice that the climate is very different here than from the other places in the Andes. This is because in this area two of the most biologically diverse ecoregions in the world meet: The Chocoan lowlands and the tropical Andes. It is the perfect place for bird watching (especially hummingbirds), adventure activities and hikes. You will spend the night in Mindo.
Day 4: Mindo (B)
Today you will have a free day in Mindo. Although Mindo is a rather small village, it offers a great range of activities. Spend your morning surrounded by colourful species of butterflies at the mariposario where you can observe the four stages of a butterfly’s life. Or maybe you want to learn more about the process from cocoa bean to chocolate bar, then a chocolate tour is perfect for you. For those who are looking for a bit more adventure, you can take the tarabita (cable car) and hike to the nearby waterfalls, go canopying over treetops or tube down the river. You will spend a second night in Mindo.
Day 5: Mindo – Mitad del Mundo – Cuyabeno (B)
This morning you will still have some time to enjoy Mindo before you will leave for Quito. On the way, you will make a stop at the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo), located just at the north tip of Quito. Here you can visit either the equator monument (and its ethnographic museum) or the Inti Ñan museum. Both offer interesting experiments with the purpose to explain the scientific differences between the two hemispheres. Afterwards, you will be brought to your hotel Quito for some rest in the evening. Late in the evening you will get on the night bus, that will take you – together with other passengers for the jungle excursion – to the Cuyabeno Reserve, where you will arrive in the morning.
Day 6: Cuyabeno (B, L, D)
Today your adventure in the Ecuadorian Amazon will start. Breakfast will be served upon arrival at the entrance of the reserve. Afterwards you will embark the motorized canoe for a two-hour canoe ride over the Cuyabeno river to the lodge. During the canoe ride you will get a first glimpse of the amazing plants and wildlife found in the jungle. Along the beginning of the river you can observe some species of monkeys and birds from up close because this part of the river is narrow. Once arrived at the lodge, the staff will show you around the lodge. After dinner your naturalist bilingual guide will give you a briefing on the upcoming activities for the next few days and about the area.
Day 7: Cuyabeno (B, L, D)
The days start early in the Amazon because the brisk mourning hours are the best time to see the rainforest’s thriving activity. Today you will trek into the rainforest together with your naturalist guide who shares his wealth of knowledge about the flora and fauna in this area. You also have the opportunity to learn about how life in the tropical rainforest co-exists in a fragile balance. During the hike you may encounter some species of amphibians, butterflies, centipedes and millipedes, snakes, birds, monkeys or any footprints of mammals in the trail. In the afternoon you will head out in the canoe again to find different species of monkeys and with some luck the freshwater pink dolphins. In the evening you will go on an exciting night walk in search of species of insects, spiders, tarantulas, snakes or colourful frogs.
Day 8: Cuyabeno (B, L, D)
This morning you will head out in the canoe again, navigating the river in search of different species of monkeys and birds. After breakfast you will follow the taricaya (turtle trail) to visit the Seoqueya Community, where some local families of the Siona indigenous group live. Here you will learn more about their lifestyle, local traditions and cultures from the past. Late in the afternoon you will navigate to Laguna Grande where you can admire the flooded forest. Take a refreshing dive in the lake and observe the spectacular sunset. Before returning to the lodge we venture downstream to search for caimans (alligator family) and fishing bats.
Day 9: Cuyabeno – Quito (B, L)
Today is already your last day in the jungle. After breakfast and one last morning excursion to enjoy the sunrise over the jungle and to spot different species of birds it is time to prepare your luggage for the journey back to Quito. You will embark the canoe to navigate upstream to the Cuyabeno bridge where you have lunch. At the entrance the bus will be waiting for all passengers of the jungle excursion to bring you back to Quito, where you will arrive in the evening and spend the night.
Day 10: Quito (B)
Today you will have free time to explore Quito on your own. Located in the Andean mountains, Quito is the world´s highest capital city with an altitude of 2850 m (9,350 ft). Its well-preserved historical center was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Besides wandering around the old town you can also visit one of the many city parks, or take the cable car up to the Pichincha volcano for a unique view over the city. You will spend a second night in Quito.
Day 11: Quito – Cotopaxi (B)
Today you will leave Quito and head South to visit the iconic Cotopaxi volcano, an absolute must see on your journey through Ecuador. With 5897 meters (19,347 ft) is Cotopaxi the highest active volcano in Ecuador and the second tallest mountain in the country. Once arrived at the Cotopaxi National Park, you will have a short but intensive guided hike of about an hour that will take you to the refuge hut at 4800 m (15,958 ft). You will spend the night in the surroundings of the volcano, before continuing your journey further South the following day.
Day 12: Cotopaxi – Quilotoa – Baños (B)
After breakfast you will depart for a 2-hour drive to the breathtaking Quilotoa lake. This emerald color lagoon is located inside a volcano crater at 3800 m (12,467 ft). It’s the minerals in the water that make the lagoon a spectacle of different tones: green, turquoise and blue. You can walk down to the shore of the lake where you can go kayaking or just enjoy the landscape. The ascent you can do walking or you can rent mules. After lunch in Quilotoa your journey continues to the town of Baños de Agua Santa where you will spend the night.
Day 13: Baños (B)
During your free time in Baños you have a lot of activities to choose from. Located in a valley, this small town in the Andes is the perfect spot for both adrenaline junkies and those who are seeking relaxation. White water rafting, canopying and conyoning are only a couple of the adventures activities you could undertake here. All of them are easily booked on the spot in one of the many little travel agencies in town. If you are looking to take it a bit slower you can rent a mountain bike to ride down the waterfall route towards the impressive Pailon del Diablo waterfall in Rio Verde. Relive your childhood by going on the so-called ‘swing to the end of the world’ or have a relaxing day at the city’s volcanic hot springs, where the town’s name derives from. You will spend a second night in Baños.
Day 14: Baños – Chimborazo – Riobamba (B)
In the morning you will have some more free time in Baños. In the afternoon the trip continues to Riobamba. If the weather conditions are good, you might be able to spot the snow covered peak of Ecuador’s highest volcano: The Chimborazo (6263 m / 20,547 ft). Your driver knows the perfect spot to make a short stop to admire the full view of this impressive volcano and this is also the prefect moment to take some pictures. You will stay the night in Riobamba.
Day 15: Riobamba (B,L)
This morning you will have time to explore the old town of the colonial city Riobamba by yourself. The plazas, churches and narrow streets are an imposing reminder of the Spanish colonization, but the inhabitants give it a strong indigenous presence. In the afternoon you will visit the community of La Moya, where you will learn more about the history of the ice-harvesting profession on the Chimborazo volcano. You will also have lunch in the community. You will spend a second night in Riobamba.
Day 16: Riobamba – Ingapirca – Cuenca (B)
Today the journey continues towards the southern Ecuadorian Andes. Along the way you will make a stop at the Ingapirca archeological site, which contains the most and best-preserved Inca ruins in Ecuador. Back in the days Ingapirca was an important religious, political, scientific, military, and administrative center. You will learn about the Cañari and Inca cultures that lived peacefully together here, which was a very uncommon situation. After this guided visit, you will continue your trip until Cuenca where you will spend the night.
Day 17: Cuenca (B)
Today you will have free time to explore Cuenca on your own. Cuenca is the third largest city of the country and according many by far the most beautiful. Enjoy the day wandering around the churches, museums and markets in the charismatic city center that, just like Quito, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its well preserved colonial buildings that are in abundance. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Panama hat factory to observe the complete manufacturing process of the iconic Panama hat that has its origins in Ecuador. You will spend a second night in Cuenca.
Day 18: Cuenca – El Cajas – Puerto Lopez (B)
Today you will leave early for the El Cajas National Park, where you will have a moderate guided hike through the páramo of approximately 2 hours. El Cajas is formed by wetland from glacial origins with more than 200 lakes and lagoons that make for beautiful views. After the hike your drive continues to Guayaquil, while you can witness a great change of scenery. You will pass from the Andean mountain landscapes to the banana fields, cocoa fields and shrimp ponds of the coastal region. In the late afternoon you will arrive in the fishing village of Puerto Lopez, where you will spend the night.
Day 19: Isla de la Plata (B, L)
Today you will go on an excursion to Isla de la Plata. This nearby island is also known as Poor Men’s Galapagos, due to its comparable ecosystem and fauna. Here the blue footed boobies, masked boobies and frigate birds can be spotted. During whale season, which starts in June and ends in September, you can spot humpback whales on your way to island. These big mammals are found in Ecuadorian waters during their migration. After the hike on the island there will be some time to snorkel and explore the underwater world, to observe tropical fish and hopefully encounter some sea turtles. You will spend a second night in Puerto Lopez.
Day 20: Puerto Lopez (B)
Today you will have a free day to enjoy the beach. You can also decide to pay a visit to the pristine beaches of Los Frailes inside the Machalilla National Park near Puerto Lopez. To get here you can either rent a bike or travel by public bus and tuc tuc. Taking surf lessons or simply rent a surf board in town is also possible. You will spend a third and last night in Puerto Lopez.
Day 21: Puerto Lopez – Guayaquil airport (B)
Today your holiday will come to an end. Depending on the departure time of your flight you might still have a free morning to spend in Puerto Lopez before you will be transferred to the airport in Guayaquil for your international flight back home.
Prices 2024
Standard & Comfort accommodation
USD $2399 p.p. (based on accommodation in double room)
Geert A27 October 2023Verified Well-organised, smooth 3-week trip through beautiful Ecuador Excellent service for our (= couple in their sixties) three-week trip through Ecuador: good preparation (several offers given and compared), very responsive when asked questions (about safety, local costs, etc.), instant support with (minor; there were no major) issues during the trip (delayed drivers, small misunderstandings at hotels that were reserved,...), overall good deal price/quality. Of course it also helped that we did not have a single issue with safety, crime (theft, harrassment),... even though we also visited the larger cities of Quito and Guayaquil (of course, taking into account all suggested precautions: don't go looking for trouble in dangerous areas, stay off the streets at night, don't walk around like a tourist with a sign on his forehead "please rob me",...). In conclusion, unforgettable trip in a country with a lot of variation within reasonable distances (rain forest, Andes, coast, cities,...), and organized very well by Adore Travel. Raymond v18 October 2023Verified Top travel agency ! Een must voor een bezoek aan Ecuador - Galapagos Geweldige service , goede hulp, snel en adequaat contact, absolute aanrader Reis op maat klopte van A tot Z , elke dag was een nieuw avontuur ! Nanja en Bas O15 September 2023Verified Fijn contact en deskundig reisbureau voor Ecuador Al vrij snel na ons eerste contact met Adore Ecuador (Margot) ontvingen we een volledig reisschema, in ons geval voor een Amazone-tour en een week op de Galápagos. Beide waren fantastisch. Het schema was goed doordacht en we hadden mooie overnachtingsplekken. Tijdens onze reis was Margot heel goed bereikbaar en reageerde ze snel op vragen van ons. We kunnen het iedereen aanbevelen om bij Adore Ecuador te boeken om het land op z'n best te beleven! wimweerd8 September 2023Verified Betrouwbaar en alles waarmaken wat ze beloven. Adore is een reisbureau in Ecuador die meeleven en meedenken met de mensen uit Ecuador met toch ook een Nederlands tintje. Ook die afspraken nakomen en alles goed regelen. Ed4 September 2023Verified Perfectly organized trip through Ecuador We asked Adore to put together a tailor-made trip. Very well helped by Jessica and always an immediate response to our questions and wishes. A trip perfectly organized according to our wishes. Nice, mostly small-scale, comfortable hotels. We traveled with private drivers, but public transport is also possible. We received an extensive travel plan per day with daily activities, but also enough space for free interpretation. Drivers were always present at the agreed time, with spacious comfortable minivans (we traveled with four). There was also room to plan the route in such a way that there was still plenty to see or do along the way. Although everything goes by email, you have personal contact and a fantastic and unique journey is ensured. Wendy B1 September 2023Verified Adore the Galapagos experience Highly recommended! I did some research about Travel Agencies and reached out to two, Adore Ecuador replied in a more personalized manner, inquiring more about my expectations and dive experience. Their response was way more engaging and showed a desire to understand what I wanted to see. Jessica was my main point of contact, she guided me through the entire process. We started with the 6 Day Galapagos Island Hopping Dive tour, adding more days and an additional Island: Isabela, for a chance to swim with Penguins. For each tour, they manage base packages with 3 levels of accommodations(Budget, Standard & Comfort) and the option to customize it even further. If you care about accommodations, take a look at their website, it gives you a good idea about what to expect. I had the chance to select my accommodations, and with an extra fee, I enjoyed their Panoramic View Suite in one of the hotels, which I absolutely loved! Jessica's answers were always timely and informative, giving me options and guidance. She was very patient and replied to all my questions. After we formalized the itinerary, she sent me a detailed travel proposal. I had the option to cover the Payment in electronic fashion; then she solidified the reservations and took care of all the details, all my transfers, stays, guides for the protected areas, dive tours, snorkel tours and more. The Travel itinerary that she sent me had clear instructions for each activity, specifying what was covered, and what additional fees/services were needed at my own expense (such the Galapagos National Park entrance fee, Transit Control Card, taxis) with an estimated price (which was very accurate). I had the time of my life in Galapagos, every island had its own magic. In Santa Cruz I dove with one of the best Dive agencies that I have been diving with!. Some were very challenging dives, but I felt safe with them. We saw sea lions underwater & many turtles. The vibe in the town is very chill and relaxed. While on that island I saw the giant tortoises, sea lions by the fisherman dock and the beaches, swimming iguanas and more. In Isabella, I had the best snorkeling experience, we did see penguins and swam around them! lots and lots of turtles(the highest number that I have seen snorkeling), rays, sea lions and more. interesting marine creatures, tortoises and birds! This island felt less urbanized…more pristine. In San Cristobal, the town felt more developed, but I had a great dive experience seeing an innumerable amount of Salema, and some sea lions and sharks swimming around, breaking their “formation”. San Cristobal has the largest colony of Sea Lions in the Galapagos, I enjoyed chilling and swimming with them a lot. Once you know how to move around Galapagos, it can be simple, but it was my first time and not enough time to do a lot of research, so I really appreciated all the guidance and help…especially with the transfers between islands. I witnessed very unfortunate circumstances, other tourists lost their transfer as their name was not in the boarding list and the boats were full. I felt bad for them, and also grateful that Jessica had a lot of attention to detail. I am very happy with the service and guidance provided by Jessica and the Adore Ecuador team. If you are thinking about Galapagos and don’t know where to start, they can offer some guidance and information about what to expect in each island. Galapagos is a destination that you will never forget and Adore Ecuador will help you to adore the experience! Sandra v25 August 2023Verified Roadtrip Ecuador Our roadtrip through Ecuador was amazing and very well organized by Adore Ecuador travel agency. We have done and seen so much. Visited some cities and learned a lot about the culture. Spend several days in nature: vulcano area, lakes, Tena Jungle and Galapagos. darlin v16 August 2023Verified Thanks Adore Ecuador Travel What a travel it was ! The organisation and program made by Margot and her team were perfect. A tailormade program, no worries and always reachable ! Lovely hotels, lovely places, lovely people. I recommend them all the way ! Lidwien B10 August 2023Verified Adoremos Ecauador Mijn dochter en ik hadden een geweldige reis in Ecuador. Adore Ecuador had alles tot in de puntjes geregeld: de hotels, de chauffeurs en de gidsen, de informatie over de plekken die we bezochten. Ecuador is een prachtig land. We hebben hoog op de Cotopaxi vulkaan gestaan, een wandeling in het nevelwoud bij Mindo gemaakt, gedobberd in het thermale bad in Banos, meegedanst bij een optreden voor de kathedraal in Cuena en onze ogen uitgekeken op de markt in Otavalo en Guamote. Heerlijk afwisselend gegeten (van sommige vruchten wist ik niet dat ze bestonden). We troffen overal vriendelijke mensen, we hebben ons geen moment onveilig gevoeld. Hartelijk dank aan Adore Ecuador voor deze geweldige reis. Ingrid10 August 2023Verified In een woord fantastisch! Wat hebben we genoten van deze mooie reis, en wat was alles goed geregeld door Adore Ecuador travel. Anouk en Margot zijn zeer goed bereikbaar en reageren snel. Een voordeel dat ze in Ecuador gevestigd zijn = geen tijdverschil :). Prima accommodaties, fijne privé chauffeurs.
Edificio Argentina Plaza – Office 802
Juan Severino E8-38 y Av. 6 de Diciembre
Quito – Ecuador
Office hours: Monday – Friday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (GMT-5).
Tourism Registry Number: 1792773474001.001.9003713