Highlights
- Step between both hemispheres on a visit to Mitad del Mundo
- Embark on nature hikes and canoe trips in the lush Amazon rainforest
- Spy hummingbirds and other exotic creatures in the Mashpi cloud forest
- Hike around Cotopaxi volcano and marvel at highland "páramo" landscapes
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Evening Cocktail Class | Quito |
| Day 2 | Quito City Tour, Visit Mitad del Mundo | Quito |
| Day 3 | Fly to Yasuni National Park, Transfer to Napo Wildlife Center | Yasuni National Park |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Parrot Clay Lick, Lunch with Kichwa Community | Yasuni National Park |
| Day 5 | Yasuni Nature Hikes & Canoe Ride | Yasuni National Park |
| Day 6 | Fly to Quito, Transfer to Mashpi, Night Hike | Mashpi |
| Day 7 | Mashpi Lodge Nature Activities | Mashpi |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park, Luxury Glamping | Cotopaxi |
| Day 9 | Páramo Horseback Ride & Hike | Cotopaxi |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Quito, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Evening Cocktail Class
Welcome to Ecuador! Many have heard about this country's rich history, various ecosystems, and impressive biodiversity, but it's another thing to experience it firsthand. That's precisely what you'll do when you touch down in Quito, the nation's capital. This metropolis sits high in the Andes of northern Ecuador and is famous for its Spanish-colonial history. It's an architecture lover's dream, as many of its well-preserved buildings date back to the 16th century.
Your driver will pick you up at the airport for the ride into the city and Casa Gangotena. Located in Quito's historic Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), this luxurious 5-star hotel is situated in a beautifully restored mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco. Each of its elegant rooms and suites is outfitted with mod-cons and luxury amenities, from flat-screen TVs to plush bedding. You can dine at the hotel's gourmet restaurant, which celebrates traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, enjoy a smart cocktail at the classic mahogany bar, or relax in the garden amid lush greenery.
Things kick off in a convivial way this evening when you visit a local bar to learn to make the perfect cocktail. Alongside an expert mixologist, you'll shake and stir your way to cocktail perfection using an array of local ingredients. Besides classics like mojitos, piña coladas, and Cuba libres, you'll have the freedom to craft your own signature cocktails. Throughout the private lesson, you'll snack on delicious canapés that pair perfectly with the drinks. Afterward, a driver will take you back to your hotel.
Day 2: Quito City Tour, Visit Mitad del Mundo
Rise and shine! This morning, enjoy a private walking tour of Quito's colonial center. Admire the intricate stone carvings of Iglesia La Compañía and wander the 16th-century Iglesia San Francisco cloisters. Wrap up the historical center leg of your tour with a walk down La Ronda, once a pre-Columbian walking trail, now a romantic pedestrian street full of cafés, live music venues, and eclectic shops.
Later on, you'll continue just north of Quito to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World), a park dominated by the 98-foot-tall (30 m) Monument to the Equator. It marks the precise location of the equator, the invisible line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. You can straddle the yellow line here, which means you'll have one foot in each hemisphere. Later, visit the Planetarium, which houses a small-scale model of Quito, and various exhibitions. Afterward, you'll return to Quito.
Day 3: Fly to Yasuni National Park, Transfer to Napo Wildlife Center
You're off to the Amazon this morning as you transfer back to the airport for the 35-minute flight to Coca. Located in the northeastern Amazon region, on the Río Napo, this small city is a transport hub for excursions deep into the jungle. That's exactly what you'll do when, upon arrival, transfer to the dock and hop on a private, motorized canoe for the two-hour ride downriver. During the leisurely trip, keep an eye on the riverbanks, where you might spot some monkeys, toucans, and macaws in the trees.
In the late afternoon, you'll arrive at Napo Wildlife Center, your home for the next couple of nights. This ecolodge is nestled on a small ridge at the edge of the Añangu lagoon and blends seamlessly into the surrounding rainforest. It was designed specifically for nature lovers who want to experience the Amazon's disparate ecosystems and observe its biodiverse wildlife.
Even better, it lies deep within Yasuni National Park. The equator, Andes, and Amazon biomes meet within this 3,792-square-mile (9,820 sq km) protected area, home to thousands of species of mammals, plants, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. A stay at Napo means you'll be fully immersed in the region's natural beauty and far off the tourist trail. Upon arrival, you'll have some free time in the afternoon before sitting down to a welcome dinner at the lodge.
Day 4: Day Trip to Parrot Clay Lick, Lunch with Kichwa Community
Today starts with a 30-minute hike along a nearby trail to reach one of the highlights of Yasuní National Park—the parrot clay licks. Hundreds of birds flock to these small cliffs on the banks of the Río Napo to feed the mineral-rich soil, creating one of the most captivating displays in the birding world. Make sure to bring your binoculars to view the 11 species of parrots and parakeets that frequent the cliffside, and keep an eye out for the other animals like howler monkeys, tapirs, and peccaries that come here to drink.
Later, travel to an Indigenous cultural center in this part of the Amazon. Here, you'll sit down with members of a local Kichwa-speaking Indigenous community for a traditional lunch. After eating and making some new friends, you'll transfer back to Napo Wildlife Center.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Yasuni Nature Hikes & Canoe Ride
After an early breakfast, leave the lodge with your private guide on a 30-minute hike to a tower that rises 118 feet (36 m) around a giant kapok tree. From the observation deck, you'll be treated to panoramic views of the surrounding jungle canopy. Keep your camera handy as you'll spot flocks of colorful birds flitting around, like tanagers, macaws, and toucans. You'll also probably see playful spider monkeys leaping between tree branches in search of fruit.
Lunch will be served back at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, embark on another guided nature hike to discover more flora and fauna. Within this natural menagerie, you'll spy all manner of exotic creatures, including monkeys, sloths, tree frogs, toucans, and (if you're lucky) the elusive jaguar. After the hike, explore the nearby lake and creeks by dugout canoe. There's a high chance you may run into a giant otter family on the way.
Day 6: Fly to Quito, Transfer to Mashpi, Night Hike
Bid farewell to the Amazon as you hop in a canoe this morning for the transfer back to Coca. There, you'll board a flight back to Quito, and at the airport, a driver will pick you up for the three-hour ride northwest to Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve. This ecotourism destination spans over 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) of lush, biodiverse forest in the Chocó-Andean Bioregion. The reserve's altitude ranges from 1,800 feet to 4,500 feet (600 m to 1,400 m) above sea level, creating various microclimates within a pristine cloud forest home to thousands of plant species, hundreds of birds, and dozens of species of mammals.
You'll be staying at Mashpi Lodge, the region's star accommodation. Located in the reserve, this combined research station and luxury ecolodge blend seamlessly with the surrounding forest, offering an intimate connection with nature while delivering top-tier comfort and service. When you arrive, you can enjoy a relaxing soak in the Jacuzzi or massage at the on-site spa—there's even a yoga deck where you can enjoy a tranquil retreat after a long day exploring the cloud forest.
After settling in, you'll have dinner and then discover the wonders of the cloud forest on a nocturnal nature hike. Armed with your camera and a headlamp, your private guide will lead you into the wilderness. Keep an eye out for active animals at night, including tree frogs, kinkajous, certain types of monkeys, tarantulas, and more. At the end of the excursion, you'll return to the lodge.
Day 7: Mashpi Lodge Nature Activities
Rise early for a full day of adventures in the cloud forest. After breakfast, transfer to an observation station in the forest. From its 98-foot (30 m) high deck, you'll observe the macaws, hummingbirds, monkeys, and other animals that congregate around the treetops. After snapping some photos and enjoying the views, you'll hop on a bike for a 20-minute ride over the forest canopy on suspended pathways. When the bike ride is complete, you'll return to terra firma and set off on a nature hike that follows a trail back to the lodge.
Take a break for lunch, then continue once more on a forest hike in search of exotic wildlife like howling monkeys and rare bird species, the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Your naturalist guide will share insightful information about the surrounding flora, including medicinal plants that Indigenous residents have used for centuries. Eventually, you'll arrive at a serene oasis that offers prime wildlife viewing. Enjoy dinner back at the lodge, followed by a short lecture detailing the fascinating scientific research projects in the area.
Day 8: Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park, Luxury Glamping
Get ready for a change of scenery once again. First, though, embark on a sunrise bird-watching tour around the lodge to spot colorful species like toucans and hummingbirds. Later, after breakfast, meet your driver for a 4-5-hour drive south, ascending from the cloud forest to the páramo (high Andes landscapes) and Cotopaxi National Park. This pristine nature reserve covers 129 square miles (334 sq km), and its most famous landmark is Cotopaxi, the tallest active volcano in the world at 19,347 feet (5,897 m).
Upon arrival, you'll get your first taste of luxury glamping when you check into Cotopaxi Sanctuary Lodge. Nestled in páramo grasslands at 11,811 feet (3,600 m), this lodge is a new concept in hospitality. It's part of a private hacienda that offers spacious dome tents outfitted with plush beds, private bathrooms, heating, and terraces looking out to the snowcapped peak of Cotopaxi. The views also extend to the forest, streams, waterfalls, and rivers surrounding the lodge.
After settling in, you'll head out and experience this pristine scenery on a private guided nature hike. Besides the landscapes, keep an eye out for free-roaming wildlife, including red-brocket deer, Andean foxes, Andean pumas, White-tailed deer, and even the rare Andean-speckled bear, wild horses, and various endemic birds. You'll return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Day 9: Páramo Horseback Ride & Hike
After a rustic and hearty breakfast at the lodge, you'll meet your private guide and horse for this morning's adventure. Hop in the saddle and explore this wild frontier on a two-hour horseback ride. Gallop across windswept plains and through native forests, all with the snowcapped peak of Cotopaxi volcano looming overhead. During the ride, keep an eye out for native wildlife, like rabbits, deer, and even wild horses.
Around midday, you'll have lunch at the lodge, then head right back out on a hike. Then, you can choose an activity in the area to see how folks in Ecuador's highland communities live. These include milking cows, feeding farm animals, harvesting vegetables, or picking sweet Andean blueberries. In the evening, back at the lodge, you'll enjoy one last celebratory dinner in Ecuador.
Day 10: Transfer to Quito, Depart
More Great Ecuador Itineraries
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