Hello, I’m Serene and I love traveling! I've been to 25 countries in total so far. I'm pretty adventurous with a penchant for exploring off-the-beaten-path locations. I've never been to Ecuador before, and I'm really excited to discover it. Come travel with me! I'm super excited to share this awesome trip with you and hope you'll come along!
Pack your bags and get ready to trek through some of the most beautiful parks in Ecuador. This trip will take you from Quito to Guayaquil, with multiple city tours along the way, and a local guide who will take you through Cotopaxi National Park, Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve, Ingapirca Archeological Park, and Cajas National Park. Make sure your camera battery is charged as you trek through these majestic landscapes, learning about Ecuador’s ancient past and bustling present.
Welcome to Ecuador, a biodiverse country featuring the Amazon jungle, Andean mountains, and the famous Galápagos Islands. Here in Quito, check-in at the hotel and spend the rest of your day exploring this bustling capital city. Observe the Spanish influences within the architecture and food, and discover the beauty of the many ornate palaces and churches within the city. Grab dinner with the group and let this adventure begin!
Good morning and welcome to your first full day in Quito! After breakfast, we’ll take a private tour of the city with a local guide who will bring us to all the must-see landmarks. It’s said there are over 80 churches in the city, and you’ll get to see a few of the best on this personalized journey. From the Basilica of the National Vote to The Sagrario Church, we’ll learn the history of Quito and the underlying Spanish influence that remains today. After immersing ourselves in the energy of downtown, we’ll head to the Equator line and enjoy some live demonstrations reflecting latitude 0. When we get back, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore on your own and decide which delicious Ecuadorian meal you’ll have for dinner.
Rise and shine, adventure seekers! Today, we start our trek through various parks in the country to see the pristine landscapes of jungles, volcanoes, and mountain ranges. After breakfast, we’ll head to Cotopaxi National Park, known for the Cotopaxi volcano, which is one of the highest active volcanos in the world. Your guide will take you through the park with side trips to the Limpiopungo lagoon and Quilotoa Lagoon. Make sure your camera battery is charged for a landscape like no other! During this trek, we’ll stop for lunch and have free time to explore the area. From here, we’ll push forward on our journey, check into our next accommodation, and have a stellar group meal to reflect on all that we saw.
We hope you’re well-rested, as today will be a day to remember! After breakfast, we’ll head to the Chimborazo Mountain Wildlife Reserve and tour the Chimborazo Volcano with our local guide. You’ll see llamas and alpacas, native vegetation, and learn about the hydrology of the area. Here, you’ll get the best view of the volcano with time to take all the pictures you can!
After lunch, we’ll continue on our way to Ingapirca Archeological Park for a tour through the ancient ruins that are considered the most important archeological site in Ecuador. Learn about the Cañari and Inca inhabitants, both of whom resided in this majestic place. We’ll also have time to visit a local market before checking in at our next home away from home.
Travelers, today we visit our final national park, but first, we’ll take a private tour through the streets of Cuenca. We’ll begin at the Plaza de San Sebastián, visit the Modern Art Museum and the San Francisco market, along with touring the old and new cathedrals, to name a few. We’ll also visit a Toquilla Straw Hat factory and end the journey at the Turi viewpoint, the best place to take pictures of the entire city. From here, we’ll pack our things and head to Cajas!
We’ll drive to Cajas National Park and spend the day trekking through its myriad trails. Enjoy hikes through evergreen cloud forests, observe the rich array of wildlife, and explore one of the hundred lakes that reside in the park. After a day immersed in nature, we’ll head to our final hotel and enjoy one last dinner as a group.
We’ve seen three parks, one nature reserve, and two city tours in just 5 days. What a trip! After one last breakfast in this beautiful country, head to the airport and start scrolling through all of the pictures you took. We hope you enjoyed your time in Ecuador!
