Andes & Amazon 5-day tour: Cotopaxi, Baños, rainforest

From active volcano to Amazon canoe in five days

A 5-day private tour from Quito that moves through three ecosystems: the Andes around Cotopaxi volcano, the cloud forest town of Baños with its waterfalls and adrenaline activities, and the Amazon rainforest. You hike to the José Ribas refuge on Cotopaxi, visit the Swing at the End of the World overlooking Tungurahua volcano, walk the Waterfall Road past Bride's Veil and Pailon del Diablo, then spend three days in the Amazon doing guided jungle walks, canoeing the Napo River to AmaZOOnico wildlife sanctuary, and visiting a Kichwa community.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Quito to Cotopaxi and Baños

• Drive from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
• Visit natural museum at Cotopaxi
• Walk at Limpiopungo Lake
• Drive to parking lot for Andean views
• Optional hike to José Ribas refuge
• Drive to Baños town

Day 2: Baños and Amazon Journey

• Visit Swing at the End of the World
• Explore Ruta de las Cascadas waterfalls
• Hike Pailon del Diablo waterfall paths
• Drive towards Amazon basin

Day 3: Amazon Rainforest Exploration

• Wear rubber boots for rainforest walks
• Take guided jungle walks
• Visit local Indigenous community
• Learn about chicha and rituals
• Participate in blowgun contest
• Return to Amazon Lodge

Day 4: Amazon River and Wildlife

• Board dugout canoe on Napo River
• Visit AmaZOOnico animal sanctuary
• Meet Family Kichwa and call caimans
• Observe wildlife and birds
• Return to Amazon Lodge

Day 5: Amazon to Quito via Rose Farm

• Depart Amazon for Eastern Andes cloud forest
• Stop at rose farm to learn about roses
• Lunch at Colibrí Garden with local food
• Observe hummingbirds and small birds
• Drive to Quito or airport drop-off

The experience

The route starts at Cotopaxi National Park, two hours south of Quito. You'll visit the natural museum to learn the volcano's geology and eruption history, then walk around Limpiopungo Lake at 3,800 meters while spotting Andean eagles and gulls. If the weather and your fitness allow, a 45-minute hike leads to the José Ribas refuge at 4,800 meters, where hot chocolate waits. The afternoon drive takes you to Baños, a town built into the cloud forest and known for its mix of outdoor pursuits and thermal springs.

Day two centers on the Waterfall Road, a route that strings together several cascades over a few hours. You'll see Bride's Veil, Agoyan and Pailon del Diablo, with options to take cable cars and zip lines over gorges, or hike down to a suspension bridge for a closer view of the water. The Swing at the End of the World (a treehouse with swings hanging over a steep mountain slope) sits 20 minutes from town and frames Tungurahua volcano on clear days. By afternoon you're heading into the Amazon basin toward Tena.

The Amazon portion runs three nights at a lodge in the rainforest. Guided walks of varying length (from 90 minutes to four hours) take you through thick jungle on muddy paths where your guide points out wildlife and plants. You'll visit a Kichwa community where a local woman teaches you to make chicha, a traditional beverage, and leads spiritual cleansing rituals. There's also a blowgun target-shooting contest. A dugout canoe trip down the Napo River reaches AmaZOOnico, a rescue sanctuary where jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, monkeys and macaws live at close range. On the final morning you drive back through the cloud forest, stopping at an Ecuadorian rose farm to learn how high altitude and organic methods produce year-round blooms, then lunch at a small organic garden before heading to Quito or the airport.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout.
• all activities mentioned in the itinerary.
• accommodation in double rooms at a 3-star hotel in Baños and a 3-star Amazon lodge.
• an English-speaking guide.
• entrance fees to AmaZOOnico sanctuary and the rose farm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 3

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ecuador Local Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable with daily moves between regions and multi-hour jungle walks. You'll stay in different lodges rather than a home base, and some hikes demand sustained walking pace.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What's the Swing at the End of the World actually like?

The Swing at the End of the World is a treehouse with swings on either side that hang out over a steep mountain slope, located 20 minutes from Baños town. On clear days it frames a view of Tungurahua volcano, and it's one of the most photographed spots in the region.

How much hiking is involved in this tour?

Hiking varies by day and your choice. At Cotopaxi, you walk around Limpiopungo Lake, and a 45-minute optional hike reaches the José Ribas refuge if conditions are good. In the Amazon, guided walks range from 90 minutes to four hours through rainforest, and you'll also hike to Pailon del Diablo waterfall in Baños with options for a shorter or longer route.

Will I see wildlife in the Amazon?

Yes. At AmaZOOnico sanctuary you'll see jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, several monkey species, snakes, boas and macaws at close range. During canoe trips and jungle walks, your guide watches for woolly monkeys, squirrel monkeys, caimans and tropical birds, though sightings depend on the day and time.

What activities happen in Baños?

Baños is built around waterfalls and adrenaline activities. You visit the Waterfall Road, which includes Bride's Veil and Pailon del Diablo with options for cable cars and zip lines over gorges, or hiking to suspension bridges for closer views. The Swing at the End of the World and thermal springs are also nearby.

Is the drive from Quito to the Amazon very long?

The journey spans two days with stops. The first day is a two-hour drive to Cotopaxi, then an afternoon drive to Baños. The second day you explore Baños and its surroundings, then drive into the Amazon basin by late afternoon, arriving at the lodge in the rainforest.