Highlights
- Get up close with one of the highest active volcanoes on earth
- Explore the incredible landscapes around Baños
- Learn to make Ecuadorian dishes during a cooking class
- Enjoy quiet days and beautiful sunsets on the Pacific coast
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Quito & Cooking Class | Quito |
Day 2 | Tour Quito & Mitad del Mundo | Quito |
Day 3 | Explore Cotopaxi National Park | Baños |
Day 4 | Discover Baños | Baños |
Day 5 | Visit Pailón del Diablo Waterfall & Rainforest Hike | Archidona |
Day 6 | See Ushpayacu Waterfalls, Chocolate Making | Archidona |
Day 7 | Soak in the Papallacta Hot Springs | Quito |
Day 8 | Take a City Tour of Guayaquil | Ayampe |
Day 9 | Enjoy a Free Day in Ayampe | Ayampe |
Day 10 | Learn to Surf in Ayampe | Ayampe |
Day 11 | Visit Isla de los Pajaros & Cocoa Plantation | Guayaquil |
Day 12 | Free Morning in Guayaquil & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Cooking Class

Welcome to Quito! You'll arrive at the airport and meet your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. After taking some time to get settled in, explore the historic center on a guided tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site stands at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 m) and welcomes visitors with its picturesque plazas between mountain peaks.
Take a walk down La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in the city. You'll visit Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace and El Sagrario Church are located. Visit the Monastery of San Francisco (circa 1535), the oldest church in Ecuador. Finally, drive up to the city's highest viewpoint, El Panecillo hill, for a spectacular view of Quito. In the evening, you'll head to a cooking class inside a colonial house in the historic center. Learn to prepare various traditional Ecuadorian dishes, then enjoy the meal.
Day 2: Tour Quito & Mitad del Mundo

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel this morning and take you on a walking tour of the city. Stroll through its narrow streets and visit some of the city's most important churches, such as the Baroque La Compañía, with its incredible gold-covered interior, and the neo-Gothic La Basílica.
In the afternoon, you'll visit the equatorial monument known as Mitad del Mundo. It's located just 16 miles (26 km) north of the capital city in the spot where French scientists determined the position of the central line many years ago. You'll have the chance to stand on the line of the equator and strike a pose with one foot in each hemisphere! Visit the adjacent museum, featuring a planetarium, cocoa and chocolate exhibits, and a small-scale model of Quito.
Day 3: Explore Cotopaxi National Park

Day 4: Discover Baños

Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Visit Pailón del Diablo Waterfall & Rainforest Hike

Day 6: See Ushpayacu Waterfalls, Chocolate Making

Day 7: Soak in the Papallacta Hot Springs

Day 8: Take a City Tour of Guayaquil

Take a domestic flight from Quito to Guayaquil today. Take time to explore Ecuador's largest city. At the Parque Histórico, discover some native species, such as sloths, monkeys, and parrots, in a park recreating the natural mangrove habitat. The next stop could be the Cementerio General, an early 20th-century cemetery where artistic tombs are reminders of the prospering cocoa trade of that time.
Finally, you could walk the historic cobblestone streets of Puerto Santa Ana and the busy boardwalk Malecón 2000 along the Guayas River. Your driver will take you to Ayampe in the evening.
Day 9: Enjoy a Free Day in Ayampe

Day 10: Learn to Surf in Ayampe

After a relaxing morning at your hotel, it's time for a surfing lesson. Regardless of your experience level, you'll have a great time learning to catch a wave with an expert instructor. After some free time in the afternoon, enjoy a seafood dinner at one of Ayampe's restaurants.
Day 11: Visit Isla de los Pajaros & Cocoa Plantation

After the boat tour, visit a cocoa plantation, El Castillo, to learn about the techniques and processes that have made Ecuadorian cocoa one of the highest quality cocoas in the world.
Day 12: Free Morning in Guayaquil & Depart
