Luxury Ecuador City & Cloud Forest Escape - 7 Days

Highlights

• See the highlights of Quito, including the equator's official dividing line
• Embark on nature hikes, zipline rides, and birding tours in the cloud forest
• Soak in hot springs and enjoy yoga and spa treatments at a luxury rainforest lodge

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Dinner at Zazu Restaurant

Welcome to Ecuador! One of South America's most biodiverse countries, Ecuador also features a rich cultural heritage and a long history dating back to Spanish colonialism and the pre-Incan communities that came before it. This trip focuses on the country's central highlands, which is a wonderland of high Andes peaks, snowcapped volcanoes, and mystical cloud forest jungles. The journey begins with your arrival in Quito, Ecuador's capital.

Your personal 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.

Spend some time relaxing at the hotel until dinnertime. Then, transfer to the nearby Zazu for a fine dining experience you won't soon forget. This restaurant's famous tasting menus are a captivating culinary journey that fuses artistry with flavor, blending locally sourced ingredients with global influences to create a symphony of classic flavors that dance on your palate. Dishes might include seared duck breast with Andean grains, octopus carpaccio, and a modern twist on classic Ecuadorian ceviche. Tantalizing desserts include South American sweets, like passion fruit cheesecake.

Day 2: Day Trip to Mitad del Mundo & Museums

Wake up with a fresh cup of gourmet coffee followed by an equally decadent breakfast at the hotel. After eating, you'll meet your private driver/guide for the trip 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's Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Straddling the yellow line here means you'll have one foot in each hemisphere.

While at the park, you can also visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Planetarium, the latter of which features a small-scale model of Quito. For lunch, enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian meal at El Crater, a restaurant uniquely positioned atop the nearby Pululahua volcano. Not only will you enjoy a delicious meal, but you'll also learn a bit about Quito's past and present from a respected historian.

Then, visit the nearby Intiñan Museum, an interactive science and cultural center. Highlights include hands-on experiments demonstrating equatorial phenomena (such as water draining in different directions on either side of the line), ancient astronomical calendars, and ethnographic exhibits of Ecuador's diverse Indigenous cultures. End the day at the Agave Museum to taste the fine spirits Ecuador has created using a plant normally associated with Mexico. Dinner tonight is a special affair as you enjoy a gourmet meal in a former convent accompanied by a ballet performance. 

Day 3: Transfer to Mashpi, Explore the Cloud Forest

Say goodbye to city life as you leave early with your driver on a three-hour ride north to Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve. This famous 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 to 4,500 feet (600 to 1,400 m) above sea level, creating various microclimates within a pristine cloud forest ecosystem 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 still 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 lunch, then embark on a nature along a trail leading from the hotel into the cloud forest. This brisk walk with a naturalist guide serves as an introduction to the region's ecology as well as the importance of forest conservation in the Chocó region. As you pass through the lush "iron palm" forests, you can do a bit of birding—keep an eye out for hummingbirds and the elusive Andean cock-of-the-rock. Dinner will be served at the lodge's restaurant amid forest views.

Day 4: Mashpi Nature Hike & Canopy Tour

Rise and shine for your first full day in the cloud forest! Eat a hearty breakfast, then lace up your hiking boots for a morning excursion down scenic nature trails. As you go, you'll witness the denizens of this biodiverse wonderland. Some wildlife you'll likely spot include various monkeys, sloths, butterflies, and exotic reptiles like glass and poison dart frogs.

After the hike, you'll return to the lodge and refuel with a delicious lunch. Next up is a more active adventure as you transfer to a canopy station in the forest. There, you'll put on a helmet and strap in for a thrilling zipline ride over the treetops. All told it's a 40-minute experience that covers a 1.25-mile (2 km) route, treating you to a bird's-eye view of Mashpi. Wrap up the experience with a gourmet picnic snack (with wine) before returning to the lodge.

Day 5: Howler Monkey Trail & Orchids

It's another early start as you set off from the lodge on a hike down Howler Monkeys Trail. As you go, your naturalist guide will reveal insight into the forest's exotic flora and fauna, which isn't merely limited to the namesake monkey. In fact, part of the hike involves a stop at a garden to view various species of orchids, bromeliads, and fruit trees endemic to the region. When the hike is finished, you can cool off with a cup of fresh sugar cane juice. Afterward, you'll return to the hotel, and later in the day, you'll have the option for a two-hour guided forest hike to a waterfall and lagoons.

Day 6: Hummingbird Tour, Transfer to Quito, Cooking Workshop

Your day begins at 6:30 am with a morning birding session. You don't need to travel far, as the lodge has many feeders around the property that attract hummingbirds. Watch as these colorful avians flit about, enjoying their breakfast. There's a great variety of them, too—you'll probably spot around 20 different species.

After some birding followed by your own breakfast at the lodge, it's time to say goodbye to Mashpi. Your driver will pick you up for the return trip to Quito and Casa Gangotena Hotel. For your last evening in Ecuador, head down to the hotel's gourmet restaurant and meet the prestigious chef for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Put on an apron and sharpen your kitchen knife because the chef will hand over the reins and let you craft your own memorable dining experience.

Day 7: Day Trip to Papallacta Hotsprings, Depart Quito

After all that hiking in Mashpi, you could probably use a bit more relaxation. So, before flying out of Ecuador, you'll transfer about 1.5 hours southeast of Quito to the famous Papallacta Hot Springs, where you'll soak in volcanic waters. Situated at 12,100 feet (3,700 m) in an evergreen páramo (Andean high grasslands) landscape, this area is renowned for its healing waters. If the weather is clear, you'll spot the giant Artisana volcano looming above.

You'll also spend time at the Termas de Papallacta Resort and Spa, which offers nine warm and three cold pools at various temperatures, plus an on-site spa with multiple health and beauty treatments, including hydromassage, a Turkish steam bath, and a mud wrap. It's also a great spot to have lunch with local dishes such as fresh-grilled trout. When the time comes, you'll get back on the road and return to Quito and the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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