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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Private Condor Tour from Quito: Antisana Reserve WildlifeA private wildlife tour from Quito to Antisana Ecological Reserve with a bilingual naturalist guide, hotel pickup, and entry to both Tambo Condor and the reserve included. You start at a panoramic overlook of Isco canyon to spot Andean condors and other high-altitude birds, then explore the páramo ecosystem on a safari-style search for endemic species before lunch and a stop at hummingbird feeders. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours and suits families with children from age 5.Is it for me?Book this tour if you are based in Quito and want to see Andean condors and high-altitude wildlife without arranging transport, park permits, or a guide yourself—the private format means the pace and timing fit your schedule, and the bilingual guide handles both the logistics and the explanation of what you are seeing.
Cotopaxi Volcano Day Trip from Quito: Private tour with lunchA private day trip from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park combines a hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon, a one-hour climb to the José Rivas refuge at 4,800 meters, and lunch at a 300-year-old hacienda. The tour includes a certified English-speaking naturalist guide, private transportation, and all park fees, with pickup from your Quito hotel at 8 a.m. and return around 5 p.m. Children from age 3 are welcome; the tour is customizable and keeps groups small.Is it for me?Book this if you want a naturalist's insight into high-altitude ecosystems and need to set your own pace on the refuge hike—the private format lets you stop whenever the altitude affects you.
Private Quito City Tour: Panecillo Hill, Churches & La RondaYou’ll see Quito from above at Panecillo Hill, walk through centuries-old plazas and churches, taste local chocolate on La Ronda, and get real stories from a local guide. This private tour gives you both the big sights and those little moments you’d miss on your own.
Antisana Condor Sanctuary day trip from Quito: See Andean CondorsThis birdwatching day trip from Quito takes you to Antisana National Park, a nature reserve above 9,843 feet where you track Andean Condors—the largest flying birds on earth—and a dozen hummingbird species in their high-altitude habitat. A professional guide drives you through páramo grasslands and past the Antisana Volcano, with lunch at a viewpoint where condors return to rest; the route follows the path Alexander von Humboldt walked in 1802.Is it for me?Book this if you're photographing high-altitude species and want a guide who knows where the Andean Condor and rare hummingbirds appear across different zones—the seven-hour format gives you time to track multiple birds rather than rushing through one area.
Montecristi & Rain Forest Tour: Panama Hats & MonkeysThis five to six hour tour from Manta covers Montecristi, Ciudad Alfaro, and Pacoche protected forest with a live guide in English, Spanish, French or German. You visit the fish market and boatyard in Tarqui, watch artisans hand-weave Montecristi hats, explore Ciudad Alfaro museum and the complex honoring ex-president Eloy Alfaro, and trek through forest habitat where howler monkeys, hummingbirds and the Machalilla frog—the world's second smallest—live. The tour includes bottled water, all fees and taxes, and air-conditioned vehicle pickup; a 500-meter forest trail in Pacoche is strenuous and requires running shoes and mosquito repellent.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to walk through market, craft workshops, and forest in one morning—the forest section requires sturdy shoes and a steady pace to reach the howler monkeys and native palms up close.
Santa Fe Island snorkeling day trip: Sea lions, sharks, turtlesA full-day snorkeling trip from Santa Cruz to Santa Fe Island in the Galápagos, where you snorkel at two separate sites and see sea lions, sharks and turtles in the water. The boat ride takes about an hour each way; lunch happens in Santa Fe Bay while you watch sea lions on the rocks, and the final stop at Playa Escondida lets you either wade onto the white sand beach or keep snorkeling, depending on what you want that afternoon.Is it for me?Spend a full day exploring two snorkeling sites with everything coordinated for you—then choose at Playa Escondida whether to beach or stay in the water.
Guayaquil: Mangrove Dolphin & Bird Tour with Fishermen LunchYou’ll glide through Guayaquil’s mangroves by boat, spot wild dolphins playing in El Morro’s estuary, watch herons and roseate spoonbills overhead, share lunch with local fishermen, and feel part of coastal life for a day. Expect real conversations, fresh seafood, and moments of quiet beauty you’ll remember long after you leave.
Cajas National Park Day Hike & Lunch from CuencaStep into Cajas National Park’s wild highlands with a local guide from Cuenca, hike past glacial lakes and ancient Polylepis trees, then relax over fresh trout lunch before heading home — it’s a day full of contrasts and quiet moments you’ll remember long after the clouds clear.
Cotopaxi Volcano Tour from Quito: Hike to Basecamp & GlacierA full-day guided tour from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park combines two hikes: one to Jose Rivas basecamp on the Cotopaxi Volcano and another to the glacial zone at 5,000 meters. The tour includes park entry, lunch, private transportation from Quito, and a bilingual guide who leads the route and explains the geology and ecology of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Moderate fitness is needed for the high-altitude hiking.Is it for me?Choose the private or small-group option if you want the guide's full attention on the route and the flexibility to move at your own pace during the hikes; the shared tour works if you prefer to split costs and don't mind a larger group on the trail.
Puyo Jungle Day Tour: Wildlife, Waterfalls & River Canoe ExperienceYou’ll spot monkeys and parrots at an animal refuge, paddle downriver by canoe, hike through lush rainforest to a hidden waterfall—and cool off with a swim. It’s real Amazon life packed into one day.
Otavalo & Quito: Kichwa Markets, Artisan Workshops & Peguche WaterfallYou ride north from Quito to watch weavers at work in a real workshop, walk through Otavalo's main textile market with time to browse and buy, and end at a waterfall in a Kichwa-managed forest. The driver handles transport and timing, you handle the cash for purchases, and the day wraps by evening back in the city.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see how traditional weaving actually happens and spend time in Otavalo's main market without arranging your own transport or timing — the private vehicle and fixed itinerary handle both, and you keep the pace relaxed enough to really look at things.
Papallacta Hot Springs Day Trip: Andes Hike & PoolsA private day trip from Quito to Papallacta Hot Springs combines a morning drive up the Eastern Cordillera to 4,000 meters, a short forest hike, and afternoon time in the thermal pools and spa facilities. The route crosses high-altitude paramo with views of Antisana volcano when weather clears. Entrance fees and lunch are available to purchase separately; an English-speaking driver and guide are included for groups of up to three travelers.Is it for me?Book this trip if you're arriving in Quito without a rental car or staying in the city center—the private pickup and return means you don't arrange transport, and the fixed itinerary holds the full Andes crossing and thermal soak inside a single day without building it yourself.
Guayaquil Airport Transfer: Private Car & Spanish-Speaking DriverYou're met at arrivals with a name sign, driven to your Guayaquil hotel in a private vehicle with a Spanish-speaking driver, and dropped off without negotiating fare or arranging logistics yourself. The 25–30 minute journey depends on traffic, and the price is locked in before you land.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Guayaquil with luggage, children, or mobility needs and want to reach your hotel without arranging transport or negotiating fares—the fixed price and waiting driver remove the friction that makes airport arrival stressful.
Quito Airport Transfer: Hotel Pickup & Local Guide TipsYou get picked up at the international arrivals gate and driven directly to your hotel in Quito's historic center, or vice versa for your departure. Your driver is a local guide who offers tips on where to eat and what to see around the city. All taxes, fuel and airport fees are included in the price, and infant seats are available. No waiting for a taxi or negotiating rates—just a fixed transfer with someone who knows Quito.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your hotel without arranging transport yourself; the driver waiting at arrivals and the fixed price mean your first hour in Quito is already settled.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Hotel Drop-offYou provide your flight details and hotel address. A driver meets you at arrivals with your name on a sign, tracks your flight in case of delays, and drives you directly to your accommodation. You get a 24/7 contact number and an emergency line, so if anything goes wrong—or your plane lands three hours late—someone is already monitoring it and will reach out if needed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and negotiation at the curb—the driver is already waiting, the price is locked in, and someone is monitoring your flight so delays don't leave you stranded.
Cotopaxi & Quilotoa 2-Day Tour from Quito with Local GuideFeel high-altitude air on your face as you trek Cotopaxi’s slopes and descend into Quilotoa’s turquoise crater lake. With a local guide leading the way, you’ll visit Andean villages, taste homemade snacks, and see Tigua art up close—moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Quito & Middle of the World Private Day TripA private guided day trip in Quito combines the Old Town's colonial churches and squares with a visit to Mitad del Mundo, the monument marking the equator 20km north of the city. You walk through the historic center past the Basilica, Independence Plaza and the Gold Church, then head to Panecillo viewpoint to see the contrast between colonial and modern Quito before traveling to the equator. In the afternoon, the Intiñan museum—just 200 meters from the monument—shows where GPS has verified the true equator line runs. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included; the trip runs 6 to 7 hours.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so it suits travelers who want to move at their own pace and ask questions without managing a group schedule. The fixed route and included guide mean you don't arrange the stops, the timing or the logistics yourself—the day holds together without building it piece by piece.
Rafting Río Negro Baños Ecuador: Level III & IV Adventure TourYou’ll get soaked, laugh hard, and maybe surprise yourself on this whitewater rafting trip down Río Negro near Baños. With expert guides, all your gear sorted, plus lunch and photos included, it’s an easy way to add some adrenaline to your Ecuador trip.
Quito tour: Equator, Intiñan museum, historic centerA private tour of Quito with a bilingual guide covers the city's best-preserved historic center, Independence Plaza, San Francisco Church and the Basilica of the National Vow, plus entry to Intiñan Solar Museum where you can stand on the equator line. Hotel pickup is included; the tour runs seven hours and visits multiple colonial churches and plazas where you'll learn about post-conquest history and local culture. Intiñan museum tickets are part of the package; some sites like the Basilica and cable car charge separately at checkout.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a guide who knows Quito's history and can explain what you're seeing as you move through the colonial center—a private vehicle means the pace stays with your group and you're not waiting for other travelers between stops. The seven-hour length gives you time to linger at the major churches and plazas instead of rushing through them.
Isla de la Plata from Guayaquil: Snorkeling & Bird Watching Day TripYou get picked up from your hotel, travel to the coast, snorkel among sea turtles and coral reefs with a naturalist guide, walk the island's trails to spot boobies and frigates, eat lunch with a view, and return by evening. The whole day is organized — transport, equipment, food, and expert guidance — so you show up ready to go.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see marine life and seabirds without the expense and time of a Galápagos trip — Isla de la Plata delivers both in a single day from Guayaquil, with all logistics handled so you just show up and snorkel.
