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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Otavalo Market tour from Quito: Private guide, three stopsA private full-day tour from Quito visits Lake San Pablo for coffee and local cheese, walks through Peguche waterfall in the eucalyptus forest, and spends time at Otavalo Market—the largest indigenous fair in South America, where over three thousand artisans sell hand-woven ponchos, rugs, leather goods and ceramics. A certified guide in English or Spanish handles all transport and timing; lunch is included before the return to Quito.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a private route that moves through three distinct stops—a lake, a waterfall and the largest indigenous market in South America—without managing transport or timing yourself. The guide handles the day's sequence, so you move from one place to the next without deciding what comes next or how to get there.
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.
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 Cloud Forest Tour: Hummingbirds & WaterfallsA private guided tour from Quito into the Mindo Cloud Forest with certified English-speaking guide, binoculars and hotel pickup included. You walk trails through the reserve to see colorful hummingbirds like the Velvet Purple Coronet and Booted Racket Tail, visit waterfalls at a pace you choose, enjoy a local meal, and spend the afternoon at either a butterfly garden or chocolate factory. The guide adjusts the day to match your interests and fitness level.Is it for me?Choose this private tour if you want a guide who adjusts the afternoon activity—butterfly garden or chocolate factory—based on your interests, rather than following a fixed itinerary.
Papallacta Hot Springs Day Trip from Quito & LagoonYou leave Quito in the morning, stop at a high-altitude lagoon viewpoint, walk through cloud forest with a guide who explains what you're seeing, then spend the afternoon soaking in natural thermal pools at Termas de Papallacta. Transport, guide, and spa entry are all arranged — you just show up and relax.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full day away from Quito without a long journey — the 2-hour drive is what makes it possible to relax in the springs and still be back in the city by evening.
Quito Old Town, Cable Car & Equator tour with guideA full-day shared tour of Quito starting at 9 a.m. from La Pradera neighborhood, combining the cable car at Pichincha Volcano, the Intiñan Solar Museum at the equator, and a guided walk through the colonial old town with its baroque churches and Independence Plaza. Private transportation and a certified guide in English or Spanish are included; the tour finishes around 4:30 p.m.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full day covering Quito's main sights with private transport between stops and a guide leading the way—bring comfortable shoes for afternoon walking through the old town, as the cable car and museum visits keep the rest low-impact.
Galapagos: Giant Tortoise Watching & Lava Tunnel WalkYou’ll walk among wild giant tortoises in their natural habitat on this Galapagos tour, explore ancient lava tunnels by torchlight with a local guide, and taste fresh fruit right from the trees. Birdwatching for Darwin’s finches and owls adds another layer of wonder. It’s peaceful and surprising—one of those days you’ll remember because it feels different from anywhere else.
Mitad del Mundo hop-on hop-off tour: Choose your stopsA hop-on hop-off tour of the Middle of the World near Quito where you choose which attractions to visit and how long to spend at each stop, riding a double-decker bus with a bilingual English and Spanish guide. The tour runs 2 to 6 hours depending on which stops you select; entrance fees to individual sites vary by option and are paid separately.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to set your own pace instead of following a guide's schedule — you hop off when something catches your eye and rejoin the bus when you're ready to move on, which works best if you're traveling solo or with people who move at the same speed.
Quilotoa Day Trip from Quito: Lagoon Hike & Tigua Art StopYou’ll ride out from Quito before dawn toward Quilotoa’s surreal lagoon, hike down into its volcanic crater with a local guide, share lunch overlooking those wild blues and greens, then meet Tigua artists whose work tells stories older than the road itself. There’s something about that first glimpse of water that stays with you long after you’re back in your hotel bed.
Quito: Private Historic Center, Cable Car & Equator TourYou’ll ride Quito’s cable car for sweeping views, straddle two hemispheres at the equator line, wander through centuries-old plazas with your local guide, and end with a chocolate tasting that lingers long after you leave. Expect laughter, history, and small surprises—this day really stays with you.
Papallacta Hot Springs Tour: Private Guide, 8 PoolsThis private tour takes you to Papallacta Hot Springs, a three-time World Travel Awards winner, where you'll soak in eight pools of varying temperatures surrounded by the Andes Mountains at 10,600 feet. Your guide leads you through the cloud forest reserve at nearby Guango lodge to spot birds like the Turquoise Jay and Torrent Duck among giant ferns and orchids. The tour runs seven hours with private transportation and a live guide in English or Spanish; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?The cloud forest walk on natural mountain trails means you'll need closed-toe hiking shoes and a rain jacket, and the terrain can be muddy and uneven—this tour suits travelers comfortable with a moderate forest hike, not a casual stroll. The private guide and transportation mean you move at your own pace between the pools and the reserve without coordinating with a group.
Baños: 4x4 Jeep Rental to El Pailón del Diablo & SwingYou’ll steer your own 4x4 from Baños to El Pailón del Diablo waterfall, feel spray on your face, try out the famous swing above misty valleys, and wander backroads at your pace—with gasoline included so you can focus on exploring instead of logistics.
Cotopaxi Volcano Day Trip from Quito with Hike & LunchYou’ll hike high into Cotopaxi’s wild landscape with a local guide, catch your breath over hot chocolate at Refugio Padre Ribas, wander Limpiopungo Lagoon’s shifting light, and share lunch nearby before heading back to Quito. It’s raw mountain air and honest effort—the kind of day you’ll remember every time you see dust on your boots.
El Cajas National Park half-day hike from CuencaA half-day hike from Cuenca into El Cajas National Park, one of Ecuador's most dramatic landscapes, with hotel pickup and a licensed guide who shows you multiple route options so you can match the day to your energy and interests. The drive from Cuenca takes about 45 minutes, with a coffee stop on the way. Groups stay small or you can book private; children from age 5 are welcome.Is it for me?Book the private option if you want to move at your own pace and have the guide adjust the route to your interests; the group tour works better if you're traveling solo or on a budget and don't mind sharing the guide's attention with other hikers.
Manta & Montecristi: Fish Market, Hat Weaving & Chocolate TourYou’ll walk Manta’s lively fish market with locals, step inside boatyards and tagua workshops, try weaving hats in Montecristi, taste fresh Ecuadorian chocolate—and maybe find yourself thinking about all those small details long after you’ve left.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Private Day Trip with Waterfalls & WildlifeYou’ll leave Quito behind for a private day trip into Mindo Cloud Forest—spotting hummingbirds up close, walking misty trails to waterfalls, riding a cable car through treetops, and tasting chocolate in town. With a local guide and flexible stops (like butterfly farms or birdwatching reserves), you’ll get both adventure and quiet moments—plus hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Quito City Tour: Mitad del Mundo, Teleferico & PanecilloA seven-hour guided tour of Quito's main attractions with a bilingual local guide, covering the historic center, El Panecillo, the Basilica of the National Vow, the Teleferico cable car at 4,100 meters, and the Mitad del Mundo monument. Transport, guide, and most entry fees are included; the Basilica tower climb and Teleferico entrance are optional add-ons. Children from age 2 are welcome, and the pace suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The tour moves between five stops over seven hours with transport arranged, so the day holds together without you building it—a full Quito itinerary in one morning without the logistics of getting between sites.
Cable Car and Quito Old Town Private Tour: 13,000-foot volcano viewpointA private cable car and walking tour of Quito combines a 10–15 minute ascent to Cruz Loma at 13,000 feet on Pichincha volcano with an afternoon walk through the UNESCO-listed old town, including Independence Square, San Francisco Church built in 1540, the baroque Church of the Society of Jesus, and El Panecillo's winged Virgin Mary statue. A certified English-speaking guide picks you up from your hotel and leads the full day; the cable car ride and some church visits are optional depending on which option you choose at checkout.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Quito without a rental car—the guide handles all the driving and navigation, and you see both the volcano viewpoint and the colonial center in a single private day without waiting for group departures.
River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: Multiple Levels, A MorningRiver rafting on the Pastaza near Baños, Ecuador, with a live guide in English or Spanish, includes private transportation from town, all gear, a safety briefing, and lunch. The river sits where the Amazon region meets the Andes, offering five difficulty levels; most trips run level 3, manageable for children and beginners. The full outing takes about 5 hours from pickup to return, with 2–2.5 hours spent on the water itself.Is it for me?If you're staying in Baños without a car, the pickup from town and the fixed 09:00 start mean you don't arrange the logistics yourself—the van collects you, the guide handles the river, and you're back by early afternoon. The warm water and moderate level 3 rapids work for families and beginners, so you don't need prior experience or extreme fitness to enjoy it.
Pailón del Diablo & Casa del Árbol Tour from Baños: Waterfalls & SwingYou’ll get to explore Baños’ lively streets, hike to famous waterfalls like El Pailón del Diablo, and swing high above the valley at Casa del Árbol—all with local insight and private transport. Perfect for small groups who want a real taste of Ecuador’s adventure side.
