Premium Ecuador - 9 Days

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. When you arrive at the Quito airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe step into the city and get a head start exploring the cobblestone streets of Quito’s historic centre. Maybe take a stroll through the basilicas, grand plazas and museums or pop over to the Otavalo market to pick up locally made souvenirs. After your meeting, head out for dinner with the group where your leader will introduce you to Ecuadorian cuisine.

Start the morning off by exploring historic Quito – one of the best-preserved historical centres in the Americas. Filled with plazas, cathedrals and historical sites, you’ll get to know the rich history around every corner, meeting local artisans along the way. Cool off with a helado de paila (Ecuadorian sorbet) tasting, made in a large cauldron packed with ice, straw and sea salt. Then, step into a hidden world of alchemy where artisans still practice the 400-year-old secret methods of the ‘Quito School.’ Witness cedar wood transformed by hand using organic pigments, volcanic gums and 24-karat gold leaf burnished to the finish, as seen in many Quito cathedrals. After, drive out of the city to visit the equator! You’ll stop by the Middle of the World Monument and Inti Nan Equator Museum for experiments that prove you’re in the centre of the Earth. Then, return to Quito for a free evening.

After breakfast this morning, take a scenic drive to Cotopaxi National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world at 5897 m (19,347 ft). When you get there, head out on a hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon at the bottom of the volcano and learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. When you’re done spotting wildlife, visit a museum in the park and the Interpretation Centre to learn about Cotopaxi, check out the showrooms and look around the souvenir shop. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and exploring at your next stay – a charming hacienda with a peaceful garden.

Leave the park behind today and head to Banos. Along the way, make a stop at a machica (barley flour) workshop in Latacunga. Toasted machica is a common product in the central Andes, used to make melt-in-your-mouth caramel cookies, airy mousse and craft beer with a smoky finish. Learn about the 500-year-old Andean tradition of sowing and toasting barley and taste products made with this ancestral superfood. Then, head to Banos where a local guide will give you the inside scoop on the city – surrounded by mountains, hot springs and waterways to waterfalls. The tasty indulgences continue at an artisan candy factory that produces melcocha (guava sweets made from sugar cane that grows in the surrounding valleys). Watch as the makers engage in what looks like a wrestling match with a glowing, golden rope to make the ‘sweet strength’ of Banos.

In the morning, head out of town for a short hike to El Pailon del Diablo – one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area with a mighty fall of 80 m (262 ft). Here, you can cross the suspension bridge for the full view or descend by stairs to the ‘Devil’s Balcony’ to be up close to the falls. After lunch, stop by the Swing at the End of the World for a quick adrenaline pump and photo opportunity. Then, return to your hotel for a free evening. Maybe relax at El Refugio Spa Garden or check out La Casa de Arbol viewpoint – a paradise for hummingbirds. For those interested in history and culture, maybe go visit the basilica Banos is famous for – the Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water.

Good morning – it’s time to head to the Amazon! Stop for lunch along the way in Tena, and tuck into maito de pescado (a traditional Amazonian dish of fish that’s seasoned and wrapped in large jungle leaves, then cooked over an open fire or charcoal). Join the Santa Rita community for a cacao experience at a chacra (plantation), where you’ll learn the process of making chocolate syrup, from harvesting and fermentation to drying, roasting and grinding. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for some poolside relaxation or a massage. If you like, visit a lodge naturalist and learn about the jungle and the incredible (and sometimes tragic) stories of the animals. This evening, join back up with the group and head out on a night walk to spot the wildlife that only comes out in the dark.

Today is a full day of rainforest activities. After breakfast, start off with a hike with a local expert to discover medicinal plants that grow here. They’ll help you spot them and teach you what these magical plants are used for. This afternoon, spend time with an Indigenous community for a special opportunity to connect with the locals and learn about their way of life here in the Amazon. Wrap up your day with dinner back at the lodge and relax for the rest of your evening.

You’ll return to Quito today and along the way, you’ll stop at Papallacta for lunch and to unwind by the hot springs. Surrounded by nature, thermal pools and spas, this is an experience for all the senses and a relaxing way to break up the drive. End the day with a farewell dinner in Quito – your leader will bring your group to a local spot as you reflect on your trip together.

With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak with your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.