Arrival in Quito
Ecuador, a country in South America, is renowned for its remarkable diversity and stunning landscapes. It is often referred to as “The Land of Volcanoes” due to its numerous active and dormant volcanoes that shape its terrain. These volcanoes, part of the Andean Volcanic Belt, contribute to Ecuador’s rich geological and ecological tapestry.

The country’s volcanoes offer not only spectacular scenery but also opportunities for adventure and exploration. From the towering Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, to the majestic Chimborazo, whose summit is the closest point on Earth to space, Ecuador’s volcanic peaks attract mountaineers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts from around the globe.

Beyond their physical beauty, Ecuador’s volcanoes hold cultural and historical significance. Indigenous communities have long revered these mountains, considering them sacred and integral to their identities. Many of Ecuador’s towns and cities are situated near volcanoes, adding to the country’s unique charm and character.

Overall, Ecuador’s volcanoes symbolize both the raw power of nature and the resilience of the people who call this diverse country home. They stand as iconic landmarks, inviting visitors to marvel at their grandeur and explore the breathtaking landscapes they shape.

Arrival in Quito and transfer to hotel.
Included meals: None

City Tour in Quito
Half-day private city tour in the historical part of Quito, including La Basilica Church, La Compañia Church and El Panecillo Hill. We leave the hotel, by private transportation, and will see the transformation from the new part of the city to the absolutely beautiful historical and colonial part of Quito. We will have time to see all the interesting churches, plazas etc.
But also simply enjoy the local atmosphere, the many shops and sellers. After these interesting sights, we continue to “El Panecillo”, the hill in the centre of Quito overviewing the city and the historical centre. Also from here, on clear days, we may observe several of the snow-capped volcanoes surrounding Quito.
Night in hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast

Trekking: Pululahua’s Crater trek (3840 m)
We leave Quito early in the morning and drive 1.5 hour to Pululahua’s crater rim. From the parking lot, we start our trek into the beautiful crater, descending 340 m by a well-marked trail into the lower “valley”. We will do a short hike in the crater and see the people living their way of living, as this is one of the few inhabited active volcanoes in the world. After that, we will head up again to take our transport to Otavalo town. On the way we will make a stop at Inti-Ñan museum just located on the Equator line. Inti-ñan is a experimental concept place, where we will see the exact location of the equatorial line and do some “experiments” related to the place. After this visit we will continue our road trip to Otavalo by the valley road. This trip will take about 3 hours.
Night at hotel.
Ascent: 340 m / Descent: 340 m / Highest Altitude: 3840 m / Activity duration: 4 h
Included: Breakfast, Picnic

Trekking: Cuicocha’s Crater lake trek (3400 m)
Pick-up at the hotel in Otavalo and transfer to Cuicocha’s volcanic lake (1 hour). Upon arrival at the entrance, we will begin our hike along the well-marked trail that circles the crater’s rim, offering panoramic views of the shimmering lake below and the two islets at its center. The path winds through páramo vegetation and offers a wonderful opportunity to observe the unique high-Andean flora, including orchids, bromeliads, and shrubs typical of this ecosystem. On clear days, you will also enjoy breathtaking vistas of the surrounding peaks, such as Cotacachi and Imbabura volcanoes. We will hike almost the entire perimeter of the lake, covering approximately 12 kilometers. After our trek, our vehicle will meet us for a short stop at the lakeside reception, where we will enjoy a well-deserved snack. We will then continue to the town of Atuntaqui, renowned for its leather goods, where there will be time to shop and relax in one of the many cafés.
Ascent: 401 m / Descend: 401 m / Highest Altitude: 3471 m / Distance: 11,9 Km / Activity duration: 4-5 h
Included: Breakfast, Picnic

Otavalo’s market & Cochasqui’s ruins (3350 m)
Free morning at Otavalo’s famous indigenous market. After lunch transfer (1.5 h) to the Archaeological ruins of Cochasqui, where we will have the opportunity to visit some of the best-preserved Pyramids and listens to the local history. From Cochasqui we have about 2 hours to our hotel located at 3350 m, a small settlement located on boundaries of Pasochoa Natural reserve and Cotopaxi National Park.
Night at hotel.
Included: Breakfast

Trekking: Cotopaxi N. P.’s trek (3800 m)
Early morning breakfast and short transfer to the Pita River, from where we will start our trek ascending by the riverside onto the Cotopaxi plateau and continuing over the barren volcanic terrain until the Inka’s archaeological ruins known as El Salitre at about 3900 m. After a well-deserved lunch, we will follow a well-marked trail/road until our mountain refuge 3800 m inside the National Park.
Night at the mountain hut.
Ascent: 450 m / Highest Altitude: 3900 m / Activity duration: 6 h
Included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Cotopaxi’s Glacier – Limpiopungo’s lake (5000 m)
Transfer (1.45 h) to the parking area (4500 m). Then hike to the high refuge José Rivas Hut (4800 m) and on to the glacier (5000 m). After a break to enjoy the amazing views, we will descend pass the parking place and into the Lava Valley that follows a gorge into the plateau. Then a flat walk until Limpiopungo Lake, where we will hike around it before being picked up and drive back to the mountain hut.
Night at the mountain hut.
Ascent: 500 m / Descent: 1200 m / Highest Altitude: 5000 m / Activity duration: 6 h
Included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Transfer to Quilotoa’s crater lake (3900 m)
After a relaxing morning at the hut, we will begin our transfer to the other side of the famous “Volcano Avenue”. First we will descend into the valley of Machachi and then we will take on of the newly renovated road heading to Quilotoa’s crater lake (4 hour drive + stops). After arriving to our lodge, we will go to the viewpoint on the crater’s rim and enjoy the sunset with a view over some of the conic volcanoes of the Eastern range. There is the option, for those who feel like it, to descend to the shores of the lake inside the crater and hike back up again (the hike will take about 1.5 hours down and up).
Night at a basic lodge in Quilotoa town.
Ascent: 250 m / Descent: 250 m / Highest Altitude: 3900 m / Activity duration: 1.5 – 2 h
Included: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Chugchilan town (3198 m)
About 8 AM we will start our trek by the Western trail, hiking around about a third of the crater by a spectacular trail by the upper edge of the rim. With clear skies the view is incredible towards the distant Cotopaxi and Illinizas volcanoes, the lake at the bottom of the crater, the Western valley and Guayama and its town. From the rim, we will descend into the Guayama valley and follow a series of trails and dirt roads until we reached the Rio Toachi gorge. This last section is quite steep following a old trail to the river crossing, where a short hike will lead us to the town of Chugchilan and our local lodge.
Night at hotel/lodge.
Ascent: 203 m / Descent: 1025 m / Highest Altitude: 4020 m / Activity duration: 5 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Insilivi town (3000 m)
From Chugchilan the landscape becomes greener and colorful. There is plenty of small local production of the most basic harvest as potatoes, corn, beans, etc. The live style still very traditional and it is mainly inhabited by peasants and descendants from Indigenous groups. We will walk by a changing landscape with valleys and gorges decorated with the Toachi River, until our next stop at Insilivi town, where we will stay at another lovely lodge to enjoy a pleasant afternoon.
Night at hotel/lodge.
Ascent: 150 m / Descent: 200 m / Highest Altitude: 3000 m / Activity duration: 5 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Chimborazo N.P. – Whymper hut (5000 M)
Today we have a quite long transport time from Insilivi to Chimborazo’s National Park (5 h). First we have to get back to the Pan-American Highway, which will takes us about 2 hours, then we will head south taking a minor road towards the park. Our transport will takes us strait to the door of the lower hut, from where we will hike up to the renown Whimper’s hut at 5000 m. During the 1-hour hike, if the weather is clear, we will have a prefect view of Chimborazo’s northwest face and the ever-dry rocky terrain of this peak. From the hut we would enjoy a great mountain atmosphere in under Ecuador’s major summit. We will return to the lower hut and start our descent to a very comfortable mountain lodge at the foot of the mountain in an altitude of 4280 m.
Night at mountain lodge.
Ascent: 200 m / Descent: 200 m / Highest Altitude: 5000 m / Activity duration: 2 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic

Trekking: Llama Trek (4280 m)
Early start from Michaguasca, taking the main trail of the Llama Trek (4280 m). This trek roams over the Chimborazo’s high “paramos” gaining altitude as we approach the valley that separates the Chimborazo from it neighbor the Carihuairazo volcano. From the upper pass at 4400 m, the trail lead us down into the opposite side of Chimborazo, into a very isolated indigenous region called Urbina in Abras-Pungo, which lies on the Southeast face of Chimborazo. This hike goes through a very different landscape than the ones we walked in before. It is known as the Llama trek due to the large amount of these animals roaming around the local’s farms. After 6-hour hike, we will meet our transport that will take us to much warmer weather: the city of Baños (3.5 hours).
Night in a hotel.
Ascent: 120 m / Descent: 900 m / Highest Altitude: 4400 m / Activity duration: 6 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic

Town of Baños de Santa Agua (1820 m)
Baños located under the impressive Tungurahua volcano (5023 m) that is probably the most active volcano in Ecuador. Baños is situated near this volcano in the zone between the highlands and the lowlands, giving it a wonderful climate and many beautiful natural sites and activities. We have a whole morning to visit the some of the beautiful sights in the area, especially El Pailon del Diablo waterfall and the cable car that crosses the huge valley. After lunch, we will begin our trip back to Quito’s area (3-4 hours) for our last night in this gorgeous country.
Night in a hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast

Departure
Time to leave the volcanoes of Ecuador!
Pick up at hotel and transfer out to Quito’s Airport (1-2 h) – End of services
Included meals: Breakfast