10 days tour

Ecuador Highlights Round Trip 10 Days (10 Days)

Ecuador Highlights Round Trip 10 Days (10 Days)

This tour includes:

Guide

Travel Guide: Certified AJ Expert, English-speaking Adventure and Local Travel Guide

Accommodation

Accommodation in double room: first class hotel in Quito, 4+ star hacienda in Otavalo, 4 star hotel in Baรฑos, 5 star hacienda in Chimborazo, local accommodation in the Amazon region, 3 star hotel in Cuenca.

Others

Travel Guide: Certified AJ Expert, English-speaking Adventure and Local Travel Guide

Meals

9x breakfast, 4x lunch, 2x dinner Outdoor equipment: hiking poles Meals: 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners.

Transport

Transportation: Private, comfortable transportation, train, motorized canoe, domestic flight Quito - Cuenca - Quito Activities: Indigenous market, meeting with indigenous people, waterfall road, hiking on the Chimborazo Glacier, trekking, bird watching in the Amazon, canoeing and wildlife viewing in the rainforest, train ride to the devilโ€™s nose, cultural visit

Not included:

Others

Flights

International Flights

Insurance

Travel insurance (compulsory)

Optional

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Ecuador Highlights Round Trip 10 Days (10 Days)

  • Day 1 Day 1: Day Of Arrival - Quito
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Day Of Arrival - Quito

      Getting to know the AJ tour guide and the group at 6pm. Welcome to Quito! The largest, best preserved colonial city in the Americas - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the cultural capital of South America and is located on the equatorial line in the valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on your arrival time, you will have the opportunity to explore Quitoโ€™s old town and the surrounding area. Adventure Journeys will be happy to organize a day trip for you (please request in advance). At 6pm your guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby for an information session. On this occasion the details of the trip and your questions regarding the excursions will be discussed. This first day is for information and acclimatization.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Otavaloโ€™S Indigenous Market
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Otavaloโ€™S Indigenous Market

      Today weโ€™re going to Pijal, a small village in the heart of the Andes, to visit one of the sustainable AJ projects called Sacha WarMikuna (women from the mountains). This is a fantastic project developed by AJ and the local women, with the main goal of supporting their families and promoting womenโ€™s position in local society by offering them an alternative side job alongside household chores as a new income opportunity. In the project, you will experience an unforgettable cultural encounter and immerse yourself in the true spirit of the South American woman and her textile skills and her deep culinary knowledge that comes from previous generations. They will participate in the preparation of โ€œAji,โ€ a spicy salsa that is part of their identity. You will also spend quality time with the women and enjoy a tasty traditional lunch, for which the women used the fresh produce they harvested from the surrounding organic fields on the same day. Later we will learn more about the weaving process of your textiles. Donโ€™t miss out on the wonderful opportunity to give back by buying handmade scarves here. In the afternoon, youโ€™ll have plenty of time to stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets where the Otavalo Indians live with their traditional blue ponchos, white trousers, and long braided hair. Learn all about her daily activities, her typical food and her native language. Explore the famous artisan market with its wonderful textiles, alpaca throws and rugs, knitted garments, native paintings, ceramics, jewelry, tapestries and much more at bargain prices. Later, we reach the beautiful, historic hacienda of Pinsaqui, where we will spend the night. Enjoy a typical Andean cocktail on arrival and learn more about the history of this place.



      Meals
      breakfast, lunch
  • Day 3 Day 3: Hummingbird Reserve
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Hummingbird Reserve

      In the early morning, we drive down a winding panoramic road into the Amazon rainforest. As we descend from 3000 m to 500 m, you can see how the landscape and vegetation change drastically between the climate zones. Later, we also stop at the โ€œGuacamayos-Macaw Lookout,โ€ located between the Antisana and Sumaco National Reserves (low-altitude cloud forest) to observe the magical cloud cover that covers the Amazon rainforest until we finally arrive at the Arajuno River, where a motor canoe takes us 20 minutes upstream to Eco Lodge.



      Meals
      breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Day 4 Day 4: Amazon Migration And Kichwa Community
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Amazon Migration And Kichwa Community

      This morning we will explore the tropical rainforest on a hike. We will receive an introduction about the characteristics of the jungle and the local medicinal plants and we will go in search of wildlife. Later, a Kichwa community will welcome us and we will enjoy learning about their way of life and interaction with the forest. Here you can see the handicraft of indigenous women who make handmade ceramics. By purchasing these ceramics, you will have an opportunity to support the indigenous people in their daily lives. In addition, on this day we can also learn how to make chocolate from raw cacao fruit.



      Catering
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 5 Day 5: Waterfalls Road โ€” Baรฑos - Outdoor Adventure Town
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Waterfalls Road โ€” Baรฑos - Outdoor Adventure Town

      After breakfast, we arrive at Rio Verde, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sangay National Park. Here we will hike to the second highest waterfall in Ecuador, Pailon Del Diablo, where water spectacularly cascades down the rocks. Optionally, you can also take a hike around the falls. After a short drive, we will reach another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we will take a cable car through the Pastaza Gorge. In the late afternoon we reach Baรฑos, which is located right at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano, active since 1999. Every few months there are some harmless eruptions with clouds of lava and steam, which fascinate visitors and can be viewed from safe vantage points. Here in Baรฑos you can also visit a spa to enjoy the hot springs of the region.



      Meals
      Breakfast
  • Day 6 Day 6: Treehouse โ€” Free Afternoon In Baรฑos
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Treehouse โ€” Free Afternoon In Baรฑos

      In the morning we visit the so-called tree house with the impressive swing "At the end of the world". Here the winner of the National Geographic photo contest 2014 took his award-winning photo. You now also have time to take a stunning picture with this enchanting landscape in the background.
      We have the afternoon at leisure for optional activities in this fascinating city.



      Board
      Breakfast
  • Day 7 Day 7: Himborazo Volcano
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Himborazo Volcano

      In

      the early morning we drive through valleys and farming villages to the volcano Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador with an altitude of 6310 m. Its summit is also the furthest point on the planet. On a clear day, the majestic summit dominates the view over many kilometers. A short hike of 0.9 km is made to the foot of the glacier, which is located at 5000 m. On this hike we will discover some animals such as the Andean Condor, Karakaras, hummingbirds and the shy Vicuรฑas who live in this volcanic wonderland. This particular animal is related to alpaca and llama and has already died out in Ecuador, but has been reintroduced and is now protected.



      Meals
      Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 8 Day 8: Palmira Desert - Inka Ruins - Cuenca
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Palmira Desert - Inka Ruins - Cuenca

      After an early breakfast, we set off on a scenic drive to the small town of Alausรญ. Here you can learn more about the history of the Devilโ€™s Nose train, whose tracks zigzag through the landscape. After this visit, itโ€™s on to the small town of Palmira. Here you can see a desert at 10498.69 feet that looks like the Sahara. We will continue our visit towards Ingapirca, the most impressive Inca ruins in Ecuador. We will spend the afternoon learning more about this archaeological site, which is famous for its unique fusion of Inca and native Caรฑari architecture, and for its religious significance. Later, we drive to Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial architecture.



      Meals
      breakfast
  • Day 9 Day 9: Cuenca - Gualaceo And Chordeleg
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Cuenca - Gualaceo And Chordeleg

      In the morning you will enjoy a fantastic city tour and visit the most important buildings and remarkable places in Cuenca, such as Calderon Square, the new Cathedral, El Barranco and the viewpoint El Turi. In the afternoon, we will visit a famous Panama hat factory, where we will learn about the entire manufacturing process of this traditional Ecuadorian hat.
      In the afternoon we will visit the nearby towns of Chordeleg and Gualaceo - unique destinations on this tour. Chordeleg is known for its jewelry, especially its cutlery. In Gualaceo, there is a picturesque market where locals gather to exchange their products and handicrafts. Here you will find traditional Macana shawls, fabrics with intense colors and folkloric patterns.



      Meals
      Breakfast
  • Day 10 Day 10: Free Morning - Flight Back To Quito
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Free Morning - Flight Back To Quito

      On this free morning you will have leisurely time to explore and enjoy the charming city of Cuenca and its surroundings.
      In the afternoon, you will take a short 45-minute domestic flight back to Quito. Today our journey together ends and you begin your journey home or onward. Memories and photos will accompany you and will not only remain in your heart, but will hopefully lead you back to Ecuador soon to experience more parts of this diverse country.
      We wish you "buen viaje"!



      Board
      Breakfast
+7
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 80

Age range allowed for this experience.

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