Journey Through Ecuador

(19 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Quito, Amazon, Cotopaxi, Riobamba, Cuenca, Galapagos, Otavalo Valley

This tour is ideal for travelers wanting to experience all of Ecuador’s extraordinary geographic and cultural diversity. It features the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon and the Avenue of the Volcanoes, as well as the fascinating but little-known cultural traditions of Quito, Cuenca and Otavalo. Enjoy comprehensive touring in each location and the best luxury hotels and cruise accommodation in Ecuador.

Begin in Quito, which is set in a verdant valley in the Andes mountains. With your private local guide, tour the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s filled with Spanish colonial-era architecture. Explore the most interesting back streets, hidden courtyard gardens and historic churches with spectacular interiors. Visit a workshop where the next generation of artisans train in woodcarving, ironwork, gilding and other traditional crafts.

Next, fly to the Amazon basin, also known as the Oriente. Cruise down the Napo River to your jungle eco-lodge, which is set in Yasuni National Park and overlooks a natural lake. Spend the next few days walking through the jungle, bird watching, spotting giant otters and capybara, watching parrot licks, and ascending the observation tower through the jungle canopy to get a glimpse of the monkeys, macaws and other wildlife that make their home there.

Fly back to Quito, then transfer to a historic hacienda built on Inca ruins near Cotopaxi, an iconic snow-capped volcano and national park. Visit scenic attractions and local markets in indigenous villages. If desired, also enjoy privately guided horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking through the countryside.

Continue by private car and driver along the spectacular Avenue of the Volcanoes to Riobamba and Cuenca. Pass by Ecuador’s highest volcanic peaks and the beautiful landscapes surrounding them, and tour villages, markets and the important Inca fortress of Ingapirca en route. In Cuenca, tour the historic center and visit the most interesting sites, such as the cathedral, the flower market and the ruins of the pre-Columbian Canari people. Also, stop at a local workshop to see Cuenca’s most famous export—Panama hats—being woven by hand.

Return to mainland Ecuador and spend two nights at a historic hacienda in the beautiful Otavalo region, a bucolic highland landscape of rolling hills, farms and indigenous villages beneath snow-capped volcanic peaks. Visit local indigenous food and craft markets, and stop by select workshops to meet artisans and shop for high-quality handwoven wool textiles, delicate embroidery, leather goods, and other traditional and modern crafts. Dine on special meals at private haciendas and estates, If desired, also enjoy privately guided horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking on private land and through the rural countryside. Dine on special meals at private haciendas and estates. If desired, also enjoy privately guided horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking on private land and through the rural countryside.

Return to Quito for a final night before your return or onward flight.