6 Days Quito Tour: Otavalo, Amazon, Tungurahua, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi
Canoe rides, waterfalls and a horse ride over the high páramo
Float a river in the Amazon, ride a cable car over the Pastaza canyon, and gallop across the páramo under Cotopaxi. This tour of Ecuador starts in Quito, climbs to the Otavalo market and the Andean lakes, drops into the Napo River jungle, then passes through Baños and the Quilotoa crater lake before returning to Quito.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Quito, Otavalo Market, Cuicocha Lake
- Orientation meeting in Quito
- Visit Middle of the World Monument
- Travel to Imbabura Province
- Walk to Peguche waterfall
- Explore Otavalo indigenous market
- See Cuicocha crater lake
- Visit Cotacachi artisan town
Day 2: Papallacta Hot Springs and Amazon
- Transfer to jungle wildlife reserve
- Visit Papallacta Hot Springs
- Explore hummingbird cloud forest
- Arrive in Tena town
- Visit Misahualli town and beach
- Arrive at Amazon EcoLodge
- Jungle trekking on trails
- Float down river on buoy
Day 3: Napo River, Animal Refuge, Indigenous Visit
- Canoe ride on Napo River
- Visit Animal Refuge Center
- Walk through Anaconda Island
- Visit indigenous family
- Night hike in jungle
Day 4: Waterfalls Route and Baños Town
- Travel from jungle to Baños via Puyo
- Ride cable car on Pastaza River
- Visit El Pailón del Diablo waterfall
- See Manto de la Novia waterfall
- See Hand of Pachamama viewpoint
- Visit Swing at the End of the World
- Check into hotel in Baños
Day 5: Salasaca, Tigua Crafts, Quilotoa Lagoon
- Visit Salasaca indigenous market
- See Pujilí town and market
- Visit Tigua artisan community
- See Toachi Canyon landscapes
- Walk to Quilotoa crater lagoon
Day 6: Cotopaxi National Park and Quito
- Drive along Andean mountain range
- Enter Cotopaxi National Park
- Visit Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Center
- See Limpiopungo lagoon panoramic view
- Horseback ride over páramo
- Travel to Machachi city
- Return to Quito city
What’s included
- Private transportation.
- An experienced guide who speaks two languages.
- Outdoor activities along the route.
- Lunch.
- Lodging in Otavalo, the jungle, Baños and Quilotoa.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Information
You float an Amazon river, ride a cable car over the Pastaza canyon and gallop Cotopaxi's páramo on this Ecuador tour that starts in Quito.
Compare the 3 alternatives
Traveler reviews
The experience
The tour starts in Quito and heads north to Otavalo, where the indigenous market spreads handwoven cloth, rugs and jewelry across its stalls. Before that you stand with one foot in each hemisphere at the Middle of the World monument, and in Peguche a walk through the Andean forest leads to a waterfall. Cuicocha Lake fills the crater of an extinct volcano, with two lava domes rising out of the water. In Cotacachi, dozens of shops sell leather jackets, belts, wallets and bags.
Then the jungle begins. Papallacta's hot springs come first, a place to escape the noise of the city, followed by the Yanayacu Biological Station, where up to 14 hummingbird species can show up within an hour. On the Napo River a canoe carries you to an animal refuge that rescues Amazon animals, some of them in danger of extinction, and on Anaconda Island you can watch caimans, the prehistoric hoatzin and monkeys. An indigenous family shows their medicinal plants and how they hunt with blowguns. Later you float down a river on a buoy, rowing with your hands and looking up at the trees, and after dark the frog concert opens a night hike where you look for tarantulas, owls and alligators.
Baños brings the most action: a cable car over the Pastaza canyon with river and jungle views, Bride's Veil waterfall, the giant hand of Pachamama rising from the earth for photos, and free time for canopy, the Tibetan bridge and the extreme swing at the end of the world, with Tungurahua volcano in view. Then comes the walk to the turquoise Quilotoa Lagoon. Finally, Cotopaxi: a guided horse ride over the páramo near wild horses, with condors often spotted, climbing up to 4200 meters across about two hours before the drive back to Quito.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.
Is there a river float in the Amazon part?
Yes. In the jungle you float down a river on a buoy, rowing with your hands while you look up at the trees, and a life jacket is provided.
Will the jungle days include wildlife watching?
Yes, guides look for wildlife on the trekking trails, and the Napo canoe trip reaches an animal refuge center that rescues Amazon animals.
What happens on the Cotopaxi day?
You drive about two hours along the Andes, then enter Cotopaxi National Park for the Limpiopungo lagoon viewpoint and a guided horse ride over the páramo.
Does the Baños stop include a cable car?
Yes, a cable car crosses the Pastaza River canyon past Bride's Veil waterfall, and you get free time for the swing at the end of the world.
Is the Quilotoa lagoon a hike or a drive?
It is a walk to the turquoise lagoon, with trail options by difficulty, and the path is chosen according to the weather.
Is the Otavalo market included in the tour?
Yes, entry to the indigenous market in Otavalo is included, where you can browse stalls for handwoven cloth, rugs and jewelry.
Operated by Live Ecuador Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
6 Days Quito Tour: Otavalo, Amazon, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi
6d · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 1,173.60 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.