8-Day Ecuador Tour: Quito to Guayaquil via Volcanoes & Cuenca

You descend into Quilotoa crater lake on horseback, then hike to one of Ecuador's ten largest waterfalls.

An 8-day guided tour of Ecuador starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil, covering two UNESCO cities, three major volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls and cloud forest. The itinerary moves south through the Andes via the Avenue of the Volcanoes, stopping at indigenous markets, national parks and local farms where you learn to make chocolate and see traditional weaving. A bilingual guide and private transport stay with you throughout, with seven nights of accommodation included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Quito city tour and Equator line

• Explore Quito's historic architecture
• Visit Basilica and La Compañía church
• See Plaza Grande and surrounding buildings

Day 2: Otavalo Indigenous Market visit

• Explore Otavalo handicraft market
• Visit weaving workshop
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Meet indigenous family and learn music

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park adventure

• Enter Cotopaxi National Park
• Hike in Paramo biodiversity area
• Ascend to Cotopaxi refuge
• Rest and eat soup at refuge

Day 4: Quilotoa Crater Lake exploration

• Drive along Avenue of the Volcanos
• Descend to Quilotoa crater lake edge
• Return on horseback or walk rim
• Visit local indigenous market (if available)

Day 5: Baños Waterfalls and nature hike

• Drive to Treehouse viewpoint
• Spot hummingbirds and enjoy gardens
• Drive waterfall route with stops
• Hike to Pailon del Diablo waterfall
• Visit El Manto de la Novia waterfall
• Optional cable car or zip-line activity

Day 6: Devil's Nose hike and Ingapirca

• Visit Pistishi community
• Hike to Devil's Nose viewpoint
• Bike option to Sibambe train station
• Visit local family farm
• Explore Ingapirca Incan ruins
• Drive to Cuenca

Day 7: Cuenca city tour and culture

• Explore traditional neighborhoods
• Visit flower market and main square
• See New Cathedral and gold leaf altar
• Tour Panama hat factory
• Visit Barranco area by Tomebamba River
• Enjoy scenic viewpoint at Mirador de Turi

Day 8: Cajas National Park and cocoa farm

• Drive to Cajas National Park
• Hike Polylepis Forest and moorland
• Visit local cocoa farm
• Experience craft chocolate making
• Drop off at Guayaquil airport or hotel

The experience

Your first two days anchor in Quito, where you walk through the UNESCO-listed old city to see La Compañía church and the Plaza Grande, then travel north to Otavalo to browse the indigenous handicraft market and visit a weaving workshop. From there the route turns south into the high Andes, climbing to Cotopaxi National Park at 4,500 meters to hike toward the glacier on Ecuador's second-highest volcano, with a refuge stop for hot soup depending on weather.

The next stretch follows the Avenue of the Volcanoes south to Quilotoa, where you can descend to the crater lake's edge on horseback or walk the rim overlooking the colored water and moorland. A stop at a local indigenous market (timing depends on the day of the week) connects you to the communities that live there. From Baños you hike to the Treehouse (the site of a National Geographic photo contest winner), then continue to Pailon del Diablo, one of Ecuador's largest waterfalls, with a cable car or zip-line option for those who want it. A second waterfall, El Manto de la Novia, lies on the same route.

The final three days shift focus to culture and lower elevation. You hike to a viewpoint of Devil's Nose mountain near Pistishi, visit a local farm to learn about crops and traditions, then reach Ingapirca, the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. Cuenca, the country's most beautiful city according to the itinerary, gets a half-day tour covering the flower market, the New Cathedral with its gold leaf altar, a Panama hat factory where you watch the making of paja toquilla hats, and the Barranco district overlooking the Tomebamba River. On your final day you drive west through the Andes to Cajas National Park, hike through Polylepis forest and moorland, then descend to a local cacao farm where you see chocolate made and taste it fresh before dropping off at Guayaquil airport or your hotel.

What’s included

• Your tour includes a licensed bilingual guide who drives for groups of five or fewer, or a separate driver and guide for larger groups.
• seven nights of accommodation.
• private transportation throughout.
• and pickup and drop-off at your hotel or airport.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard | From Quito to GuayaquilGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Accommodation for 7 nights in 3-4 star boutique hotels; vehicle type (car, van or minibus) depends on group size; pickup is included

Standard | From Guayaquil to QuitoGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Accommodation for 7 nights in 3-4 star boutique hotels; vehicle type (SUV, van or minivan) depends on group size; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Choose the Quito-to-Guayaquil direction if you want to start at high altitude and descend gradually, or reverse it if you prefer to climb into the mountains as the tour progresses. Both routes cover the same eight days and attractions. The direction simply changes which landscape you see first and how your body acclimates to elevation.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).

What is Pailon del Diablo and why is it on this tour?

Pailon del Diablo is one of the ten largest waterfalls in Ecuador, reached after a two-kilometer hike from the main road in the Baños area. It's included as a major natural landmark on the route south through the cloud forest.

Can I ride a horse down into Quilotoa crater lake?

Quilotoa Lagoon sits at the bottom of a crater, and you have the choice to descend to the edge on horseback and return the same way, or walk around the rim instead.

What happens at the Otavalo market stop?

Otavalo is one of South America's most famous indigenous towns. You browse the colorful handicraft market, visit a weaving workshop to learn local techniques, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and meet an indigenous family who make and play traditional musical instruments.

Do I need to be fit to hike Cotopaxi volcano?

The Cotopaxi day includes a short hike to the parking lot at 4,500 meters, then an ascent to the first refuge at 4,810 meters where you can rest and have hot soup. You can continue toward the glaciers depending on weather and your choice. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though high altitude affects everyone differently.

What is the Panama hat factory visit in Cuenca about?

The factory shows the process of making paja toquilla hats, the traditional craft that made Cuenca famous. You'll see hats ranging from simple classic designs to colorful, elaborate ones, and understand why they're called Panama hats despite being made in Ecuador.

Where does this tour start and end?

You can choose to start in Quito and end in Guayaquil, or reverse the direction starting in Guayaquil and ending in Quito. Both options follow the same eight-day route and include hotel or airport pickup and drop-off.