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
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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.
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.
Cotopaxi Volcano Trek from Quito: Glacier & Limpiopungo LakeYou hike from 4,600m to a glacier at 5,000m on Cotopaxi, then bike down to Limpiopungo Lagoon for lunch. Transport, guide, and a traditional meal are included. The day starts at 7:30am and returns you to Quito by late afternoon. Bring warm layers and waterproof gear — altitude and weather change fast.Is it for me?Book this if you want to reach high altitude and see Cotopaxi's glacier without arranging transport, park permits, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you to focus on the climb and the views.
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip from Quito with Waterfall & ButterfliesYou’ll walk through misty trails in Mindo Cloud Forest, watch butterflies flutter at Mariposas de Mindo, and ride a tarabita over treetops before reaching Nambillo waterfall (yes, you can jump in). With a local guide handling everything from hotel pickup to stories along the way, you’ll end up feeling both tired and oddly calm.
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.
Quilotoa Lagoon day trip from Quito: Hike the crater rimA guided day tour from Quito to Quilotoa Lagoon combines a moderate hike around a 3-kilometer crater rim, a visit to the Tigua Painter's Community to learn about indigenous Andes cultures, and views of Ecuador's volcanic landscape. Hotel pickup and entrance are included; the tour runs 11 to 12 hours and operates in all weather. A live guide leads in English or Spanish, and lunch is included in the private service option.Is it for me?Book the private service if your group wants lunch included and prefer a smaller party; choose the small group option if you're flexible on meals and want to share the cost with other travelers. Either way, the tour handles all logistics—transport, entrance, and timing—so the day holds together without you arranging the route or the stops.
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.
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.
Cotopaxi Volcano: Horseback Ride & Hike to José Ribas RefugeYou ride horses through highland grassland for 1.5 hours, then hike to a high-altitude refuge with views of the Andes, all guided by someone who knows the mountain. Lunch and entry fees are covered, and if the main hike feels too steep, you can choose the lagoon loop instead. Hotel pickup and return keep the logistics simple.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see the Andes up close and doesn't mind a full, active day — the horseback section handles the beginner riders, the hike has a gentler alternative if you need it, and the guide paces the whole thing so you're not scrambling.
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip: Birding, Hiking & Local LunchYou’ll set out from Quito into Mindo’s cloud forest with a local naturalist guide who spots birds you’d miss on your own. Hike easy trails past orchids and waterfalls, share lunch in a small town, and meet friendly street dogs along the way. End your day straddling hemispheres at the Equator line — it’s one of those trips that lingers long after you’re back in the city.
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: 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.
Quito: Birdwatching tour with local guide & breakfastYou’ll join local guide Marcelo for a relaxed morning of birdwatching near Quito, spotting rare hummingbirds and tanagers through binoculars and telescope. Enjoy a simple breakfast outdoors as you listen for calls in the cool mountain air. With private transport and all gear included, it’s an easy way to experience Ecuador’s wild side — and maybe hear some stories you’ll remember long after the trip.
Quito Old Town Walking Tour: Market, Church & Ice CreamA small-group walking tour of Quito's UNESCO-listed Old Town led by a local guide, visiting the Central Market, Independence Plaza, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the gold-filled Church of the Society of Jesus, with a stop at La Ronda and a hands-on ice cream making session using South American fruits and plants. The tour runs four hours and welcomes children from age 6 with an adult.Is it for me?Choose the small-group option if you want a guide who knows the stories behind each stop and the flexibility of a shared pace; book the private tour if your group prefers to move at your own speed and skip the market or the ice cream if you'd rather spend more time at the churches.
Cuenca City Tour: Panama Hat Factory & Historic MarketsYou’ll wander Cuenca’s historic streets with a local guide, taste fruit at bustling markets, step inside centuries-old cathedrals, and watch Panama hats being woven by hand before catching your breath at Mirador de Turi overlooking the city. Expect little surprises and honest moments you’ll remember long after you leave.
Galapagos: Santa Fe Island Snorkel & Hidden Beach Day TripYou’ll step straight into turquoise Galapagos waters to snorkel beside playful sea lions at Santa Fe Island, spot turtles and rays gliding below, then relax with lunch on deck before wandering Hidden Beach’s untouched sands—all with a local guide who knows every twist of coastline. It’s equal parts wild energy and quiet moments.
Quito: Old Town, Teleférico & Equator Private Day TripYou’ll stroll through Quito’s historic center with a local guide who brings legends to life, ride high above the city on the Teleférico cable car for sweeping Andean views, and stand right on the equator line at Intiñan Solar Museum. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and moments where you just pause to take it all in.
Quito Old Town: Food & Culture Walking Tour with ChocolateYou’ll stroll Quito’s historic center with a local guide, tasting Ecuadorian chocolate and fresh empanadas along cobbled streets. Explore iconic churches like La Compañía de Jesús and San Francisco Church, soak up lively plazas, and share laughs over food stories. This walk leaves you feeling like you’ve seen more than just buildings—you’ve felt the city breathe.
Amazon Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip with Jungle Hike & ChocolateYou’ll hike through thick Amazon jungle near Puyo, cool off beneath Hola Vida waterfall, paddle a dugout canoe along the river, meet Quechua locals for face painting and dancing, then learn chocolate-making at a family cacao farm—with lunch included. If you’re after real moments (and don’t mind mud), this day trip lingers long after you leave.
Guayaquil City Tour for Seniors: Malecón 2000 & Parque SeminarioA half-day private city tour of Guayaquil with hotel, airport or seaport pickup, local guide in English or Spanish, and air-conditioned transport to the Malecón 2000, Parque Seminario (Iguana Park), the Main Cathedral, and Patrimonial Street Numa Pompilio Llona. The guide adapts the pace to the group, with time built in for photographs, rest and browsing local shops.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see Guayaquil's main landmarks—the Iguana Park, the cathedral, the Malecón waterfront and the oldest street—without the pressure of a fixed schedule. The guide adjusts the pace to the group, so the day moves at a comfortable rhythm with built-in time to rest, photograph and browse local shops.
