Andes to the Amazon: the Essence of Ecuador | August 20, 2022

8 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
View all 13 photos
Video not provided by operator
5/5 Excellent
12 reviews  
100%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
none

Health Safety

USTOA

Cancellation Policy
Group Tour
Hike through spectacular volcanic landscapes and go white-water rafting in the jungle on this eight-day loop round Ecuador. Starting in colonial Quito, you’ll head south to the Cotopaxi National Park, passing through the Avenue of Volcanoes – home to the most geothermally active peaks in Ecuador. After visiting the emerald-green Quilotoa crater lake, continue...
29%
$2,799
From$1,999
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Explore Cotopaxi National Park on horseback
    • Hike around the ethereal Quilotoa crater lake
    • Visit a traditional Tigua art studio
    • Cycle the Baños Waterfall Route
    • Go white-water rafting in the Amazon rainforest
    • Whip up a feast at an Ecuadorian cooking masterclass
    • Sample fine chocolate in Quito

What's this trip about?

    Hike through spectacular volcanic landscapes and go white-water rafting in the jungle on this eight-day loop round Ecuador. Starting in colonial Quito, you’ll head south to the Cotopaxi National Park, passing through the Avenue of Volcanoes – home to the most geothermally active peaks in Ecuador. After visiting the emerald-green Quilotoa crater lake, continue to Baños, where you can ride the Swing at the End of the World and marvel at majestic waterfalls. Get a feel for life in the Amazon rainforest before wrapping up your adventure in the mountain village of Papallacta, known for its hot springs.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityQuito
End CityQuito

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • Cultural
  • Cycling & Biking
  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Photography

Destinations

Attractions

  • Andes Mountains
  • Cotopaxi
  • Quito

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • River cruise
  • Swimming

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • Two nights premium hotel accommodation
    • Two nights jungle lodge accommodation
    • One night mountain resort accommodation
    • One night historic hotel accommodation
    • One night spa hotel accommodation
    • Private and local transport
    • Seven breakfasts, six lunches, four dinners
    • Local Insider
    • Arrival airport transfer
    • Quito walking tour
    • Ecuadorian cooking masterclass (including market visit)
    • Chocolate-tasting session
    • Limpiopungo Lagoon hike
    • Cotopaxi Interpretation Center visit
    • Horseback riding
    • Quilotoa Lake hike
    • Tigua art studio visit
    • Salcedo Market visit
    • Swing at the End of the World visit
    • Baños Waterfall Route bike ride
    • Yaku Runa project visit
    • White-water rafting
    • Jungle night hike
    • Natural Oils Trail guided hike
    • Waterfall swim

Itinerary

Travel Map
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Patio Andaluz

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Welcome dinner DAY 2 Explore Quito and attend an Ecuadorian cooking masterclass Kick-start the trip with an optional morning visit to the Equator – head to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Intiñan Museum, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Regrou...
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Patio Andaluz

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Quito walking tour Ecuadorian cooking masterclass and market visit Chocolate-tasting session

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Intiñan Museum visit DAY 3 Go horseback riding in Cotopaxi National Park Today, you’ll journey south towards Cotopaxi National Park, dominated by the 5,897m (19,347ft) high Cotopaxi stratovolcano – the second-highest peak in Ecuador. If...
ACCOMMODATION
Chilcabamba Lodge

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Limpiopungo Lagoon hike Cotopaxi Interpretation Center visit Horseback riding DAY 4 Hike round Quilotoa Lake and visit a Tigua art studio Prepare yourself for another unforgettable hike as you venture to Quilotoa – a volcano on the westernmost edge of the Ecu...
ACCOMMODATION
La Floresta Hotel

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Quilotoa Lake hike Tigua art studio visit Salcedo Market visit DAY 5 Cycle the magnificent Baños Waterfall Route Start your day by visiting the Swing at the End of the World. Attached to a mountaintop treehouse, it offers jaw-dropping views of the Tungurahua ...
ACCOMMODATION
Kuyana Amazon Lodge

ACCOMMODATION
Kuyana Amazon Lodge

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
White-water rafting Jungle night hike DAY 7 Follow the Natural Oils Trail at Kuyana Amazon Lodge After breakfast, you'll go on a guided hike to learn how natural essential oils are extracted from Amazonian plants for medicine and aromatherapy. Cool off with a r...
ACCOMMODATION
Termas de Papallacta

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Natural Oils Trail guided hike Waterfall swim Farewell dinner DAY 8 Depart from Papallacta The time has come to pack your bags as your Ecuadorian experience comes to an end at 9am. After one final breakfast, you’ll be driven back to Mariscal Sucre Internation...
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Airport transfer

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Swing at the End of the World visit Baños Waterfall Route bike ride Yaku Runa project visit DAY 7 Go white-water rafting on the Jatunyacu River Ready for an adrenaline rush? Today, you’ll go white-water rafting through the jungle on the Jatunyacu River – one ...

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $1,999
Price per day$250
Last Updated: 6/4/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Culture Trip.

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.

Culture Trip Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
5
Great
0
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
Write a Review

Other Culture Trip Reviews

D

Devon

May 2022

A must for anyone...

A Culture Trip curated trip is a must for anyone burnt out planning their own trips or going to a remote or unfamiliar area. Having a local insider was the highlight...

N

Niraj

Apr 2022

Great Intro of Italy....

A great introduction to the sights of Southern Italy! The trip left me knowi...

C

Cassie

Mar 2022

Written on

Perfect way to experience a country!

The trip to Costa Rica organized by Culture Trip was incredible! It was a perfect way to experience a country, and was a perfect blend of adventure & relaxing. T...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Culture Trip

none
View Profile

TRIPS by Culture Trip

For over a decade, people have trusted Culture Trip to help them discover some of the world’s coolest and unexpected destinations and experiences - now we can take you there. Book our curated multi-day TRIPS by Culture Trip itineraries, to truly experience extraordinary places, together with a small group of culturally curious travellers.

Our travel experts have done all the planning to create exciting and perfectly balanced itineraries combining unique stays, immersive activities and authentic experiences, with enough free time to explore on your own and unwind. On the trips, our Local Insiders are with you to show you their destination like never before, share their insights and take you to the secret spots you couldn't find yourself.
With TRIPS by Culture Trip, we help you experience the world while being good to it, and to connect with a place, its people and its culture. And because we know that booking travel with confidence is more important than ever, we are committed to making it hassle-free for you.

About Culture Trip

Culture Trip was created in 2011 to inspire people to go beyond their cultural boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people, and its culture special, unique, and meaningful. So for over a decade now, Culture Trip’s global community of travel experts and Local Insiders have hand picked the world’s best bits to share travel stories and unbiased recommendations, together with curated collections of places to stay, hotels, things to do, experiences - and now also TRIPS by Culture Trip which are unique small-group adventures.

Why TRIPS by Culture Trip?

A small-group travel experience

Together with a small group of culturally curious travellers, you get to truly experience - not just visit - the world. Groups will welcome up to 18 travellers and you can join solo or with others. Our small groups enable you to get to know the other travellers, bond quickly and enjoy your trip to the fullest whilst building friendships and forming life-long memories.

Curated itineraries

For our curated, diverse itineraries, our travel experts do all the planning and hand-pick the best bits of a place: all itineraries combine hyper-local, authentic activities and immersive experiences, with quality accommodation that has a personal feel. Whether that’s well-known hotspots or more off-grid trails, city or nature - with us, they will all feel like hidden gems. Thoughtfully planned with ample free time to unwind or explore solo, our trips offer the right balance of action and relaxation.

Local Insider

Our trips are led by expert Local Insiders who know the destination inside out and show a place like never before. They share unique insights and in-depth knowledge, show lesser-known places and reveal hidden gems that travellers might not be able to access or do on their own. They also take you to secret spots you couldn’t find yourself and activities that are impossible to do on your own or you wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.

Value and quality

TRIPS by Culture Trip is not about the lowest price. Trying to be the cheapest just isn’t good for our planet or for local communities - so we focus on value and quality, while offering fair prices. Prices include the Local Insider; activities; accommodation based on two people sharing, with single occupancy available with a supplement; transport throughout the trip and a range of meals.

What they’re known for
Carefully selected boutique accommodations, and experiences that are authentic and unique.

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Cancellation policy
\The world of travel is changing – and that's why we’re offering flexible booking conditions, to take the stress out of booking in times of uncertainty. Our Ultimate Covid Booking Guarantee means that if Covid-19 changes your plans, we'll rebook you for free. If we cannot rebook you we'll refund your trip. You can get a full refund should you need to postpone or cancel your trip up to 35 days prior to departure. Or you can simply transfer your deposit and any funds paid to a different date without incurring any additional fees. For full details, see our Booking Terms & Conditions. Terms & Conditions Please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions.
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
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
Seven breakfasts, six lunches, four dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
cultur2-AnAmEsEcAu

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >