100% customisable travel idea
Volcanoes, Amazonia & Pacific as a family Adventure in Ecuador
Ecuador - Quito - Volcanoes - Amazon - Baños - Pacific Coast
100% customisable travel idea
Ecuador - Quito - Volcanoes - Amazon - Baños - Pacific Coast
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, private transfer to Otavalo, about 100 km (62 miles) north of Quito, at an altitude of 2,530 metres (8,300 feet). Founded in 1534, San Luis de Otavalo owes its name to the Indigenous people of the region, whose reputation as weavers extends far beyond the borders of Imbabura province.
Stay two nights in the town centre, in a beautiful red-brick building from the early 1930s. With its traditional colonial architecture, the hotel is set around a charming central patio and offers spacious, comfortable rooms. Its decor is an elegant blend of antique pieces and contemporary design. The same is true for the restaurant, serving refined cuisine from all of Ecuador’s provinces. Enjoy the rooftop bar area too - perfect for relaxing after a day’s exploring.
Included - full day around Otavalo, with a private guide. The day begins with a short hike to Cuicocha Lake (Guinea Pig Lake), followed by lunch with a Kichwa family, where you’ll discover typical Andean dishes made from traditional regional produce, prepared with respect for ancestral know-how. You’ll also help to prepare the meal before everyone sits down together to try these new flavours. Next is a visit to Otavalo market, the most famous indigenous market in the Andes. It is held every day. Woollen fabrics, embroidery, ceramics, baskets, fruit and vegetables spill over the colourful stalls, creating a lively, bustling little world. You’ll usually encounter many Otavalo Kichwa people here, recognisable by their espadrilles, brown felt hats and blue ponchos. The women are very elegant in their embroidered blouses and gold necklaces.
Optional - Visit a music instrument workshop and meet a Kichwa musician.
Private transfer to Quito and check in for two nights at a hotel in the historic centre. Behind its azure blue façade, this colonial house built in 1925 has been fully restored by artists from the renowned Escuela Quiteña (Quito School). The house has just three bedrooms. They are simple and elegant, arranged around a lovely inner courtyard where you can sit and read or have a drink. And on the roof, you’ll find a terrace with a clear view over the town.
Quito Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has changed so very little that you might get the feeling you’ve stepped back in time to the era of the Royal Audience. The checkerboard layout is preserved, with vibrant colours brightening up the charming rows of single-storey houses, adorned with the essential Spanish balconies and interspersed here and there with imposing civil and religious buildings. Examples include the cathedral (1562-1806), Carondelet Palace (1801) and the Church of San Francisco (1534-1604), which houses the Virgin of Quito, venerated throughout the northern Andes. As for the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus, 1605-1765), it shows who held influence at the time - those able to employ the best artists from the Quito School.
Included: Visit to a chocolate factory, where you can make your own bar (70% dark, 43% milk or white) from local cacao. It was in Ecuador that cacao was discovered 4,500 years ago. Find out each step of the process: melting, moulding, and, if you wish, adding nuts or dried fruit. While the chocolate cools, enjoy an ice cream or hot drink.
What to see and do - Take in the views from the Pichincha Volcano cable car, one of the highest in South America, which climbs to over 4,000 metres (13,100 feet) above sea level. From these heights, the view is magnificent at any time of day. Look down on the colourful walls and uneven roofs of Quito, stretching for miles in an impressive panorama. Volcanoes stand alongside skyscrapers and the historic city centre. The Virgin of Quito, seen from above, suddenly appears very small. It’s a thrilling experience - just make sure you dress warmly, as it’s cold in the clouds.
Optional - Tour of the capital with a private guide.
You have a private transfer to Cotopaxi National Park to stay two nights in a hotel with architecture inspired by old Spanish haciendas. Superbly located, it offers breathtaking views of the Cotopaxi, Ruminahui and Pasochoa volcanoes, as well as the city of Quito. The rooms are very comfortable, with a fireplace and panoramic windows. Must-See: sunrise over Cotopaxi and the starry sky from the terrace
Optional - Horseriding with a private guide in Cotopaxi National Park.
What to see and do - Cotopaxi National Park Just under 100 km (60 miles) south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park is home to the highest active volcano in the world (5,897 metres / 19,350 feet). Spend a pleasant day here in the heart of nature, exploring this superb 34,000-hectare (84,000-acre) nature reserve on foot or by vehicle, where llamas, wild horses, Andean wolves and more roam freely. And if you’re really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the majestic condor soaring overhead.
Optional - Full day hike up Cotopaxi with a private guide.
You have a private transfer to the Amazon basin, crossing mountains and passes. The trail winds through the mountain range, and with every turn, the vegetation reveals a new vista. Despite the overcast sky, the tropical heat intensifies, and you’ll soon be taking off your alpaca wool hat. The Amazon opens its doors. In this world of forest and water, the roads are rivers and paths are streams. A few dry trails remain - perfect for walking in the forest. In the early morning, toucans perch near a cabin, groups of monkeys come to say hello, parrots squawk, and fire-coloured oropendolas appear. Your canoe glides along, gently rocked by the cries of monkeys. Further on, yellow trogons blaze, and the resplendent quetzal honours a few lucky visitors with its presence. Meanwhile on the ground, look out for large monitor lizards and small, brightly-coloured frogs. At night, this world falls asleep and walks in the forest take on a different intensity.
Stay for two nights just outside Puerto Misahualli, one of the gateways to the Amazon, along the Río Napo. Your lodge is a completely eco-friendly structure that can accommodate up to 20 people - there is a sense of intimacy within. Each of the four bungalows is a tribute to the cultures of the different ethnic groups of the Amazon with a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary design and large picture windows opening onto nature. The colours are directly inspired by the red earth of the Amazon, the green of the trees, the amber of a butterfly, and the purple of a wildflower.
Included - One or two activities per day, organised by the lodge. Among the visits and activities to enjoy in the surrounding area, highlights include a full-day hike to discover Amazonian birds, medicinal plants, and other surprising insects, amphibians and reptiles, all the way to Santa Barbara, where an Indigenous community lives deep in the forest; a night walk around the lodge to observe wildlife that is only active after dark; a walk from the village of Misahualli to see a six-hundred-year-old tree known as Papa Pununo; and a gentle hike along a marked trail up the mountain to discover one of the region’s wonders - Las Latas Waterfall (with the option to go for a swim).
You have a private transfer to Quito Airport and flight to Manta, then another transfer to your hotel by the sea. At the centre of the property, a large swimming pool offers a gentle way to start or end the day. Inside, the rooms have opted for simplicity and comfort, with understated decor and not a thing out of place. It must be said, the sight of the ocean is enough on its own. On site, guests can also enjoy a restaurant and a fitness room.
Nestled on Ecuador’s west coast, Manta is a pleasant seaside city, founded long before the arrival of European conquistadors. However, those Spanish settlers have greatly influenced the architecture, as you will discover while strolling through the town centre.
What to see and do - Enjoy the beaches, of course: Santa Marianita, popular with locals; San Lorenzo, ideal for sailing or surfing; and Murciélago for magical sunsets.
Optional - Private half-day tour to the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge.
You have a private transfer to La Rinconada where you’ll stay for two nights on an estate nestled on a hillside covered in tropical rainforest. The lush garden and bungalows look out over the Pacific. The nearest beach is just a few minutes’ drive away. On site, a beautiful infinity pool beckons, as well as terraces with hammocks and sun loungers for a siesta or simply enjoying the view. The bedrooms have windows to the outside and are perfectly appointed in an attractive wood and white decor. Everything here says relaxation.
Optional - a traditional straw hat factory and tagua (vegetable ivory) workshop; horseriding in Machalilla National Park.
Included: a private boat trip to El Sucre Island, where many native birds thrive - blue-footed boobies, pelicans and gulls - along with flora typical of the marine environment. There is also a beautiful white sand beach accessible by boat. Around the island, the clear waters are ideal for snorkelling. Clownfish and other colourful species promise a wonderful experience.
You have a private transfer to Guayaquil for your international return flight. Overnight flight, arrive the next day.
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