Things to do in Ecuador
Day Trips from Quito21 optionsQuito City Tour10 optionsQuito Walking Tour20 optionsCuenca City Tour5 optionsCotopaxi Volcano Tours9 optionsQuito Airport Taxi12 optionsCotopaxi National Park Tours23 optionsExtreme Sports17 optionsMindo Cloud Forest Tours6 optionsWhite Water Rafting7 optionsQuito Volcano Hike12 options
The unmissables
Most booked
Cotopaxi from Quito: Volcano Hike, Limpiopungo Lagoon & Refuge★ 4.90 (1,548) · 12h
Top rated
Quito gastronomic walking tour: Tastings and colonial churches★ 4.95 (1,315) · 3h 30m
Best value
Baños Day Trip from Quito: Casa del Árbol Swing & Devil’s Cauldron★ 4.95 (772) · 14h
Recommended (7)
Quilotoa Day Trip from Quito: Lagoon Hike & Tigua Art Stop★ 4.90 (662) · 11hUS$ 59View ›
Quito City Tour: Double-decker bus with bilingual guide★ 4.58 (597) · 2hUS$ 15View ›
Private Quito City Tour: Teleferico, Basilica & Equator Line★ 4.95 (593) · 8hUS$ 155View ›
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Tour from Quito: Hummingbirds & Cable Car★ 4.86 (560) · 8h–9hUS$ 123View ›
Cotopaxi: Horseback Ride & Hike Day Trip, Non-Touristy Route★ 4.97 (543) · 9h 30mUS$ 130View ›
Otavalo Market & Peguche Falls Day Trip from Quito with Local Music★ 4.82 (453) · 12hUS$ 69View ›
Cotopaxi Volcano Full Day Tour: All Park Entrances Included★ 4.96 (452) · 12hUS$ 69View ›Top rated (10)
Baños: Cashaurco Canyoning Adventure with Lunch & PhotosYou’ll start your day in Baños gearing up for canyoning at Cashaurco—with a local guide who knows every twist of the river. Jump into clear pools, zipline over gorges, abseil down rock faces and laugh with your group through every splash. Afterward, warm up with a fresh lunch (vegan options too) before heading back to town still buzzing from it all.
Baños ATV Rental: Self-Guided Trails & EquipmentYou rent an ATV by the hour and ride unguided trails around Baños with fuel included. Pick your own route, your own pace, and your own return time. The vehicles are new and maintained, the rates are fair, and you're responsible for getting yourself back safely.Is it for me?Right for riders who want to explore Baños' trails at their own pace without a guide or group schedule. You handle the riding and navigation yourself, which is what makes solo adventure possible.
Rafting in Baños: Big waves and rapidsRafting on the Alto Pastaza river in Baños is a five-hour activity where you paddle through big waves and rapids with a live guide in English or Spanish. The tour includes a stop on the riverbank to rest and refresh, private transportation to and from the river, a wetsuit, shoes, helmet and life vest, plus photos and videos of the run. Children from age 7 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you want to paddle hard through real rapids with a group — the big waves and the pace mean you're working the whole time, which is what makes the adrenaline real. It's built for people who are fit enough to handle five hours of paddling and want the river itself to be the challenge, not a guided tour watching from the boat.
3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: Huecas Street EatingA 3-hour guided food tour in Quito that takes you into huecas—family-owned eateries where locals eat—to taste dishes and hear the stories behind them straight from the people who cook. The guide leads a small group on foot through neighborhoods where the food is real and the payment goes directly to the kitchen, building an understanding of Quito's culture through what people actually eat every day.Is it for me?You order and pay at each stop as you go, which means you're learning to navigate Quito's food culture the way someone who lives here does—making real choices instead of following a preset menu. This suits anyone who wants to eat like a local and understand a place through the people who feed it, rather than collect a tasting experience.
Quito: Private Day Tour, Middle of the World & Cable CarYou’ll wander Quito’s historic center with a local guide, sample Ecuadorian chocolate, ride a cable car above volcanoes, and stand right on the Equator line. Expect warm smiles from locals and small surprises along the way—like balancing an egg or catching your breath at 4,000 meters. This private day trip from Quito lets you set your own pace and soak it all in.
Guayaquil Highlights Tour: Iguana Park, Malecon 2000 & Las PeñasYou’ll wander among free-roaming iguanas in Seminario Park, take in neoclassical buildings near Administration Square, stroll along Malecon 2000 by the river, and climb through colorful Las Peñas old town—all with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Expect laughter, local flavors, and moments you’ll want to remember long after you leave Guayaquil.
Quito Old Town: Walking Tour with Church History & Local Food TastingsYou walk through Quito's colonial center visiting four major churches — the golden Jesuit baroque, the oldest church with South America's first brewery underneath, the Gothic Basilica, and the Independence Plaza where the city's history is written in the buildings around you. Local food tastings are included, and if you visit Monday through Friday, you climb to the roof of Ecuador's first university for a view that ties the whole morning together.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Quito's colonial architecture and history through the buildings themselves, not just walk past them — the churches are the story, and the food tastings ground it in the city's everyday life. The walk covers cobblestones and involves climbing, so plan for steady legs and comfortable shoes.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Birdwatching, Waterfalls & Butterfly FarmYou drive from Quito into the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds by hand at San Tadeo, walk through a working butterfly farm, hike to Nambillo Waterfalls through the mist, and taste artisanal chocolate in Mindo town. Lunch, all entry fees, an air-conditioned vehicle and a national guide are included. The full day runs from 8am to around 5pm, and it's built to work for any fitness level.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds, and hike to a waterfall without arranging transport, guides, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule gets you through five stops and back to Quito in a single day.
Guayaquil and Cocoa Farm Class: Learn to Make ChocolateA 7-hour class and tour from Guayaquil combines hands-on chocolate making at a cocoa farm with a guided walk through downtown landmarks. You're picked up at your hotel at 10am, driven an hour into the countryside to learn and make chocolate from scratch, then returned to the city to see Seminario Park, the Cathedral, Malecón 2000 and Las Peñas neighborhood before heading back. Hotel pickup, farm entrance, lunch and a driver/guide are included.Is it for me?Book this one if you want to spend a morning learning something with your hands rather than watching from a distance, and you'd rather have the city tour handled by someone who knows it than navigate downtown on your own.
Quito: Colonial Old Town, Teleferico & Equator Line Full DayYou walk Quito's colonial core—Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, the gold-filled Compañía church, San Francisco—then ride the Teleferico cable car to 4,050 meters for panoramic views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon, you visit the Intiñan Solar Museum at the equator line for interactive demonstrations and photos straddling two hemispheres. Private transport, a guide, and water are included throughout the full day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Quito's colonial heart, ride the cable car, and stand on the equator—all in one day without arranging separate transport or tickets between stops. The private vehicle and guide handle the logistics, so you focus on the sights.
Lowest price (10)
Quito Old Town: Small Group Cacao & Chocolate Tasting WalkYou’ll walk Quito’s Old Town with a small group and local guide, weaving through plazas and churches while hearing stories you’d never find online. Taste traditional candies and real Ecuadorian chocolate along the way — plus there’s time for questions or just people-watching on Independence Plaza. This tour leaves you with more than photos; it sticks with you long after.
Mindo: El Quetzal Chocolate Tour & Tasting with Local FlavorsYou’ll start at cocoa trees in Mindo, taste tangy fresh fruit, and follow every step of artisan chocolate making with a local guide. Sample pure chocolate paste, house-made barbecue sauce, rich brownies and even chocolate tea—plus plenty of stories along the way. Expect hands-on moments and real warmth from people who care about their craft.
Quito Night Tour: Old Town & Plaza Grande with Free TimeYou board a double-decker bus at 7pm and travel through Quito's illuminated Old Town, then spend 90 minutes on a guided walk through Plaza Grande and the Street of the Seven Crosses with your bilingual guide. After the walking tour ends, the time is yours to explore cafés, chocolate shops, and local restaurants at your own pace before returning to your pickup point.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see Quito's historic center at night without arranging your own transport or navigating unfamiliar streets after dark—the guide handles the route and timing, leaving you free to linger over dinner or a drink once the walking part ends.
Cuenca City Tour: 4-hour guided highlights with hotel pickupA guided 4-hour tour of Cuenca covers the city's landmarks — Central Park where the city was founded in 1557, Ecuador's largest church, the 10 de Agosto market, the toquilla straw hat factory, and Turi Viewpoint overlooking the entire city. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a professional guide in English or Spanish and a local snack on Herrerias street.Is it for me?Book this if you want a structured itinerary that covers five key sites in one morning—your guide handles navigation and timing, so you move through the city without gaps or backtracking.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Car & Hotel PickupYou get a named driver waiting at arrivals with a sign, a private car with Wi-Fi and AC, and luggage handling included. The driver coordinates with your actual flight time, so delays don't create a panic. You arrive at your hotel or airport on time without arranging transport yourself or haggling at the curb.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi negotiation at the airport and arrive at your hotel or flight without stress — the driver handles the timing and the route, so you don't have to learn the city or worry about getting there late.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Downtown DeliveryYou land, collect your bag, and find your driver waiting with your name on a sign. They handle the 50-minute drive to downtown Quito in a private, air-conditioned vehicle while you relax. Flight arrivals are tracked, so delays don't leave you stranded, and the bilingual driver can answer questions about the city along the way. The price is locked in before you book.Is it for me?Right for travelers arriving alone or in a small group who want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at a fixed price. The 50-minute drive is part of the service — it's how you get from the airport to your hotel without arranging transport yourself.
Guayaquil Airport Transfer: Private Car & Spanish-Speaking DriverYou're met at arrivals with a name sign, driven to your Guayaquil hotel in a private vehicle with a Spanish-speaking driver, and dropped off without negotiating fare or arranging logistics yourself. The 25–30 minute journey depends on traffic, and the price is locked in before you land.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Guayaquil with luggage, children, or mobility needs and want to reach your hotel without arranging transport or negotiating fares—the fixed price and waiting driver remove the friction that makes airport arrival stressful.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Hotel DropoffYou get picked up by name at Quito Airport arrivals, driven straight to your hotel with luggage help, and skip the taxi negotiation entirely. The driver waits up to 90 minutes from landing, so delays are covered as long as you call ahead. The whole thing costs a fixed price with no surprises at the end.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Quito and want to avoid the taxi rank and price haggling — the fixed cost and named driver mean you know exactly what to expect before you land, which is what makes the first hour of travel actually relaxing.
Tibetan Bridge & Zip Line in Baños: 850m into a canyon caveYou’ll feel your heart race as you zipline into a basalt cave above Baños’ Pastaza River, cross a swaying Tibetan bridge high over rushing water, climb a rocky via ferrata, and end with a final canopy ride—all with local guides and city transport included.
Leaning Ladder Circuit Adventure: Cascade Rappel & Canopy in BañosIf you’re after something different in Baños, this circuit mixes adventure with wild views—rappel down beside a cascade, cross wire bridges, climb an inclined ladder over roaring water, then zipline back to base. It’s safe, fun, and run by folks who really know their stuff.
