Cuenca is waiting for us to discover. We start the day strolling through the cobbled streets of this beautiful World Cultural Heritage, crossed by four rivers that add up to the splendor and give the city its complete name. Squares, balconies and churches will make perfect pictures. The “chola cuencana” traditional costumes will splash  [ Read More ]

A visit from the charming city of Cuenca, where we find pleasant squares, narrow streets full of beautiful mansions built during the colony and witnesses of the troubled Republican era. For the youngest we include a visit to the didactic and amusing “FORBIDDEN NOT TO TOUCH” Museum in Pumapungo.  Then we visit the hats weaving  [ Read More ]

  Only few minutes away from the city there are several cattle farms in which the family can perform a number of regular farming activities like milking, feeding the livestock and farm animals, horseback riding or simple walks around the Hacienda House while enjoying the magic of nature.  Typical lunch served at the ranch house.  [ Read More ]

  In the morning enjoy the so called “garden of Azuay”, for its rich and luscious markets and the Orchid farm. Known for the high quality jewelry, we’ll visit the town of Chordeleg and then reach the Uzhupud Hostería and Country Club where the family can take a good rest and use the facilities as  [ Read More ]

The Cajas National park is well known for being one of the best places to walk and enjoy the great variety of flora and fauna in Ecuador. Here we offer several types of hikes in the area, from the easiest to the most demanding, the later programmed for a number of days, according to the  [ Read More ]

Have a guided visit through the highlights of the historical area of this beautiful World Heritage. Visit the characteristic plazas, churches and streets. The pink marble Cathedral and the Tomebamba River make this an unforgettable city, considered to be the most beautiful one in Ecuador. Visit the factory/museum of the world famous but misnamed Panama  [ Read More ]

  In the heart of the southern Andes we have the Archaeological Complex of Ingapirca, the most important and best preserved Inca site in Ecuador. We’ll leave Cuenca northwards through the Pan-American Highway through the most interesting Andean landscapes. We’ll pass by the city of Azogues, the capital city of the province of Cañar towards  [ Read More ]

We will have a short drive towards the lower zone of the El Cajas National Park, world known for its over 300 lake system. RAMSAR recognized. Here you will do an easy hike on the Llaviuco Lake area while casually bird watching and landscaping. This area possesses a highly interesting mixture of habitats for bird-watching:  [ Read More ]

  Today we’ll head eastwards to enjoy the rural areas of Cuenca. We’ll visit the town of San Bartolo world know for the handcrafted production of guitars. We continue our way through the eastern slopes of the Andes to the town of Chordeleg, where we’ll have time to stroll its jewelry shops covered streets. Afterwards  [ Read More ]

  We will head southwards of Cuenca into the Yungilla Valley, an inter-Andean valley which marks a transition to the coastal plain, with different climatic zones and ecosystems: the western Andean foothills, the subtropical valley and the desert like zone. It is also the doorway to the Tumbesian region. Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Stripped Owl, the endemic  [ Read More ]

Early in the morning we’ll leave the city of Cuenca to head to the town of Alausí in the Chimborazo Province, where we’ll board the train that had started the day from Riobamba. We’ll have a chance to enjoy the most impressive part of this railway going into the “Devil’s Nose”, a geographical formation that  [ Read More ]

This is a perfect way to enjoy the country side. During the morning horseback riding along countryside trails through indigenous and private farming sites, areas of primary forest, the ancient Inca trail and small hidden villages. The old trails from the colonial era follow the top of the mountain ridge, providing amazing views from the  [ Read More ]

  Ecuador is without any doubt a must-see destination for bird-watchers. Currently 1640 distinct species of birds have been registered. That is 17% of the birds in the whole planet, in an area the size of the United Kingdom. 80% of the birds that exist in Brazil can be found in 3% of Ecuador’s territory.  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, Full Day Cuenca is strategically located near important ecosystems with an interesting diversity of birds: CAJAS NATIONAL PARK (35 Km) hosts some 150 upper Andean species; the most notable is the Violet-throated Metaltail, a humming bird which is practically endemic to this protected area. Other birds found in here are the  [ Read More ]

  (17 Km), only 20 min away from Cuenca, is the lower part of the Cajas NP. It possesses a highly interesting mixture of habitats for bird-watching: well preserved mountain forests, paramos, lakes and pastures. The Mountain Toucan, Andean Guan, Masked Trogon, Turquoise Jay, various colorful Tanagers and 12 species of Hummingbirds and aquatic birds  [ Read More ]

  (85 Km) the route takes us into an inter-Andean valley which marks a transition to the coastal plain, with different climatic zones and ecosystems: the western Andean foothills, the subtropical valley and the desert like zone. It is also the doorway to the Tumbesian region. Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Stripped Owl, the endemic Tumbesian Pacific Elania  [ Read More ]

  (90 Km) begins at 3.500 m and ends in the other side of the eastern Andean range at 1.220 m providing different ecosystems: paramo, bush covered paramo, mountain forest and pre-mountain humid forest. Here we would find Masked Mountain Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga, Emerald Toucanet, etc.   Overview: Moderate activities of  8 hours per day  [ Read More ]

    DAY 1  CAJAS NATIONAL PARK & TAMARINDO Certainly this is one of the best trips to observe birdlife in the area. In the morning we will visit the mountain rainforest area and paramos of the Cajas National Park, with a range of altitudes from 3200 m to 4000 m.  In this area we  [ Read More ]

This is a 5 days 4 nights itinerary that take us to the most important bird watching sites in Southern Ecuador, from high moorland (paramo), to cloud forest areas, subtropical valleys, dry forest and tropical zones, so it gathers a wide range of great ecosystems for an abundant diversity of birds, including some endemic species,  [ Read More ]

It is one of the best ways to get to know the real Ecuador, the country lifestyle, one of the most special wonders of this little but magical realm. The mountainous topography of the Ecuadorian Andes, combined with the natural existent wonders such as volcanoes, lakes and forests, plus the ethnical component, creates the right  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, Full Day Shared Basis, Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun, Full Day After half an hour drive from Cuenca, we reach Totorillas, a charming farm in an amazing natural spot, located by the Tarqui Ridge. Horseback riding is definitely the specialty and little experience is required, on a trip aimed at passengers that would like to witness  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, 2 Days / 1 Night Shared Basis, Thursdays, 2 Days / 1 Night The country side of Totorillas is only half an hour south of Cuenca and it offers some of the most beautiful southern Andean landscapes; exhibiting cloud forest patches, indigenous agricultural grounds, stockbreeding farms and rugged topography. The area  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, 3 Days / 2 Nights This trip aims to follow country trails connecting private haciendas around the Tarqui area, allowing visitors to witness and share the real rural life and its milieu. Each hacienda has its own particularity and beauty, some are colonial with lots of history, others are modern and charm  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, 2 or more days The Incas had a highly developed road and communication system that connected important points and settlements along the Andean mountains. However, with the construction of modern roads, the Inca trail was not that important anymore, except for local people that still use it and follow many part  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day (best on sat-sun), 2 Days / 1 Night The Saraguro people see in tourism a valuable way to bring back and preserve their traditions and culture in order to share it with visitors. They are very welcoming and willing to show us part of their daily life, turning this trip into  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, 3 Days / 2 Nights The most southern province of the Ecuadorian Andean region, Loja, is full of interesting natural and cultural highlights. This trip combines those sites, starting with a visit to Saraguro, the center of a very special native group, where we will witness parts of their traditions and handicraft  [ Read More ]

Due to the Ecuadorian topography and geographical diversity, sometimes shifting just in few hours, our country is one of the best destinations in South America for mountain biking. Our trips take visitors to the remotest sites, through beautiful natural areas, Indian villages, coastal fishing towns and jungle destinations. The designed trips range from easy scenic  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, Full Day Early morning we drive up along the southern road into El Cajas National Park. This countryside road takes us into the mountains up to 4100 m where we get off and start descending. The trip is full of beautiful landscapes carved by the Yanuncay River running next to the  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, Full Day It is absolutely the best way to visit the main Inca complex in the country. The rural trail to Ingapirca follow part of the old train tracks combining stunning landscapes, farming areas and Cañari Indian culture. The Cañar province it is known as one of the most diverse places  [ Read More ]

  Shared Basis, Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun, HALF Day Cuenca attracts visitors for its charming atmosphere, but most visitors only get to see the Old Historical downtown. However a lot of that charming is found in the new town too, since it has 4 rivers crossing the city, nice parks and natural sites as well as ancient buildings  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, 2 Days / 1 Night In the southern part of Ecuador we find several small, seldom used secondary roads that connect isolated villages and farming areas, which offer no interest for regular or heavy traffic. The 100Km road that drops 2000m, from Saraguro down to the Jubones desert is a perfect  [ Read More ]

El Cajas National Park offers great trout fishing opportunities in several of the 235 glacier type lakes, an amazing environment of moorland vegetation and spectacular rock formations. We provide the assistance of an experienced fisherman during the trips. Alternatively we could organize several days of fishing with camping in El Cajas National Park or in  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, Full Day Paute, Cojitambo, Sayausi, El Cajas, Girón, Susudel are some of the best rock climbing sites in the country and they are located in the area surrounding Cuenca. These climbing spots offer walls from 10 to 150m high and rating 5 – 5.12d. The level of difficulty will depend on the  [ Read More ]

Private. Any Day, 2 Days / 1 Night. El Cajas is considered a paradise for hikers due to its ecological conservation and natural beauty. On our trip, we do a moderate hike for about 3 hours through some of its 230 glacier lakes, admiring the moorland vegetation (high Andean grassland, like moors at high altitude)  [ Read More ]

  The journey starts with a short 20 minutes ride Northwest of Cuenca, to the east flank of Cabogana Mountain. We then hike 40 minutes with an awesome view of the city, through farming fields and cloud forest until we get to the gorge of Rio Amarillo. The fun begins sliding through natural rock carved  [ Read More ]

Photo belongs to Delphine Ménard In the Southern Andes near Cuenca, we find El Cajas National Park, located in the majestic west mountain range. It is one of Ecuador’s natural wonders that must be added to the repertoire of every trekking amateur. Cajas lies at an altitude between 3200 m and 4500 m and boasts  [ Read More ]

  Private, Any Day, Full Day El Cajas is considered a paradise for hikers due to its ecological conservation and natural beauty. On our trip, we do a moderate hike for about 3 hours through some of its 230 glacier lakes, admiring the moorland vegetation (high Andean grassland, like moors at high altitude) with amazing  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, 3 Days / 2 Nights (ASK ALSO FOR Private, Any Day, 2 Days / 1 Night) The 3 days trekking in El Cajas National Park will allow us to see the inner and most remote parts of the park, taking us along the ancient Inca Trail (known as Ingañan) which used to  [ Read More ]

Private, Any Day, 3 Days /2 Nights The Inca empire was connected by a well maintained road system, most of which has disappeared with the passage of time. These roads were constructed with stones and in some places they were more than seven meters wide. It is still possible to hike along the best preserved  [ Read More ]

Guayaquil is the most important port and economical capital of our Country. As it’s the logistical center and major city of the Ecuadorian Pacific Coast. The origin is pre-Columbian and its development from the colonial times has been related to the Guayas River Basin and its richness; pirates, heroes, intellectuals, poets, musicians and other personages  [ Read More ]

We’ll start the visit of this fast-paced and bold city strolling on its active streets; visit the city Cathedral and the Simón Bolivar square and its famous inhabitants: the arboreal or green iguanas that enjoy the attention provided by locals and visitors. (above photo belongs to YoTuT) Continue to the Plaza Cívica to learn about the  [ Read More ]

We’ll start the visit of this fast-paced and bold city strolling on its active streets; visit the city Cathedral and the Simón Bolivar square and its famous inhabitants: the arboreal or green iguanas that enjoy the attention provided by locals and visitors. Continue to the Plaza Cívica to learn about the vigorous history of this  [ Read More ]

  Enjoy the highlights of downtown Guayaquil with it’s history, commerce and frantic activity and then leave to the very northern extreme of the city to discover the calm of the Guayaquil Botanical Garden, fifty hectares dedicated to protect over 300 species of tropical flora divided and identified into ornamental,  fruits, woods, etc. There’s also  [ Read More ]

  6078 Hectares are dedicated in this private reserve to the protection of flora and fauna species characteristic of the remnants of dry tropical forest. This reserve is an important refuge to different types of monkeys, brocket deer, felines, etc that we have a good chance to see, while strolling the trails created on the  [ Read More ]

To relax at the end of a longer tour or after a business trip, this is the relaxing day you deserve to enjoy the music of the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Just lie down on the soft sands and sun bathe or practice some favorite nautical sport. For lunch, enjoy the freshest sea food  [ Read More ]

This eco-touristic Project is held by the fishermen community of Puerto El Morro, we visit a small and still basic interpretation center, to continue navigating on the peaceful waters of this extensive inlet where bottle nosed dolphins will swim and swirl along our canoe. Tropical birds’ observation and magnificent mangrove landscapes on a short easy  [ Read More ]

  This ecological reserve is one of the most extensive and accessible in the coast. It covers over 35,000 hectares from which 8100 hectares protect different species of mangroves and the rest protects tropical dry forest on the Chongón Ridge. On the different regions of the reserve have been registered, a healthy population of two  [ Read More ]

This is a day to enjoy the richness of the coastal plantations of banana, cocoa beans and other tropical species as well as the daily life of the “montubio” ethnic group and its culture. We’ll take you to an agro-tourist project where we’ll have the possibility to learn everything related to the production of the  [ Read More ]

(Photo belongs to Andrew Magill) Day one As part of the “route of the sun”, also known as “route of the spondylus”, we’ll leave Guayaquil towards the Pacific Ocean. We’ start with a visit to the archaeological site of the Sumpa Lovers and continuation toward the area of San Pablo and Simon Bolivar. We’ll visit  [ Read More ]

(Photo belongs to YoTuT) For the ones interested in taking advantage of  time, this tour will allow you to enjoy the highlights of the Andes and Pacific Coast the best way:  quick and fun, just like a huge roller coaster Day one We’ll leave Guayaquil in the morning and start to climb through the Andes  [ Read More ]

(Above photo belongs to: Carlos Adampol) Day one We’ll leave Guayaquil in the morning and start to climb through the Andes toward the Archaeological Complex of Ingapirca, the most important and best preserved Inca site in Ecuador. After the visit, lunch will be served at a traditional farm house restaurant in the area, where the  [ Read More ]

The first city in the world to be declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1978 offers to its visitors magnificent squares, churches and plazas dating from the XVI century to nowadays. We’ll drive you to the historical district, to admire the exceptional charisma of the Main Square or Plaza Grande and its’ surrounding  [ Read More ]

The first city in the world to be declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1978 offers to its visitors magnificent squares, churches and plazas dating from the XVI century to nowadays. We’ll drive you to the historical district, to admire the exceptional charisma of the Main Square or Plaza Grande and its’ surrounding  [ Read More ]

Ecuador owes its name to the latitude 0º 00’ 00” better known in the world as the Equator, locally known as the Middle of the World, where a monument marks this site in the memory of locals and visitors. Here you can literally jump from the northern to southern hemisphere of the planet. This tour  [ Read More ]

Explore into the heart of historical Quito, the first city in the world to be declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1978 and offers to its visitors, magnificent squares, churches and plazas. We’ll drive you to the historical district, to admire the exceptional charisma of the Main Square or Plaza Grande and its’  [ Read More ]

  Visit the archaeology exhibit of the Ecuadorian National Museum, displaying one of the richest selections of  pre-Hispanic Ecuadorian civilizations’ evidence, dated from thirteen thousand years ago…the very origin of modern Ecuadorian cultural richness and ethnic diversity. A “must do” to understand Ecuador from its roots. Continue to the historical district of this very first  [ Read More ]

Visit the archaeology exhibit of the Ecuadorian National Museum, displaying one of the richest selections of  pre-Hispanic Ecuadorian civilizations’ evidence, dated from thirteen thousand years ago…the very origin of modern Ecuadorian cultural richness and ethnic diversity. A “must do”, to understand Ecuador from its roots. Continue to the Archaeological Park of Rumipamba where you’ll feel  [ Read More ]

Towards the historical area of Quito, we’ll visit the Interactive Museum of Water: YAKU, where kids will learn about the cycle of water and preservation in the funniest most didactical way. Don’t forget to bring some dry clothes to change . Afterwards, we’ll have a panoramic tour of the historical district. We’ll continue to the  [ Read More ]

  We’ll start this day heading northwards to the town of Calderón to visit the famous bread-dough handicrafts workshop. Through changing landscapes we’ll arrive to a sightseeing point over the San Pablo Lake that welcomes us to the Imbabura Province. We’ll continue to the city of Otavalo where you’ll have time to stroll through the  [ Read More ]

DAY 1 We’ll start this day heading northwards to the town of Calderón to visit the famous bread-dough handicrafts workshop. Through changing landscapes we’ll arrive to a sightseeing point over the San Pablo Lake that welcomes us to the Imbabura Province. We’ll continue to the city of Otavalo where you’ll have time to stroll through  [ Read More ]

Besides the handicrafts that have made Otavalo famous, the area is extremely rich in nature and culture. Enjoy a different day on this famous region. We’ll leave Quito towards the Archaeological Complex of Cochasquí where will learn about the culture and knowledge of the ones that inhabited this area before the arrival of the Incas  [ Read More ]

On the entrance to the Amazon Basin on a cool climate area above 3000 m of altitude we find the natural hot springs of Papallacta that have their origin on the heart of the Antisana Volcano. The water temperatures fluctuate between 36 and 42 C. And they are considered to alleviate various illnesses such as  [ Read More ]

This day starts heading westwards into the lush cloud forest of the external slopes of the Western Northern Andes. Weather permitting we’ll get a chance for a magnificent view of the Pululahua Crater. We’ll have an interesting stop at the Pahuma Reserve to enjoy a fairly easy hike through the magnificent private collection of native  [ Read More ]

Start the day heading westwards from Quito into the lush cloud forest of the external slopes of the Andes. We’ll arrive to the Archaeological Complex of Tulipe where we’ll learn about the ancestral Yumbos a very interesting pre-inca community dedicated to exchange products, culture and knowledge between the Andes and the Coastal lower lands region  [ Read More ]

We’ll start our way driving southeast of Quito through the valleys that once provided the city with fresh corn and vegetables and that throughout the years have become the new residential areas and satellites of Ecuador’s Capital city. Thanks to a well paved road we’ll arrive to the slopes of this magnificent glacier covered volcano  [ Read More ]

Its perfect conic shape might be appreciated and inviting at Quito’s horizon. Experience the beauty of one of the highlights in the legendary “Avenue of Volcanoes”, as Alexander Von Humboldt rightly named this part of the Ecuadorian Andes. We’ll take the Pan-American Highway southwards amid a series of small villages, grazing lands and farming fields  [ Read More ]

DAY 1 QUITO-SAQUISILI MARKET-BAÑOS Leave Quito early in the morning to the famous indigenous market of Saquisilí, a magnificent muster of the abundance of agricultural products and ethnic richness of Ecuador. Continue to the town of Baños de Agua Santa for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Route of Waterfalls and do an optional hike  [ Read More ]

DAY 1 QUITO-BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA After breakfast we’ll start our way through the so called “Avenue of Volcanoes”. We’ll stop at the Salasca indigenous handicraft market before we continue down on the eastern slopes of the Andes through the waterfalls route in the gateways to the Amazon Basin. A cable car adventure and a  [ Read More ]