Take a glimpse out of the window while approaching Quito Airport and have a first look at the beautiful Andean scenery that surrounds Ecuador’s capital. Upon arrival, your driver will welcome you and take you to the tiny village of Mindo, located in the middle of the lush cloud forest.

Kick off the day with a birdwatching expedition! Just around the corner from your hotel, native cloud forests with hundreds of bird species wait to be explored by you. Mindo is famous for its biodiversity and you can be sure to spot many of the colorful species for your photo collection this morning. For the rest of the day you are free to choose from a range of activities: Maybe you fancy a hike to the waterfalls, an adrenaline-loaded ziplining track or maybe a chocolate-making class? It's up to you! In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to Tulipe, an little-known archaeological site which in ancient times used to be a planetarium of the Yumbo culture. We then continue to the Quito, capital of Ecuador, where we will spend the night.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Today is calling for a bit of action! You’ll be heading into the northern neighborhoods of Quito this morning. This approx. 4-hour bike tour leads you through La Floresta, Carolina Park and Iñaquito to explore urban art, architecture and local flavors. A different tour than usual, but a great way to get to know Ecuador’s capital even better! In the early afternoon, it is time to cook up some traditional dishes. But before we can do that, we need to head to the local market to shop for the fresh ingredients. Take a stroll through the hallways and be amazed by the variety of exotic fruits offered here. After our shopping tour, we return to the restaurant for some hands-on culinary experience. The chef will take you step by step through the process and of course you will get to taste your creation for lunch. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are at leisure.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, it is already time to head into the Andes for your first trekking adventure. Hike on dirt trails and narrow secondary roads and experience some of the most stunning and privileged views of the Ecuadorian Andes. Towns like Isinliví and Chugchilán are small and depend on farming and production of quinoa, potatoes, and corn; many families also raise horses, cattle, chickens, and guinea pigs – a delicacy in Ecuador. Upon arrival at Toachi Canyon, we will have a picnic and then hike the last part up to Chugchilán.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Comfort: LluLlu Llama Mountain Lodge

Get up early today to be one of the first at the Quilotoa crater lake to enjoy the views in the light of dawn. After a couple of beautiful shots for the album we continue our journey towards Pujilí. This Andean village with a largely indigenous population hosts a weekly market where farmers from all around the region gather to offer their goods. After a timeout for lunch we are ready to take up our next challenge: ascending parts of the Cotopaxi volcano! Our hike begins with a calming cup of coca tea, which helps to prevent altitude sickness, according to locals, while taking in the breathtaking Cotopaxi National Park in our surroundings. Afterward, we will reach the trail where we can go from about 15,000 to almost 17,000 feet! This is not a technical climb, but it can take about two hours due to its steepness. We will travel to Baños de Agua Santa in the afternoon, a lovely town tucked between towering ridges of mountains and surrounded by ever-flowing waterfalls.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we will head to the border of the lush Amazon basin where we will visit the famous Pailón del Diablo, the Devil’s Cauldron waterfall. This powerful cascade forms a small gorge; you can admire its majesty not only alongside but also from above thanks to an overhanging bridge. In the afternoon, we will return to Baños and stop by Casa del Árbol, famous for its swing overlooking the valley of Baños and the Tungurahua volcano. You might recognize this place as it won the National Geographic photo contest in 2014! You will also have some time for optional activities such as ziplining or shopping. Afterwards we will continue our trip further towards the rainforest and spend the night near Archidona.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Get up early before breakfast to see the beautiful bird species, before we continue our journey through the upper rainforest area. Ecuador is the world leader exporting cocoa and chocolate made from the "Fino de aroma" beans. On the way to Lago Agrio, we will stop at a cocoa plantation, where you can learn about the difficulties in the cocoa plant cultivation, and about the process from the bean to chocolate bars. After this interesting visit we will return to the Andes. You will spend your night in the small town of Papallacta, known for its natural thermal springs. Enjoy the rest of the evening soaking in the hot pools!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Comfort: Termas de Papallacta

Time flew by way too fast, so now it’s already time to say goodbye. On time for your international flight, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to Quito Airport. We hope that you’ve had an unforgettable time in Ecuador and that you’ll visit us again one day!

Meals: Breakfast