Ecuador: Andes & Amazon Adventure

Day 1:

Fly to Ecuador

• Meet your Tour Director at the airport
  

Day 2:

Explore Quito

• Guided by a local expert, explore Quito’s colonial center beneath the Andes. Walk through Independence Plaza, pass the Government Palace, and visit the Church of the Society of Jesus, a Baroque masterpiece of gold leaf, dark wood, and towering altars
• Take an excursion to the equatorial line, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere and explore hands-on exhibits about life at latitude zero
  
• Visit the Intiñan Museum to test gravity, straddle the equator, and explore the blend of science and myth at the center of the Earth
  

Day 3:

Quito - Tena

• Travel through the Andes via Papallacta to Tena, crossing cloud forests and thermal valleys into the Amazon basin
  
• Visit Papallacta Hot Springs, where thermal pools fed by volcanic activity provide a steamy, serene retreat amid Andean peaks and misty cloud forest
  
• Continue to Tena, gateway to the Amazon rainforest
  

Day 4:

Amazon Rainforest Exploration

• Guided by a local expert, take a guided hike into the Amazon rainforest. Learn about the region’s ecosystems, spot unique plant and animal life, and experience the rhythm and richness of the jungle firsthand
  
• Visit a local animal rescue center to learn how rescued species are rehabilitated and cared for by passionate experts
  
• Participate in a chocolate-making workshop and trace the journey from cacao bean to finished treat — with hands-on tasting along the way
  

Day 5:

Tena – Baños

• Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion where rainforest rapids, waterfalls, and tropical wildlife line the banks of Ecuador’s adventure capital
  
• Travel through the Andes to Baños, a gateway town where misty peaks give way to waterfalls and thermal springs
  

Day 6:

Explore Baños

• Travel along 'The Route of Waterfalls'
  
• Take a canopy zip line tour and soar through treetops on a thrilling ride above the forest floor
  
• Enjoy a hike through the Baños rainforest, where misty trails wind past waterfalls and wild greenery
  

Day 7:

Baños – Riobamba

• Travel to the Riobamba area
  
• View Chimborazo Volcano, whose equatorial summit is the farthest point from Earth’s center
  
• Enjoy a scenic walk near Chimborazo, with wide skies and Andean peaks as your backdrop
  
• Visit a traditional Andean market to browse colorful textiles, handcrafts, and fresh produce in a lively village setting
  
• Enjoy a special farewell dinner to celebrate your journey and share a final meal with your group
  

Day 8:

Riobamba area - Quito - Fly home

• Travel to Quito
  

Day 9:

Arrive home