Nature & Relaxation in Ecuador: National Parks, Waterfalls & Hot Springs - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Free Day

Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Quito. Located at 9,350 feet (2,850 m) above sea level, the lofty Ecuadorian capital lies nestled on the slopes of the active Pichincha volcano, and traces its history back to the 16th century, when it was founded on the ruins of an ancient Inca city.

You'll have free time once you've checked in, so if you have the energy after your flight, you can start exploring Quito's many highlights. Start in its historic, UNESCO-listed city center and visit its grand churches of Iglesia de San Francisco and Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, admiring their centuries-old architecture before heading to the expansive Plaza de la Independencia, the city's main square. Alternatively, go to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) equator monument north of Quito, where you can straddle the line between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Day 2: Ride the TelefériQo Cable Car & Tour La Floresta

Meet your guide first thing and start the day with a ride on the TelefériQo cable car, which brings you up to a height of 12,943 feet (3,945 m) on the eastern slopes of Pichincha. Take spectacular views of the city and its surrounding mountains, and take a short walk to explore your distinctive volcanic surroundings. 

Afterward, head to La Floresta, a traditional neighborhood in Quito, for a guided walking tour. While you wander, admire the urban artwork and creativity of local artists, making your way through attractive streets filled with cafés and restaurants. Later, head back to your hotel for a relaxing evening before a busy day of travel tomorrow.

Day 3: Transfer to Yasuní National Park

Today, you'll travel to the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest for an adventure. Early in the morning, your driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to Quito's airport, where you'll catch a flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, also known as "El Coca." Once you arrive, you'll travel along the Río Napo by motorized and paddle canoes to reach your lodge accommodations in Yasuní National Park. This is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world—the Equator, Andes, and Amazon biomes meet within the park, supporting thousands of species of mammals, plants, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

Before you head out into this fascinating environment, a guide will introduce you to the area so you can fully appreciate the park's uniqueness. Then, take your first venture into the rainforest along the Matapalo Trail, a two-hour walk with naturalist guides who will point out some of the region's diverse residents, such as towering mahogany trees, eastern Ecuadorian squirrel monkeys, and tree frogs endemic to the area. Be sure to keep an eye out for strangler figs too, as they're the trail's namesake. After the hike, head back to your lodge to relax, kayak, or swim in a lagoon, and enjoy a well-deserved dinner.

Day 4: Nature & Culture Day at Yasuní National Park

Make sure to grab your camera this morning, as the day starts with an early visit to a local clay lick. This area is where the river has worn away soil to reveal a clay seam, drawing hundreds of parrots who get their essential minerals from the clay. You'll be mesmerized by the scores of colorful, chattering birds as you watch them congregate along the cliffsides.

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 a better understanding of how the Amazon supports the people who live within it.

Have 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 guayusa (a caffeinated holly tree) and ajo sacha (garlic vine). Later, head back to the lodge by canoe and relax or take part in other activities on offer, such as yoga, kayaking, or fishing.

Day 5: Mandi Forest Adventure, Transfer to Quito

During your last full day in the Amazon, you'll have the chance to spot animals you haven't seen yet. You'll begin by hiking through the forest to a lagoon called Mandi Cocha, keeping an eye out for tapir and other mammals. At the lagoon, hop into a canoe to explore the blackwater-flooded forest. Seasonally, fresh rainwater floods the forest, creating a temporary world where trees rise out of the still water and animals, such as the rare giant otter, visit looking for fish.

Later on, another hiking route takes you back to Garzacocha Lagoon to search for animals around the lake. You might spot groups of squirrel and capuchin monkeys in the trees or hear the raucous shouts of howler monkeys reverberating off the water. You'll find plenty of birds in this area too, such as colorful hoatzins, toucans, and macaws. Then it's time to head back to Quito. You'll take a motorized canoe to El Coca, where you'll catch your flight. After landing at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel for the evening.

Day 6: Transfer to Cotopaxi, Horseback Riding in Cotopaxi National Park

A driver will pick you up early today to take you by road to Cotopaxi National Park. On the way, you'll stop at Limpiopungo Lagoon for a short hike and to enjoy the panoramic mountain views. While you're here, keep an eye out for wildlife, including numerous birds and, occasionally, herds of grazing párameros (wild horses).

Get back on the road and continue to a traditional hacienda, or estate, where you'll stay for the night. After settling in, you'll spend the afternoon exploring the impressive landscapes of the national park on a three-hour horseback ride. Ride through páramo, the distinctive Andean grasslands, as you're treated to staggering views of Cotopaxi volcano and the surrounding glacier.

Day 7: Hike at Quilotoa Lagoon, Transfer to Baños

It's time to head south today, starting with an optional trip to the Quilotoa Lagoon, another volcanic wonder. This 2-mile (3 km) wide crater lake is filled with mineral-rich green water. You can hike along the lake's outer rim, enjoying the views from three lava domes, or follow a path down to the lake itself. Hiking in the area, especially uphill, can be challenging, so you could consider renting a mule for some help along the way.

 

After exploring, you'll get back on the road and continue to Baños, your base for the evening. This city on the edge of the Amazonian basin is known for its hot springs and nearby waterfalls. You could go for a hike in your beautiful surroundings, through forests, and down steep gorges, or relax in the natural thermal pools. A must-see is its famous Casa del Árbol treehouse, where there are swings placed at the edge of a mountain, so you can soar through the air and take some fabulous photographs.

Day 8: Explore Baños & the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Transfer to Quito

Your driver will take you on a spectacularly scenic drive today along the Ruta de Cascadas (Waterfall Route). Journey toward the village of Río Verde, spotting the route's namesake water features as you travel. When you arrive, you'll take a short hike to one of the best-known waterfalls in the area, the Pailón del Diablo ("Devil's Cauldron"). Here, dramatic cascades drop steeply 265 feet (81 m) through the lush cloud forest.

Then, you'll head back to enjoy your last couple of hours in Baños, where you could take another dip in its thermal pools, or look around its famous Nuestra Senora del Agua Santa (Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water) and its beautiful paintings. At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to Quito for an evening at leisure in the city.

Day 9: Termas de Papallacta Hot Springs & Depart

Cap off your trip in the most relaxing way possible today with a soak in some soothing hot springs. A morning transfer takes you about an hour southeast to Papallacta, home to the eight natural geothermal pools of the Termas de Papallacta Spa. Take a dip in the warm waters and let any stress from your travels melt away as you admire the views of polylepis trees and the Artisana volcano in the distance. When the time comes, your driver will pick you up for the transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport and your departing flight. Until next time!