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HomeEcuador Tours

Best Ecuador Tour

EC03: 13 Days Quito - Otavalo - Cotopaxi National Park - Banos - Riobamba - Cuenca - Guayaquil - Galapagos Islands - Quito

Tour Type: Private Tour, flexible and customized
Guide & Driver: Experienced English-speaking driver guide & air-conditioned car
Hotel: 3 to 4-star well selected hotels, also be open to your own choice

Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival in Quito, Airport Pick-up
Welcome to Ecuador. Our driver guide will pick you up at the airport and escort you to the hotel. There is no itinerary during the rest of the day. Have a good rest and we will start our Ecuador private tours tomorrow.

Accommodation: Hotel Dann Carlton Quito (4 stars)

Day 2: Walking tour with Quito Old Town
The first place we will pay a visit is Quito Old Town. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. We will first drive to El Panecillo to overlook the charming scenery of the old city. Then the driver guide will escort you to visit various churches in the center of the city such as the Fundación Iglesia de la Compañía, the most gorgeous church in South America. In the end, we will tour the Mitad Del Mundo which highlights the equator monument.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Dann Carlton Quito (4 stars)

Day 3: Full day tour with Otavalo Indian Market & Cuicocha Crater Lake
After breakfast, we will drive 1.5 hours to the Otavalo Indian Market. Here you can find Indian handicrafts, textiles, plant ivory, featured jewelry and alpaca products at low prices. Do not forget to bargain. Then we will tour the Peguche waterfall and the charming Cuicocha Crater Lake.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Dann Carlton Quito (4 stars)

Day 4: Hiking tour with Cotopaxi Volcano
Today's Ecuador private tour destination is the iconic Cotopaxi Volcano. It is the highest active volcano and the second highest mountain range in Ecuador. We will arrive at the Volcano in 1.5 hours by car. In order to adapt to the high altitude, we will first hike along the Laguna de Limpiopungo lagoon for an hour, and then hike to the refuge at an altitude of 4,800 meters to learn some history. Later, we will appreciate the beautiful panoramic view of Cotopaxi Volcano at a platform. Next, we will drive to Baños in 1.5 hours. Surrounded by streams, the small city of Baños has dozens of waterfalls and natural hot springs, gaining the name "a gift to the earth".

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hacienda La Cienega (3 stars)

Day 5: Baños waterfall tour, Drive to Riobamba
After breakfast in hotel, we will follow the waterfall routes to the waterfall Cascada El Pailón del Diablo called Devil's Round Pit. The driver guide will leave you some time admiring this most spectacular waterfall in Baños on the waterfall viewing platform. Baños is also one of the best places to experience extreme sports such as rafting, bungee jumping and kayaking. The cost of water projects is needed to be paid on site by yourself. After that, we will drive 3 hours to Riobamba and stay overnight at a local hotel in Riobamba.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Mansion Santa Isabella (4 stars)

Day 6: Transfer to Cuenca & half-day city tour
We will drive 3.5 hours to Cuenca, the hometown of Panama hat. Appreciate the beautiful scenery of Chimborazo volcano and visit the best preserved Ingapirca archeological site in Ecuador on the way. In Cuenca, we will stroll around the city center and visit La Catedral de la incaulada concept de Cuenca and the factory that makes Panama hats. Stay one night in Cuenca.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Victoria (4 stars)

Day 7: Visit El Cajas National Park, Transfer to Guayaquil
After breakfast, we will reach the picturesque El Cajas National Park in 1 hour. More than 200 lakes are scattered in the Andes, and the reintroduced wild llamas, spectacled bears, pumas, tigrillos and other animals can be seen everywhere. Then drive 3 hours to Guayaquil and check in the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Continental Guayaquil (4 stars)

Day 8: Fly to Galapagos Islands & Highlights of Isla Santa Cruz
Today, we will set off for our best Ecuador private tours on Galapagos Islands. 972 kilometers away from the mainland of Ecuador, Galapagos Islands is home to many unique biological species such as turtles, seals, equatorial penguins and albatross. In 1978, UNESCO included it in the World Heritage List.

After having breakfast at the hotel, the driver guide will send you to the flight to Galapagos Islands. Once your flight arrives at the Isla Baltra Airport there, our guide will wait for you at the exit of airport and escort you to take the shuttle bus to the Itabaca canal dock. Later, take the public ferry to Isla Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos Islands. On the way to the hotel, we will visit Gemelos Craters and watch wild animals at Giant Tortoises Ranch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Silberstein (4 stars)

Day 9: One day shared tour with Uninhabited Island & Isla Bartolomé
For the Galapagos Islands tour, we will use Santa Cruz as a base camp and from there enjoy shared day trips to others. Today, we will visit Isla Bartolomé. The natural scenery of Isla Bartolom é is among the best in the Galapagos Islands. The whole island is composed of an extinct volcano with many lava cacti (a plant endemic to the Galapagos Islands) growing. Pinnacle Rock is a very popular photo spot. It is also one of the favorite places of divers. Underwater, you can easily observe local endemic species such as equatorial penguins, sea lions, green turtles and white-headed reef sharks. Return to the hotel on Santa Cruz at the end of the day.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Silberstein (4 stars)

Day 10: Snorkeling shared tour at Isla Santa Fe
Santa Fe Island (Isla Santa Fe) is a very suitable place for diving. Not only can you dance with sea lions underwater, but also can you see unique animals such as terns, sea gulls, land iguanas, and lava lizards on land. The wild animals on this island are not afraid of humans at all, so you can take pictures of them up close and even interact with them.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Silberstein (4 stars)

Day 11: Trekking tour with Sierra Negra on Isla Isabela
Sierra Negra, the world's second largest crater, makes Isla Isabela a world famous attraction. Its last eruption was in 2005. We will spend 6 hours trekking around Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico today. Volcan Chico has a bizarre landscape. The lava caves are distributed on the surface like a giant python. The closer you get to the crater, the more special and beautiful the shape, color and texture of the earth's surface, making you feel like walking on the moon.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Silberstein (4 stars)

Day 12: Return to Quito by flight
Today, our driver will pick you up at the hotel at the appointed time and transfer you to Isla Baltra Airport for flight to Quito. When you arrive at Quito, our local driver will send you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Dann Carlton Quito (4 stars)

Day 13: Quito departure, Airport Drop-off service
Today, our driver will send you to the airport according to your flight. Your best Ecuador private tours end. Have a smooth homeward trip!

Meals: Breakfast

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This trip can be tailored to match your dates and interests!
Tour Prices

2025 Special: 12% off - Book before Dec 31, 2024

2-3 travelers4-5 travelers
USD4469 USD3932USD4249 USD3739
  • Prices are per person based on double occupancy.
  • The prices in red reflect 12% discount.
  • If you are a group of 6 people or more, we will offer a more favorable price by your group size.
What's Included
  • Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels.
  • Economy class airfare of Guayaquil - Isla Baltra - Quito.
  • All meal arrangements are served as the itinerary specifies.
  • Service of private AC vehicle with experienced driver guide.
  • Shared day tours on Galapagos Islands.
  • Entrances fees for for all mentioned sights visited.
  • Galapagos TCT Card fee USD20 per person.
  • Galapagos Park fee USD100 per person.
What's Excluded
  • International flight into and out Ecuador.
  • Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.).
  • Tips for guides and drivers.
  • Personal travel insurance.
  • Ecuador visa fee.
5-Day Weather Forecast of Major Destinations
Quito
Guayaquil
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