It’s quite poetic that Ecuador is the centre of this big, beautiful planet of ours. In so few kilometres, the peaks of the Andes, the jungles of the Amazon, and historical cities all have some square footage here and with this 14-day journey you can see some of it all. Learn about the traditional Quichua culture in the Amazon, find treasures at a local handicraft market, and later slip into a world of “ahh” in a mountain hot spring.
Travel Style
Classic
Service Level
Standard
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Biking & Community Experience, Shandia
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Baños
Your Local Living Moment: Amazon Jungle Experience, Tena
Your Wellness Moment: Papallacta Hot Springs Visit, Papallacta. Otavalo Handicrafts Market visit. Cotopaxi National Park visit. City tour of Cuenca. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Wander Quito and colonial cities on your own during free time, Get adventurous in Baños, Feel like a local and stay right in the Amazon jungle, Soak in an Andean hot spring, shop at the Otavalo Market
How large will the group be?
Max 16, avg 14
What meals are included in this trip?
11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Local bus, plane, taxis, motorized canoe, private van, 4x4 vehicles, pickup truck.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels (9 nts), simple village cabañas (2 nts, multi-share), rustic mountain lodge (2 nts).
Itinerary
Quito
Arrive at any time. There are no activities planned until the evening. Please check at the hotel reception for a welcome note from your CEO advising on the time and location of the welcome meeting.
Quito/Baños
Travel to Baños and be spoiled over the next few days by the abundance of optional outdoor activities in the area like hiking, ziplining, and canyoning. Today, choose to take it easy and relax in local hot springs.
Baños
Enjoy a free day to take full advantage of all the activities in this adventurous town. Opt to pre-book the "Baños Canyoning Adventure" or "Baños Ziplining Adventure Bundle" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Baños/Tena
Travel by bus into the Amazon Jungle. Spend two nights in rustic jungle huts in a local Quichua community. Enjoy nature walks and learn about local culture. Descend into the Amazon Jungle region. Notice the scenery change dramatically heading from the mountains into the lush, tropical Amazon rainforest.
Stay with a Quichua family and enjoy the hospitality of these wonderful people, and experience life in the jungle firsthand.
Tena
Enjoy a full day in the Amazon learning about local life in the jungle. Spend the night in rustic jungle huts in a Quichua community.
Tena/Papallacta
Cycle to the nearby community of Shandia and discover the beauty of the Amazon with a member of the community as your guide. Later, take a local bus to Papallacta and relax in the natural mineral hot pools with volcanic views.
Papallacta/Quito
Enjoy a relaxing morning at the hot springs before travelling back to Quito for free time to explore.
Quito/Otavalo
Explore the largest handicraft market in South America, Otavalo market. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come every week to sell handmade goods as well as livestock, fruits, and vegetables.
Otavalo/Cotopaxi
Travel by bus to Cotopaxi National Park. In the afternoon, opt to explore the area or mountain bike with views of Cotopaxi Volcano. Spend the night in a mountain lodge near the national park.
Cotopaxi/Cuenca
In the morning, visit Cotopaxi National Park before continuing on with a full day of travel to Cuenca. Enjoy a boxed lunch on the way at a viewpoint overlooking the Andes Mountains.
Cuenca
This morning embark on a half-day city tour of the colonial city of Cuenca, including the Turi viewpoint, a Panama hat factory and the historical centre. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring or at one of Cuenca’s many cafes.
Cuenca
Enjoy a free day to explore beautiful Cuenca. Opt to go hiking in Cajas National Park, visit Ingapirca ruins, or soak in nearby hot springs. Explore the city’s sights, including cobblestoned streets, red-tiled roofs, art galleries, flower markets, shaded plazas, and museums.
Cuenca/Quito
Fly back to Quito and enjoy the night in this historical city. Your CEO will escort you and assist you at the airport in Cuenca and once you arrive to Quito our G representative will be there to escort you to the hotel and give you additional information for optional activities in your free day in Quito.
Quito
Depart at any time. Depart at any time.We recommend booking pre or post nights in Quito for additional time to explore. The optional activities may require additional time, speak to your CEO/ G representative for assistance booking these activities on trip.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
