Crossing from the north to south of Ecuador!
Antoine’s word over this trip
This 14-day self-guided tour, without a guide or driver but with your own rental vehicle equipped with a GPS, will allow you to have a beautiful and broad overview of Ecuador. Between Otavalo and Guayaquil, with your vehicle, you will travel to spectacular sites such as the magnificent Cotopaxi Park and Chimborazo Reserve.
Besides, at the heart of your trip to Ecuador, you will share unique moments with the local population thanks to the discovery of the Andean and Amazonian Kichwa population. In the middle of your stay, you will stop in the Amazon where you will observe unique biodiversity that is radically different from what you have seen until then. Keep in mind that you will need to be patient! The journeys are sometimes long and can be adventurous without knowing the destination … But rest assured, you will always find your way in the end!
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer-in to Quito | Quito, free day | Quito > Cuicocha lake> Otavalo | Otavalo > Cayambe > Cotopaxi National Park |
| Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 |
| Cotopaxi National Park > Tigua | Tigua > Lagune Quilotoa > Baños | Baños > Puyo > Tena > Amazon rainforest | Amazon rainforest |
| Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 |
| Amazon rainforest > Tena (option rafting) > Riobamba | Riobamba > Chimborazo reserve > Salinas de Guaranda > Riobamba | Riobamba > Ingapirca > Cuenca | Visit Cuenca |
| Day 13 | Day 14 | ||
| Cuenca > Guayaquil | Departure transfer |
Tour highlights :
– Autotour in Ecuador with charming accommodation.
– Visit the colonial cities of Quito and Cuenca at your own pace.
– Extraordinary natural sites: Chimborazo reserve and Cotopaxi National Park as well as the Cuicocha and Quilotoa lakes.
– 2 nights in a Amazon rainforest charming lodge.
Explore in more detail :
– The rate decreases as the group size increases proportionally. The estimated price of this adventure is from $— to $—. The final cost of this trip depends on the way we personalize it specially for you. The exact price will be provided in your personalized quote.
Day 1 : Transfer-in to Quito
Arrival transfer to Quito, first night in Ecuador.
Meal
No
Visit
No
Hike
No
transport
1h00
Day 2 : Quito free day
Visit Quito on your own. We recommend Churches, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, El Panecillo, and museums.
Meal
b
Visit
0h00
Hike
0h00
transport
0h00
Day 3 : Quito > Otavalo > Cuicocha > Otavalo
After collecting the rental vehicle, you will drive to Otavalo town (2h / 2h30 drive). You can visit the Otavalo market where you will find local crafts. You will then head towards the Cuicocha Lagoon which is one of the three craters of the Cotacachi volcano. You can, if you wish, do the tour of this lagoon (4h / 5h) approximately.
Meal
b
Visit
2h00
Hike
1h00 à 5h00
transport
3h30
Day 4 : Otavalo > Peguche > Cayambe > Cotopaxi National Park
In the morning you will meet the former “mayor” of the Peguche Kichwa community. You will visit an Otavalo handicraft factory. You will then take the road to Cotopaxi Park and after having traversed the path of the volcanoes, a hacienda at the gates of the park will be waiting for you to rest there.
Meal
b
Visit
2h00
Hike
transport
4h
Day 5 : Cotopaxi National Park > Tigua
In the morning, you will explore the Cotopaxi National Park. You can climb to the José Ribas refuge at 4,864m, which is higher than “the roof of Europe”. You will take the road back to the village of Tigua where a rural inn will be waiting for you.
Meal
bd
Visit
0h00
Hike
1h00 à 4h00
transport
3h00
Day 6 : Tigua > Quilotoa > Baños
Transfer of approximately 45 minutes to reach the Quilotoa lagoon. This lagoon is a (sleeping) volcano crater that you can walk around (4-5h). You will then take the road to the town of Baños, a spa town where restaurants and bars will delight you.
Meal
bd
Visit
0h00
Hike
2h00 à 5h00
transport
4h00
Day 7 : Baños > Pailón del Diablo > Tena > Amazon rainforest
On the way to the Amazon, you will stop at the “Pailón del Diablo” waterfall, a waterfall that is impressive for its strength. Next, head to the Amazon at a lodge in the Tena region.
Meal
bd
Visit
2h00
Hike
1h00
transport
3h45
Day 8 : Amazon rainforest
You will enjoy the activities planned by the lodge in which you will be staying.
Meal
bld
Visit
3h00
Hike
3h00
transport
0h00
Day 9 : Amazon rainforest > Tena > Riobamba
If you wish, you can go rafting in Tena before heading back to Riobamba city.
Meal
bl
Visit
0h00
Hike
0h00
transport
5h00
Day 10 : Riobamba > Chimborazo > Salinas de Guaranda > Riobamba
Visit the Chimborazo reserve (6,310m), you can climb to the refuges (5,000m). In the continuation, you will visit a semi-autonomous community not far from Chimborazo. You will spend a second night in your accommodation in Riobamba.
Meal
b
Visit
1h30
Hike
1h30
transport
3h30
Day 11 : Riobamba > Alausí (Nariz del Diablo) > Ingapirca > Cuenca
Departure to the south of the country, you will get to know the charming and isolated Alausi town. You will continue to the most beautiful Inca site in Ecuador -Ingapirca-, finally arriving at the most beautiful city in the country, Cuenca.
Meal
b
Visit
3h00
Hike
0h00
transport
4h30
Day 12 : Visit de Cuenca
Visit one of the most beautiful towns in Ecuador. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we recommend that you visit the churches, the flower market, the museums, the Panama Hat making -Which is Ecuadorian- and go to the Turi viewpoint.
* the visit to Cuenca should be avoided on Sunday. Indeed, many sites are closed to the public that day.
Meal
b
Visit
1h00 à 6h00
Hike
0h00
transport
0h00 à 0h30
Day 13 : Cuenca > Guayaquil
Transfer to Guayaquil where you will drop off the car and visit the Malecón (estuary) and the typical and festive district of Las Peñas.
Meal
b
Visit
2h00
Hike
0h00
transport
3h30
Day 14 : Departure transfer
Transfer with driver to Guayaquil International Airport.
Meal
b
Visit
2h00
Hike
0h00
transport
4h00
B: Breakfast
L: Luch
D: Dinner
Rate Includes
– All transfers, vehicles, drivers and their costs and fees.
– Accommodation
– National-licensed guides as indicated in the guidance part.
– Meals (4 breakfasts / 2 Lunches / 3 Dinners).
– Entrances to sites, museums and national parks specified in the program.
– Licenses (ITK travel agency and our guides and drivers).
Rate Doesn’t include
– International flights
– Individual equipment
– Visits indicated as “Optional” or “at an additional cost.
– Drinks in bars, hotels, restaurants or villages.
– Not indicated meals
– Tips
«Comfort » category : charming and comfortable accommodation 2/3*** category. Clean and offering an adapted-to-European and American customer service.
« Superior » category : charming accommodation 3/4**** category. Top of the range quality infrastructure and personalized service. Spacious and tasteful rooms.
« Luxe » category: top of the range accommodations 4/5***** categoryoffering an irreproachable quality of service. The rooms are luxurious and spacious. .
– Self-drive tour with your own vehicle from day 3. With the exceptions indicated above, all visits will be -without a guide- by your own means.
=> vehicle type Hyundai Tucson, KIA Sportage, Grand Vitara SZ, or equivalent.
– Transfert : arrival and departure transfers included. Transfers are private with a Spanish-speaking driver.
– Quito : the Quito visit on day 2 will be free. The rental vehicle will not yet be available.
– Amazon rainforest : transport and group visits with a local bilingual English-speaking naturalist guide.
– Physical: since the tour consists of a few easy steps, there are no physical constraints. We still advise you to go to your doctor to prevent any physical problems due to the altitude.
– Technical: no technical level is necessary. You will not have climbing or ice climbing. We recommend walking shoes.
Clothing :
-1 or 2 light walking trousers
-1 or 2 warm walking trousers
-2 Fleece jackets
-1 breathable warm jacket (gore tex type)
-1 waterproof jacket (type kway)
– light t-shirts
– hike shoes
– casual shoes
-1 pair of gloves for high altitude walks
-1 warm hat for high altitude walks
– beach clothing -if necessary-
– cap
Additional :
-1 water bottle
– sunglasses
– solar cream
– hiking bag (between 25 to 45L)
– hike sticks
– camera
– binoculars
– Transfers and visits times are indicative.
– For every not included meal, foresee between $5 -popular- and $50 -gourmet- per person.