Highlights
- Stay at a rainforest lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon
- See colorful parrots, playful squirrel monkeys, and giant river otters
- Indulge in local delicacies and exotic treats during a traditional Amazonian dinner
- See Quito from above with a cable car ride up the Pichincha volcano
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Visit the Vivarium de Quito Reptile Park | Quito |
| Day 2 | Fly to El Coca, Transer to Yasuní National Park, Matapalo Trail Hike | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 3 | Nature & Culture Tour of Yasuní | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 4 | Indigenous Encounter, Traditional Dinner, Night Forest Walk | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 5 | Sacred Morning Ritual, Transfer to El Coca & Fly to Quito | Quito |
| Day 6 | Templo de la Patria Museum, Ride the TelefériQo Cable Car | Quito |
| Day 7 | Depart Quito |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Visit the Vivarium de Quito Reptile Park
Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Tababela, you'll be driven to your hotel in Quito, about 45 minutes away. You and the kids can relax during the journey and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Andes and the lush green valleys along the way. Located at 9,350 feet (2,850 m) above sea level, Ecuador's capital is one of the highest in the world. Built on the ashes of the northern Inca capital following the 1533 Spanish conquest, the city is surrounded by majestic Andean peaks, including the restless Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your time of arrival and how much energy you and the kids have after the flight, you could opt to visit the Vivarium de Quito, the flagship project of the Gustavo Orcés Herpetological Foundation, a center specializing in the management of amphibians and reptiles. Kids of all ages will love seeing the over 40 species here, including lizards, snakes, and turtles, and learning more about them with interactive and engaging exhibits.
Day 2: Fly to El Coca, Transfer to Yasuní National Park, Matapalo Trail Hike
Get ready to enter the rainforest! Your driver will be waiting to take you to Quito's airport this morning, where you'll catch a quick flight 40 minutes east to El Coca, a small town that serves as a gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Once you arrive, you'll travel along the Río Napo by canoe to reach your lodge accommodations in Yasuní National Park. This is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, supporting thousands of species of mammals, plants, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Remind the kids to look up as you travel down the river—they're likely to spot monkeys and colorful birdlife among the trees!
Once you're settled at the lodge, embark on your first adventure into the rainforest along the nearby Matapalo Trail. This two-hour, kid-friendly walk is led by naturalist guides, who will point out towering mahogany trees, eastern Ecuadorian squirrel monkeys that scamper through the canopy, and tree frogs endemic to the area. After the hike, head back to your lodge to relax, kayak, or swim in the nearby lagoon, then enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Day 3: Nature & Culture Tour of Yasuní
Get ready for another day of family-friendly thrills in the Amazon. Today will be all about wildlife and culture, starting with a visit to a local parrot clay lick. Make sure to grab your cameras as you hop in a canoe this morning and travel along the Río Napo. Your destination is an area where the river has worn away soil to reveal a clay seam, drawing hundreds of parrots who get their essential minerals from the clay. The kids will be mesmerized by the scores of chattering birds as you watch them congregate along the cliffside in a riot of colorful feathers.
Next, learn more about the Indigenous people of Yasuní as you meet with representatives of the local Napo Kichwa people, who call themselves Napu Runa. They'll share stories about their way of life and explain their close relationship to the rainforest in this area, giving you and the kids a better understanding of how the Amazon supports the people who live within it.
Enjoy some downtime over lunch before setting out on a hike to Garzacocha Lagoon, a calm lake hidden in the rainforest. Along the way, your guides will point out animals such as tapirs and black-mantled tamarin monkeys as well as medicinal plants such as wayusa (a caffeinated holly tree) and ajo sacha (garlic vine). A canoe ride back to the lodge provides the perfect ending for this activity.
Day 4: Indigenous Encounter, Traditional Dinner, Night Forest Walk
Today your family will visit sustainable community projects, learn more about Kichwa medicine, and walk along the Mama Cuna Path. Keep your eyes open for more wildlife, ceiba trees, strangler vines, bamboo, and shrubs endemic to Yasuní. In the afternoon, paddle along the Añangu stream, a rare blackwater ecosystem where you can spot monkeys jumping from tree to tree, caiman, and even giant river otters trying to catch fish. Animal-loving kids will be amazed by the diversity.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner full of the flavors of the Amazon. Try the maito, grilled fish wrapped in a leaf, or even grilled worms, locally known as chontakuru. Adventurous young eaters will be delighted! After dinner, prepare your flashlight for a night walk around the lodge to see the jungle come alive with various reptiles, insects, and nocturnal mammals like night monkeys.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Sacred Morning Ritual, Transfer to El Coca & Fly to Quito
This morning, get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as you participate in a traditional Kichwa ritual. Rouse the kids before sunrise and start the morning with the traditional herbal drink known as wayusa (younger ages might want to skip this natural but caffeinated beverage). Listen to songs in the local language, meditate, and learn how to interpret dreams as the Kichwa do. It's an experience full of harmony, peace, and joy, and well worth the early rise! Afterward, have breakfast and board a motorized canoe for your return trip along the Río Napo to El Coca, where you'll catch a flight back to Quito.
After a transfer to your hotel, you can choose to rest and relax or head out to do some exploring. Little ones might enjoy a runaround after the flight in Carolina Park—a vast urban space in the city's center. It has different sections, such as an artificial lake, a running track, and even designated biking and skate areas. You can also stroll through Plaza Foch, a bustling hub for shopping, dining, and people-watching. Or, head over to another green space called Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park, one of the largest urban parks in the Americas, and immerse yourselves in its lush greenery and tranquil surroundings.
Day 6: Templo de la Patria Museum, Ride the TelefériQo Cable Car
See more of Quito today with a visit to the family-friendly Templo de la Patria Museum, built on the site of a famous battle, the 1822 Battle of Pichincha. The kids can learn more about Ecuadorian and South American history through the colorful murals depicting the historical journey from the Indigenous people of the Kingdom of Quito to the Spanish colony to independence. There are many other exhibits and artifacts on display, too, which you can browse depending on your family's interests.
Later on, get a bird's-eye view of the city with a dash of adrenaline thrown in as you board the TelefériQo cable car. The scenic ride takes about 18 minutes to reach the slopes of the towering Pichincha volcano, where you can enjoy spectacular views over the city and the surrounding mountains and volcanoes (the perfect spot for a final family photo op). You can take a short walk at the top to a number of panoramic viewpoints, and older kids and the daredevils in the family won't want to miss a ride on the mountainside swing.Day 7: Depart Quito
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