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Ecuadorian Andes Tours & Travel Packages 2025/2026
5 Ecuadorian Andes trips. Compare tour itineraries from 3 tour companies. 59 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Top Ecuadorian Andes Attractions
- Experiencing the many stunning and varied landscapes of the Andes
- Exploring Inca ruins, similar to those found in Peru
- Hiking around beautiful crater lakes
- Riding the train through the thrilling Devil’s Nose route
- Enjoying a few days in vibrant Quito
- Browsing through hundreds of colorful stalls at the enormous Otavalo market
Ecuadorian Andes Tours & Travel Guide
Ecuadorian Andes Attractions & Landmarks Guide
The Andes mountain range is the longest in the world, spanning 4300 miles and passing through almost the entire western part of South America. They have shaped the human history, geography, and wildlife of the continent. The highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere are here, and the mountains create environments that have attracted travelers for decades.
Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia comprise the Central Andes, followed by the Southern Andes (Argentina and Chile). To the north, the mountain rain extends into Venezuela and Colombia.
On a tour of Ecuador that visits the Andes, you’ll find some of the country’s most diverse landscapes, as well as some of the most developed tourist infrastructure. This region has some of the most popular attractions in Ecuador, and has been welcoming travelers for many years.
This region boasts three of Ecuador’s top cities, aside from Guayaquil: Quito, Otavalo, and Banos. All three are very distinct, historical and offer many unique attractions. Also here, you’ll encounter many diverse native cultures, who are famous for crafts such as weaving, which you can learn about at the many local markets.
Top things to do on a tour of the Andes in Ecuador
1. Otavalo Market - One and a half hours north of Quito you’ll find colorful and delightful Otavalo. This mountain town is a wonderful place to visit, and stunningly beautiful. Perhaps it’s biggest claim to fame is the fact that it is home to the largest indigenous market in Ecuador.
The busiest, but sometimes most enjoyable day to visit the market is Saturday - when many locals also decide to stop by. Browsing the many stalls of beautiful textiles and other handmade crafts, it’s easy to imagine yourself back to pre-columbian days when the market would have served the many different peoples living in the area.
Surrounding Otavalo are many fun and exciting outdoor activities including waterfall hikes, mountain biking, and horseback riding. These are all great ways to explore the intense beauty of the central Andes.
2. The Equator - The official country name of Ecuador, The Republic of Ecuador, literally translates to “The Republic of the Equator.” And though the equator goes all around the world, Ecuador takes particular pride in this connection. The Equator marker in Ecuador, “Mitad del Mundo”, is one of the country’s most popular attractions.
Modern GPS has indicated that the official equator is in fact 240 meters off from the bright yellow line beckoning tourists for selfies. If you’re keen to see the official equator, you can pay to visit Intiñan Solar Museum, where the actual zero degree latitude location is.
3. Quito - The highest official capital city in the world, Quito offers many activities and sights for travelers through Ecuador. Quito is full of fascinating history, and many European influences from over the centuries have found their way into its culture, cuisine, and especially architecture.
The Old Town of Quito has been designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best places to tour around in Quito. The surrounding city is vibrant and exciting, teeming with popular bars, restaurants, and art.
4. Banos - Banos is a busy, fun, and historic town, known for hot springs and beautiful vistas. It’s a gateway to the Amazon, and a classic stop on Ecuador tours that visit both regions: the Amazon and the Andes. Hiking is one of the main activities in the area - you can trek down steep gorges for a thrilling adrenaline pumping day, or hike to the Amazon basin with its lovely waterfalls and greenery. After a long day of activity, soak in the towns thermal hot springs for some rest and relaxation.
5. Papallacta Hot Springs - With all your outdoor exploring, take time to relax at the natural hot springs in Papallacta. Warmed by waters from nearby volcanoes, the hot springs are supposedly full of healing properties, and are the perfect places to relax.
There are a few options for accommodation, in a variety of price ranges. But since the area is pretty much only popular for the springs, it is definitely recommended to splurge on the Hotel Termas Papallacta - the official hot springs hotel. The air outside is generally cool in this region, making the experience of the hot springs just that much more wonderful. Let the cold air revitalize as you stay warm under the water.
6. Quilotoa Crater Lake - There are many crater lakes around the Ecuadorian Andes, and they are always wonderful to hike around, getting unique photographs from multiple angles. Quilotoa is one of the most well known - particularly for its hiking and camping options, including the Quilotoa loop, a challenging multi day hike through many unique Andean landscapes, stopping in local villages along the way for refueling.
7. Devil's Nose Train - This picturesque train ride down to the valleys of the Andes from high up in the mountains is a wonderful experience, particularly fun for young families and older travelers.
Traveling in switchbacks through mountainous terrain, this is a fun, easy way to get a glimpse of what makes the Andes so special from the comfort of a train car, gazing out of large viewing windows.
The Devil’s Nose route was constructed starting in 1901 and completed a number of years later. Creating the route, which connects Quito and Guayaquil, resulted in a number of deaths. The area is steep and rocky, not at all conducive for a railroad, yet today we have one thanks to the perseverance of its creators and the many sacrifices by the engineers who worked in the field.
When to Visit the Ecuadorian Andes
The Andes Mountains may sound extreme, but the weather doesn’t exactly live up to the same moniker, at least in Ecuador. Here, the weather is surprisingly temperate, though it does regularly cool down at night.
It is typically rainiest between February and May, and driest between June and September. The Andes region in Ecuador is a member of that special “four seasons in one day” club. So come prepared to experience the elements to some degree, in a compacted kind of way.
Being so close to the equator, the seasons are all fairly unpredictable, especially in the northern part of the country. Anytime you travel through the stunning landscapes of the Andes, you will be treated with a constant shifting of light, clouds, and temperature - no day will be the same.
Ecuadorian Andes Reviews & Ratings
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Memorable trip, huge variety, breathless scenery, superb guide.
Ecuador is a very interesting country, much of it at significant altitude. In March, on day one, on the equator the temperature in Quito at over 2000 metres was on...
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Wonderful
Amazon to Andes involves a fair amount of bus time, but the diversity encountered is well worth it. Some exertion is required, since walks of a couple of hours at...
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Fabulous Trip
Absolutely brilliant trip. Everything I’d hoped for. Loads to see and do. Lovely country, lovely people. Interesting and varied accommodation. Great group ...
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Andes to Amazon
A great trip - to somewhere that most tourists don't visit. Fantastic scenery, lots of wildlife, loads of views of volcanoes and some quirky places to stay. Some d...
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Excellent Trip
We flew in 3 days early to see more of Quito, which was a good idea as had altitude headache first day. Could easily spend more time in Quito. Tour is full on, var...
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