Highlights of Ecuador Tour
The travel itinerary of this tour in Ecuador is very complete and diverse and includes visits to the Cuyabeno Amazon Reserve, the colonial city of Cuenca and the amazing country side of the fertile valley of Vilcabamba!
Because you travel partly with public transportation, this tour offers a good value for money and time. The other advantage is that your travel experience will be more realistic when you travel with the Ecuadorians, instead of just past them in a bus full with other tourists.
The new national slogan to promote Ecuador is “Ama la Vida!” Freely this will translate in: “Ecuador, love and enjoy live”. A visit to this fertile country, filled with natural and cultural highlights will make you understand why Ecuadorians love their country and invite you to do the same.
Short Travel itinerary:
Day 1 – Friday: Arriving in Quito and private transfer to hotel.
Day 2 – Private transfer to terminal and public bus to Baños (3.5h)
Day 3 – Free day in Baños (optional to bike the very scenic road towards Puyo
Day 4 – Public bus to Riobamba (2h) and taxi to hotel (optional, climb the Chimborazo)
Day 5 – Taxi to terminal and public bus to Cuenca (6.5h), taxi to hotel
Day 6 – Free day in Cuenca (optional to visit the amazing Parque Cajas)
Day 7 – Direct shuttle service (5h) to Vilcabamba (Hostel Izhcayluma)
Day 8 – Free day in Vilcabamba (optional to visit Parque Podocarpus)
Day 9 – Free day in Vilcabamba (optional, hike or horseback riding tour)
Day 10 – Taxi to Loja, flight to Quito and private transfer to hotel
Day 11 – A short flight to Lago Agrio and start of Cuyabeno Tour
Day 12 – Cuyabeno Amazon Tour
Day 13 – Cuyabeno Amazon Tour
Day 14 – Cuyabeno – Lago Agrio – Quito – Otavalo
Day 15 – Visit the famous the famous Saturday market, public bus to Quito and taxi to hotel
Day 16 – End of tour, but
Optional: to extend this tour with a 5 or 8 days visit to the Galapagos Islands.
Day 1: Friday, arriving in Quito.

If you arrive early in Quito it is also recommendable to visit the Ecuator. You can visit the iconic French monument, but the actual ecuator goes through the interesting Inti Nan Museum 300 m next to the monument.
Day 2: Quito - Baños (1800 m)

A good spot to observe the volcano is from the swing of “Casa del Arbol”, a small tree house on the top of a hill, at a two hour hike from the center of Baños.
Day 3: Baños

For who wants to do something more active, it is a recommendable tour to bike the road downhill from Baños to Puno along the Pastaza River. Along the way you will pass by steep cliffs, several waterfalls (inclusive el Pailon del Diablo) and will also be treated with great views over the Pastaza River and the edge of the Amazon Rainforest!
Day 4: Baños - Riobamba (Chimborazo)

After arriving it is optional possible to join a tour and make a short walk over the slopes of the Chimborazo. You drive to an altitude of 4800m above sea level and then you can walk by yourself the last 200m to a refuge at 5000m altitude. On the way you have great views and possibilities to see the most elegant Andean camel, the Vicuña.
Adventures people can choose to drive their way down on a high quality mountain bike. This option allows you to stop anywhere you want and appreciate more of your surroundings.
If you like nature and hiking, please check the following link: Trekking options in Ecuador
Day 5: Riobamba - Cuenca

Day 6: Cuenca (Parque Cajas)

For the evenings, Cuenca has many restaurants and a good nightlife scene.
Day 7: Cuenca - Vilcabamba

Day 8: Vilcabamba

Day 9: Vilcabamba (optional: Parque Podocarpus)

Day 10: Vilcabamba - Loja - Quito
Day 11: Quito - Lago Agrio - Cuyabeno Amazon Tour

Private transport will take you and the other guests of the Jamu Lodge to the entrance of Cuyabeno. You will have lunch on your way. Then you take a motorized canoe down the Cuyabeno River for two and a half hours. During the canoe ride you will get a first look at the jungle and will be able to observe different kind of birds like Caciques, Oropendolas, Greater Anis and the prehistoric bird “Hoatzin”. You may also be able to see a variety of monkeys and other jungle animals, depending on the time and weather conditions. You will arrive at the “Cabañas JAMU” around 4:30pm. At that time you will be shown to your rooms and you can relax a little. After a siesta we will leave the camp for a swim in the lagoon and to watch a beautiful sunset in the middle of the Laguna Grande. You will then return to the camp for dinner, and can finish your first day in the jungle relaxing in a hammock or having a drink at the bar.
The Cuyabeno Amazon Wildlife Reserve is situated in the north-eastern Amazon region of Ecuador, between the San Miguel and Aguarico rivers, and close to the Colombian and Peruvian borders. The reserve is made up of 605,000 hectares of primary forest, rivers and lakes, and is home to an incredible variety of animal and plant life. Five different ethnic groups live within the reserve: the Siona, Secoya, Cofán, Kichwas and Shuar, each of which has its own culture and language.
You stay at the Jamu Lodge or a similar facility that offers an endless possibility of activities. From educational hiking to trekking through the Terra Firme forest, experiencing the muddy swamps or the Hormiga River, swimming in the lagoon, watching the pink river dolphins, bird and wildlife watching and visiting the native community, the list goes on. A Bilingual guide is always along for the activities to answer all your questions. In addition, guests can relax at the hammock lounge, or enjoy a beer or cocktail at the bar. Jamu does not use electricity all the time; candles are in use part of the time, in order to preserve energy and the jungle. There is a small place were batteries can be reloaded as well.
Day 12: Cuyabeno Amazon Tour

Day 13: Cuyabeno Amazon Tour


Day 14: Cuyabeno - Lago Agrio - Quito -Otavalo

Otavalo is one of the very few places in Latin America where its citizens are proud to be indigenous and with reason. Already for thousands of years the people of Otavalo are known for their special high quality weaving techniques and commercial skills. The Inca’s supposedly used their weaving skills and now the Otavalenios have shops in several places over the world, even in New York.
Day 15: Saturday market and public bus to Quito

Late in the afternoon you take another colorful public bus back to Quito (2 hours).
Day 16: Quito - Home

Note: The description of the excursions in the jungle are a general indication of a program. They might be slightly different depending on the location where you stay and weather conditions.
Option 1: To extend this tour with a trip to the Amazing Galapagos Islands: Galapagos Tour Selection.
Option 2: To do this whole tour with private transport and your own driver(s), this will cost you 390 US$ p.p. extra.
Inclusive and recommended to bring on this tour:
This Ecuador tour includes:
– 16 Nights with breakfast, 13 of which you sleep in well located mid range hotels and hostels and 3 nights in basic lodges in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve including full pension.
– A return flight to Lago Agrio and back
– Several interesting excursions in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.
– All private transfers in Quito, except on day 16 upon returning from Otavalo
– Shared shuttle service from Cuenca to Loja. (when enough interest, even directly from Cuenca to Izhcayluma inVilcabamba).
– A private taxi ride from Vilcabamba to Loja airport (1.5h,arranged by Izhcayluma)
– A flight from Loja to Quito
– Private transport from Quito to Otavalo
– A complete day to day itinerary with all information you need (about transport) and more.
– A 24h emergency number from some-one who lives in Ecuador, speaks English and Spanish and on request Dutch
The price doesn’t include:
– Optional excursions;
– International airport tax (41 US$ p.p. depending on your flight)
– International flights
– A combination of public transportation and taxi’s during the tour (in total about 50 US$ p.p.)
– Entrée’s, (exit) taxes, food and other personal expenses;
– Tips (in restaurants, for guides, cooks, drivers and more) during the tour
– Additional price for one person a room (450 US$)
– All things not mentioned in the tour above
– International banking costs
– Obligated travel and health insurance
Optional: it is also possible to travel during the whole tour with private transport. For each part of the journey we will find you the right transport (private taxi, auto, Mini Van, Pick-Up) to travel from A to B. The extra costs are 390 US$ p.p. for the whole tour.
We recommend you to check the local visa and vaccination obligations.
Also important for our stay in the jungle is the following information:
– If you have special requests towards the accommodation: Twin rooms/double bed room
– Rubber boot (welly) size
– Special food requests (if vegetarian please specify if fish, eggs, etc are ok)
We recommend you to bring at least with on this tour:
– Valid identification and travel documents and when needed a valid visa
– The information of your travel insurance
– Valid vaccinations, ask you countries health centre for more information
– A good backpack, or big sport-bag, preferable no hard suitcase
– A comfortable day backpack
– Good shoes
– Sandals (maybe also a pair of tennis shoes)
– A warm jacket/ fleece
– A rain jacket/ poncho
– Two warm sweaters
– Three light trousers (cotton or linen)
– 4 T-shirts
– 2 long-sleeved shirts
– 2 shorts
– A flashlight for each person, incl. spare batteries
– Biodegradable soap and shampoo (they sell handmade soap at little cost at agency in the jungle)
– Small dollar bills (or try to collect them in Quito)
– Something to be able to back-up your photos
– Protection against the sun and mosquito’s (you can also buy locally)
Be aware that Ecuador is not a Third World Country anymore, so most common things are available. If you do have any doubts about what to bring, please feel free to ask us.
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