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8-Day Ecuador's Must-See Highlights

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Overview

Explore the middle of the world in eight amazing days. You will discover some of the must-see regions of Ecuador such as Quito and Cotopaxi National Park while passing through Mindo and Otavalo on this exciting journey.

You will have the opportunity to observe the diversity of this country in terms of culture and geographic features. You will start with the beautiful architecture in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and then travel to Mitad del Mundo where you can stand in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres at the same time.

You will then feel the temperature change of Mindo and observe its wonderful biodiversity before travelling to the Ecuadorian Andes to visit the emblematic Cotopaxi Volcano.

This Ecuador tour will give you a little taste making you want to plan a longer trip next time!
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Hiking & Trekking
Food & Drink
Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Quito

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Arrive in Quito

Begin your personalized Ecuador tour by arriving in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Your guide will meet you at the airport and assist with your transportation. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day will be free to explore Quito and relax as you wish. The colonial heart of Quito, its old town is an architectural masterpiece of dazzling churches, monasteries, museums, palaces and public squares waiting for you to explore.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Vieja Cuba3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Quito Old TownOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre to Vieja Cuba

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quito

Day 2

Quito Historic Centre & Pacari Chocolate Tasting

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Quito Historic Centre & Pacari Chocolate Tasting

Today you will visit Quito's historic centre. The tour will begin early in the morning to have enough time to see the best highlights of the city. First, you'll head to a lookout to get a great view of Quito and then you will visit the beautiful historic centre area, that is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. During the tour, you'll visit Church and Monastery of San Francisco, Carondelet Palace and the Cathedral of Quito. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a chocolate tasting at Pacari!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Vieja Cuba3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Quito City Tour

    El Panecillo

    Church and Monastery of San Francisco

    Carondelet Palace

    Cathedral of Quito

    Pacari Chocolate Tasting

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Vieja Cuba to Centro Historico Quito

    Private Driver from Venezuela to Vieja Cuba

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quito

Day 3

Mitad del Mundo & Mindo

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Mitad del Mundo & Mindo

This morning after breakfast, you'll check out and visit the "Man Chapel" from the Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín. Afterwards, you will visit the site of the "Mitad del Mundo" where you can put one foot in the Southern hemisphere and the other in the Northern hemisphere in the middle of the world! Afterwards, you'll visit the Intinan Solar Museum in the foothills of the Andes Mountains before arriving at La Bicok EcoLodge where you'll stay overnight.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    La Bicok EcoLodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Fundación Guayasamín

    Quito Mitad del Mundo

    Intinan Solar Museum

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Vieja Cuba to Guayasamin Institute

    Private Driver from Guayasamin Institute to Middle of the World

    Private Driver from Manuel Cordova Galarza to La Bicok EcoLodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quito

    Pichincha

Day 4

Mindo Valley Exploration

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Mindo Valley Exploration

This morning, you'll head out to explore the Mindo Valley. First up, you'll visit a beautiful orchid garden, run by a nice local family, that will let you discover the numerous varieties of orchids found in Ecuador. In Ecuador, one of every four plants is an orchid, in comparison to the rest of the world where one in every ten plants is an orchid. After that, you will head further into the Mindo Valley where you'll spend the afternoon flying over the forest canopy on thrilling ziplines.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    La Bicok EcoLodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Mindo Orchids Garden

    Mindo Valley

    Mindo Canopy Zipline

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from La Bicok EcoLodge to Mindo Valley

    Private Driver from Mindo Valley to Mindo Valley

    Private Driver from Mindo Valley to La Bicok EcoLodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Pichincha

Day 5

Otavalo Market & Cuicocha Lake

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Otavalo Market & Cuicocha Lake

This morning, you'll take a walk around Otavalo's famous Indigenous market, where you can meet the "Otavaleños" with their espadrilles, their brown felt hats and their blue ponchos. You'll find all sorts of items at the market including textiles, jewellery, leather goods, indigenous costumes, wool and much more. Then, you'll travel to Cuicocha Lake in the ecologic reserve of Cotacachi-Cayapas, one of the most beautiful in Ecuador with its shiny blue water.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Las Palmeras Inn3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Otavalo Market

    Cuicocha Lake

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from La Bicok EcoLodge to Otavalo

    Private Driver from Otavalo to Cuicocha

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Pichincha

    Otavalo

    Imbabura Province

Day 6

Cotopaxi Horseback Riding

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Cotopaxi Horseback Riding

Today after breakfast, you'll drive to Cotopaxi where you'll take a horseback ride on the trails that border the Cotopaxi volcano for about two hours. You will observe some amazing views while riding on trained horses that are accustomed to this terrain and altitude. You will be at 3,600 metres altitude, in the middle of the Andes, where you'll enjoy some of the freshest air and most pristine natural environments in the world.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Tierra del Volcán El Porvenir3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cotopaxi Horseback Riding

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Las Palmeras Inn to Tierra del Volcán / Hacienda El Porvenir

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Imbabura Province

    Pichincha

Day 7

Explore the Cotopaxi National Park

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Explore the Cotopaxi National Park

Today, you will hike around the Limpiopungo Lagoon, a beautiful glacial lake at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano which provides an amazing view of the Cotopaxi National Park. You can appreciate the flora and some fauna as you explore this area and you can also hope to spot some wildlife including wolves, pumas, and bears. After driving up to the car park at 4600 metres, you will continue by foot to the José Rivas hut 200 metres higher.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ikala Quito Hotel 3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cotopaxi National Park

    Laguna de Limpiopung

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cotopaxi to Ikala Quito Hotel (Anteriormente Anahi Boutique Hotel Quito)

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Pichincha

    Cotopaxi Province

    Quito

Day 8

Say Goodbye to Your Ecuador Tour

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Say Goodbye to Your Ecuador Tour

On this last day of the trip, you will have the opportunity to visit the Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise that has a great collection of archaeological pieces to gain more insight into the Ecuadorian culture and history. Afterwards, you will transfer to the airport for your onward travels, depending on the time of your departure.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ikala Quito Hotel (Anteriormente Anahi Boutique Hotel Quito) to Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise

    Private Driver from Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise to Ikala Quito Hotel (Anteriormente Anahi Boutique Hotel Quito)

    Private Driver from Ikala Quito Hotel (Anteriormente Anahi Boutique Hotel Quito) to Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quito

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 18 activities
  • 7 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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