Why Visit Ecuador?
Ecuador literally means “Equator” — the country is named after the line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Have you ever stood in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time? That’s a true bucket-list moment! In this Ecuador travel itinerary, you’ll explore some of the country’s most iconic landscapes and experiences. Ecuador is also famous for its four “worlds,” all within one country: the Galápagos Islands, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Jungle, and the Pacific Coast. On the G Adventures Tour we didn’t quite make it to the Galápagos Islands or the scenic Pacific Coast. Don’t worry – I have a hunch I will be back soon to explore more and report back.
Why Choose G Adventures for Ecuador?
G Adventures is a global travel company offering small-group tours and immersive travel experiences. Since 1990, they’ve focused on responsible, sustainable tourism that connects travelers with local cultures, communities, and environments. Throughout this itinerary, you’ll see how G Adventures brings adventure, authenticity, and impact to every trip.
9-Day Ecuador Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Quito City Tour and Equator Museum
Your Ecuador itinerary begins and ends in Quito, the stunning UNESCO World Heritage City nestled high in the Andes. Most travelers fly into Quito International Airport (UIO), with many flights from the U.S. arriving late at night — mine landed close to midnight!
Travel days can be unpredictable, so I highly recommend booking a pre-night stay before your official G Adventures tour begins. It’s worth the peace of mind — and for only about $75, G Adventures makes this easy to add.
Travel Agent Tip: The Quito City Tour is an optional experience available to travelers who book the pre-night package. It’s also available as a post trip option. Although, I found it far more enjoyable as a pre-trip add on.
Why Book a Pre-Night Stay in Quito
If your flight arrives late like mine, booking the pre-night package ensures you don’t miss the Quito City Tour. It also allows for you to attend your group’s first welcome meeting with your Chief Experience Officer (CEO). I wouldn’t say attending this meeting is mandatory – but it definitely helps get you in the right mindset and be informed about your itinerary from day one!
Top Sights on the Quito City Tour
La Virgen de El Panecillo (Virgin of Quito Statue)
Our tour began at La Virgen de El Panecillo, an aluminum statue designed by Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras and completed in 1976. Standing 41 meters tall, the statue overlooks Quito from El Panecillo Hill and offers panoramic city views. On a clear day, you can even spot Cotopaxi Volcano in the distance — a breathtaking sight!
Basilica del Voto Nacional
Next, we visited the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest neo-Gothic church in the Americas. Construction began in 1887, and legend has it the world will end when it’s finished — so it remains “unfinished” to this day!
La Compañía Church
Continuing on to La Compañía de Jesús, is one of the most photographed landmarks in Quito. The interior gleams with gold leaf covering its altars, ceilings, and columns — a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.
San Francisco Square
Finally, we explored San Francisco Square, one of Quito’s oldest plazas, dating back to the 16th century. The square is home to the San Francisco Church and Monastery and often buzzes with local artisans, musicians, and weekend markets — the perfect spot to soak up the city’s historic charm.
Day 2: Otavalo: Indigenous Artisan Markets and Kawsaymi Lunch
Discovering the Otavalo Indigenous Market
After a day of exploring Quito, I couldn’t wait to leave the city behind and head into the stunning Andean Highlands of Ecuador. Our destination? The Otavalo Market — the largest outdoor indigenous artisan market in South America.
This vibrant marketplace is a feast for the senses. Stalls overflow with handwoven textiles, colorful ponchos, blankets, jewelry, and traditional artwork crafted by local artisans. You could easily spend an entire day wandering through Otavalo’s maze of colors and craftsmanship and still feel like there’s more to see.
💡 Travel Tip: Haggling is not only accepted here — it’s encouraged! Bargaining with vendors is part of the fun and a great way to connect with the locals.
Lunch & Cultural Experience at Kawsaymi
After exploring the market, we visited Kawsaymi, a family-run restaurant offering an authentic Ecuadorian cultural and culinary experience. We enjoyed traditional live music, toured a working Andean kitchen, and visited their organic garden, where they grow all the fresh ingredients used in their meals. The flavors were just as rich as the culture surrounding them.
Historic Stay at Hacienda Pinsaquí
Our day ended at Hacienda Pinsaquí, a beautifully preserved estate that dates back to the 18th century. This historic hacienda once hosted Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan military and political leader, during his South American liberation campaigns. It’s also where the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Ecuador and Colombia was signed — a truly iconic piece of Ecuadorian history!
Walking through the halls of Hacienda Pinsaquí felt like stepping back in time, surrounded by antique furnishings, lush gardens, and the quiet charm of the Andes.
Day 3: Tahuantinsuyo Weaving Workshop, Bizcochos & Papallacta
Leaving Otavalo behind, we visited the Tahuantinsuyo Weaving Workshop, a living testament to Ecuador’s rich textile heritage. Miguel Andrango, a master weaver, and his family have been practicing traditional backstrap weaving for generations. Their workshop, nestled in the Agato community near Otavalo, offers visitors a rare glimpse into this ancient craft. We observed the meticulous process: from gathering and carding wool to spinning and dyeing using natural ingredients like indigo, cochineal, and walnut husks. The family employs eco-friendly methods, using native plants to clean wool in nearby streams, ensuring both sustainability and authenticity in their work. Each piece is unique, reflecting the deep cultural significance and artistry passed down through generations. If you’re in Otavalo, a visit to Tahuantinsuyo is a must for an authentic cultural experience.
On our way to Papallacta we drove through Cayambe – famous for their traditional Ecuadorian biscuits called Bizcochos! In Cayambe, bizcochos are traditionally enjoyed with queso de hoja (leaf-wrapped fresh cheese) and manjar de leche (sweet caramel spread), often accompanied by hot chocolate or coffee. Some bakeries make over 1,500 bizcochos a day! I grabbed a bag of about eight and saved them as the perfect bus snack.
Papallacta – a high altitude sanctuary tucked between the Cayambe and Antisana Volcanoes at about 11,000 feet in elevation! Although Papallacta is best known for its thermal pools, it’s also surrounded by incredible hiking trails—making it the perfect place to hike by day and soak by night. We stayed at Termas de Papallacta, where the hot pools were just steps from our room! Guests visiting for the day can enjoy the public pools, while hotel guests have the added perk of private pools right outside their rooms.
Day 4: El Quetzal Protected Forest & Tena
It was hard to say goodbye to Papallacta, but the promise of lunch, birdwatching, and a nature walk in El Quetzal Protected Forest made it a little easier! El Quetzal is a family project orientated on the conservation of the cloud forest! This 22 acre reserve has been reforested with native plants, and has become a refuge for birds amphibians, reptiles, insects and mammals! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about preserving the forest, and thanks to him we were able to spot some truly amazing birds! After our delicious trout lunch we headed to Tena, known as the gateway to the Amazon!
One of the most anticipated parts of the trip for me was staying at the Itamandi Eco Lodge. To get there, we loaded our luggage into a motorized canoe and cruised down the Arajuno River—it felt straight out of a movie! Arriving at the lodge was breathtaking: everything was open-air, surrounded by lush greenery, with our rooms perched right by the river. Sleeping with only screens between us and the sounds of the jungle made for the best rest of the entire trip. That evening, our guide Octavio led us on a night walk where the forest came alive—we spotted spiders, a poison dart frog, crickets, moths, and more spiders! The Amazon at night is truly something unforgettable.
Day 5: Exploring the Amazon Jungle in Ecuador
Morning Wildlife Adventure on the Arajuno River
Our first full day in the Ecuadorian Amazon Jungle started bright and early with a canoe ride along the Arajuno Riverto a saladero — a natural clay lick where animals like parrots, monkeys, and tapirs gather to consume mineral-rich soil.
We watched vibrant green parrots and parakeets perch along the cliffs before being startled by a predator, sending them flying off — an unforgettable glimpse into Amazon wildlife at its most natural.
Visiting AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue Center
After breakfast, we headed to the AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue, a rehabilitation center in the Amazon dedicated to animals rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking. Unlike a zoo, AmaZOOnico focuses on preparing animals to return to the wild.
Most residents are “lifers,” meaning they can’t survive outside captivity — but they live freely and safely within the sanctuary.
Run primarily by passionate volunteers, the center houses incredible species like howler monkeys, parrots, toucans, peccaries, and anacondas. Our guide, Jonas, led us through the forested enclosures, teaching us about the center’s vital conservation efforts.
Learn more about AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue here
Afternoon Cultural Experience with a Kichwa Village
After a refreshing dip back at our Amazon eco-lodge, we joined our local guide, Octavio, for a visit to his family’s Kichwa community down the river.
We learned how to harvest yucca, carry woven baskets on our heads, and prepare traditional dishes like piranha, catfish, bananas, and potatoes. I even tried a Kichwa delicacy — a live grub! (Don’t worry, it’s a rite of passage!)
This immersive Amazon cultural experience offered a rare look into daily life along the river. Watching the village children play barefoot soccer as the sun set over the rainforest was the perfect end to the day.
Sunset Canoe Ride on the Amazon River
We closed out the day with a breathtaking Amazon River sunset cruise, reflecting on the people, wildlife, and nature that make the Ecuadorian Amazon such an unforgettable destination.
Day 6 & 7: Baños
Leaving Papallacta was bittersweet, but leaving the Amazon was even harder—I truly wished I could have stayed longer! That second night at Itamandi Lodge brought a torrential downpour, causing the river to rise 21 inches overnight. Our canoe ride back to the bus was much smoother since we no longer had to navigate the shallow areas that had caused us to get stuck on previous days. On those earlier trips, our guides even had to jump out and paddle us to deeper waters!
Our final stop on the tour was Baños, Ecuador’s bustling city of “baths,” known for its thermal pools popular with both locals and tourists. Going from the serene Itamandi Lodge to the lively streets of Baños was quite the change! Traffic turned our 30-minute drive into 2.5 hours, but our amazing CEO, Elmer, ran out to grab a pack of beer to make the delay more bearable—cheers to that! We finally arrived at the Sangay Hotel and Spa and ventured out for some much-needed comfort food at a local pizza joint.
The next day was a free day, and I treated myself to a Swedish massage and exfoliation for just $40—total vacation bliss. I also explored the city center for some last-minute shopping before our group met up for the Baños trifecta: swinging at the famous La Casa del Árbol, riding a cable car across a canyon to see waterfalls up close, and finishing at the Pailón del Diablo. Pailón del Diablo, or “Devil’s Cauldron,” is a must-see in Baños and was named one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls by Planet Discovery.
This jam-packed day was the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and awe-inspiring scenery—an unforgettable way to wrap up our Ecuador journey.
Day 8: Cotopaxi National Park
Our last full day in Ecuador was highlighted by our long-awaited visit to Cotopaxi National Park. The dramatic Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, standing at 19,347 feet! And here I was thinking hiking Colorado 14’ers was impressive. Its name comes from the Quechua language: “coto” (neck) + “paxi” (moon), meaning “Neck of the Moon.” The Indigenous Quechua people consider Cotopaxi sacred, and it features prominently in local legends.
Exploring with a Quechua guide brought deep meaning to our visit. Our Quechua guide shared the “pagos a la tierra” ceremony—an offering to Pachamama, or Mother Earth. The ceremonies involve leaving small offerings of food and perfume at sacred sites near the volcano. I experienced a wave of gratitude and joy in that moment that I can’t quite describe. Perhaps it was because our trip was coming to an end, or maybe it was truly the connection I felt to Pachamama. Either way, the experience was emotional and humbling.
Our guide emphasized the importance of bringing good energy into the park. The day before, Cotopaxi had been completely hidden behind clouds, and some of our group worried we wouldn’t see it. But as we drove closer to Laguna Limpiopungo, the peak gradually revealed itself, finally showing off in all its majesty. The moment felt absolutely magical.
And of course, I had to rock my Cotopaxi hiking hat. Just a Colorado Granola Girl living her dream!
Ecuador Travel Tips and Final Thoughts
I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel on this incredible G Adventures trip. Connecting with fellow travel agents, our amazing GPS Jonas, and our incredible CEO, Elmer is what it’s all about!
As a travel agent, confidence in the experiences you book for your clients is everything. I now truly understand what it means to be on a G Adventures Tour firsthand.
When it comes to planning a dream vacation or bucket-list trip, you want to feel confident that your needs and desires will be met. This is why booking with a travel agent is so important. Every tour company has its own mission, goals, and style, and finding the perfect match makes all the difference. Travel agents are far from a thing of the past. In fact, in this post-pandemic travel era, we are thriving—helping clients craft the unforgettable trips they’ve been dreaming of.
While Ecuador offers an incredible mix of adventure, culture, and nature, travelers looking for European charm might enjoy planning a similar adventure in Portugal – check out my full Portugal Itinerary for inspiration!
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