Top Ecuador Nature and Wildlife Tours - page 4

Don’t stress over the logistics of visiting the popular Cotopaxi National Park in Quito, especially if you’ve got limited time in the area. Instead, opt for this full-day excursion—during which everything from transport to lunch is included—and forget about waiting on large tour groups.

Go where cars can’t on a horseback riding experience in Baños. Rather than sticking to the beaten path, you’ll go off-road into the countryside and see parts of the area that most first-time visitors miss. Plus, a small group limited to only 10 other travelers ensures you enjoy personalized attention.

Take a hike up the Sierra Negra Volcano on this 4-hour walking tour. The Sierra Negra is the oldest volcano on Isabela Island and experienced its last eruption in 2005. Walk along the rim of the crater and observe the local plant and animal life that has flourished in this rugged terrain. Learn about the geology of the area and the volcanic processes from your informative guide.

Travel along a portion of Ecuador's Inca Trail on this all-day guided tour from Cuenca. Hike six miles (10 kilometers) of the famous trail, taking in the beautiful mountain scenery and the stunning paving stones. After the hike, visit the Ingapirca archeological site, which includes the Temple of the Sun that was used for ritual and astronomical purposes.

Experience unique Ecuadorian culture on a full-day market tour to Otavalo and Cotacachi Market. Comfortable transportation will pick you and other group members up from two convenient Quito locations, before taking you to the Mazapan handicrafts market in Calderon.  A stop at the Otalvo market is the perfect opportunity for taking photos.  You’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in Cotacachi before exploring the natural area surrounding it.

Take a trip to Ecuador’s highest active volcano on this day trip from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park. With a small group, hike along the volcanic trails and take in the unique biodiversity of the Andes Mountains, including several species of birds. Walk around the Limpopungo Lagoon to see more wildlife and take photographs of the stunning mountain landscapes in the background.

Mindo, just two hours from Quito, is a biodiverse cloud forest home to hundreds of bird and butterfly species. This full-day private tour includes a butterfly garden visit, a chocolate factory tour, and a cable car ride to waterfalls. Entrance fees and the cable car ride are not included. Enjoy personalized service with a private driver and guide, plus round-trip transport from your Quito hotel.

Visit the village of Papallacta and spend the enjoying a number of customizable activities at one of the most beautiful thermal hot springs Resort and Spa in this area. Take in the beautiful scenery of the Andes Mountains on a hike and enjoy a relaxing time at the thermal water that have been certified for its medicinal properties that guarantee health benefits.

This full-day private adventure from Quito to Banos includes whitewater rafting, waterfall hikes, a visit to the Amazon jungle and a cable car ride across the Pastaza River. Start early from your hotel to reach the Class 3 rapids and join a group to shoot the chutes. Float between national parks to arrive at the “Avenue of the Waterfalls” where lunch and a hike down into the Ecuadorian Amazon basin awaits. Ride a 500m cable car over a roaring river before heading back to your hotel.

The Cotopaxi National Park is a popular day trip destination from Quito and visiting on a private tour means you can explore at your own pace. This full-day tour is tailor-made for you, so you can enjoy spectacular views of Cotopaxi Volcano, hike around Limpiopungo Lake, or tuck into a typical Ecuadorian lunch at a mountain lodge. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this private tour visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza, and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south.

Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at an indigenous market and enjoy gorgeous scenery during this 8-hour trip to Otavalo Market from Quito. This fascinating market features a wealth of hand-made creations produced by local Andean communities, including textiles, leather goods and more. Enjoy sublime views of the Andes Mountains and San Pablo Lake during your drive to the site before hunting for souvenirs. On your way home, you can choose to visit Cotacachi, an artisan town famous for its leather goods, or Cuicocha Lake. Your shopping and scenery trip includes a guide, entrance fees, a snack, round-trip hotel transport and an upgrade with lunch.

With more than 1660 species, Ecuador´s avifauna is considered one of best places in the world to practice birdwatching. The high percentage of endemic birds found in both Choco and Tumbesian regions invite birdwatchers to enjoy a really amazing experience in this small country!! Our trips offer the possibility to see around 50 species in only one day, while you visit different ecosystems like: the Cloud Forest, Tropical Forest, Andean Mountain Forest, Andean Dry Forest, etc. In our daily tours in the south of Ecuador, you will have the chance to spot some of the Southern Endemic birds. Let us to show you the wonders of the birds.

Spend the day exploring Ecuador's stunning landscapes on this full-day tour of Antisana Volcano. Located some 18,800 feet (5753 m) above sea level, this incredible destination is known for its biodiversity. Learn about indigenous plants and animals from your local guide as you tour the national park, which is full of colorful indigenous animals.

Experience the serene nature of the forest as you look out for birdlife in this guided birding experience. Keep an eye out for exotic locals such as sword billed hummingbirds, scarlet bellied mountain tanagers, and tiny rufous antpitta. Learn the local bird calls from your guide to help you summon nearby birds.

Unveil the ancient history of the Valdivia tribe, the first clay workers in South America, on this full-day excursion to the Cerro Jaboncillo archaeological site. With an expert guide, explore ongoing excavations, witness real fossils and artifacts, and visit the museum showcasing Pache, Valdivia, and Chorrera cultures. Then visit the vibrant fish market and boatyard, discovering the art of crafting wooden fishing boats, plus a traditional hat factory.

Discover the unique landscapes of Ecuador’s Antisana Volcano when you book this full-day excursion from Quito. Learn how volcanic activity, glacial movements, and evolution have created a unique landscape and ecosystem, home to a plethora of wildlife. Explore the area with your private guide and keep your eyes peeled for condors, deer, alpacas, and more.

Venture out of the city to experience some of Ecuador's outstanding biodiversity. Along the way, stop off at the middle of the world to tour the Intiñan Museum and learn some fascinating tidbits about being on the Equator. Proceed to a hummingbird sanctuary and orchid reserve to take in the surrounding Andean landscape while hiking through a cloud forest.

Spend a day amongst the waterfalls and wildlife of Ecuador on a full-day private tour to a coastal cloud forest. Comfortable round-trip transportation from your Guayaquil hotel offers spectacular views of the Bucay Mountains. Follow your guide through the cloud forest trails to three different waterfalls and swim beneath each. Afterwards, learn how to operate a sugar cane press and enjoy a traditional lunch before your return to the city.

Discover Ecuador’s Amazonian landscapes during this 4-day stay at the Cuyabeno Tucan Lodge. This experience is beyond a hotel stay and includes several activities including a jungle hike, a community visit, and bird watching. Since this is an all-inclusive package, you don’t have to worry about a thing while you’re at the lodge; just sit back and enjoy the Amazon.

The reserve is a refuge for many species of fauna, some of them threatened, such as the canclón, a water bird that lives in the lagoon of the same name, and the crocodile of the coast, which has already disappeared in other areas of the coast. Due to the diversity and great extension of aquatic environments that the reserve protects, in the year 1990 it was declared a Ramsar site, an international recognition for wetlands of great importance.

Paz de las Aves is your destination for the day, a bird refuge in the Mindo cloud forest. A private guide accompanies you from Quito while a specialist points out bird species such as the antpitta, toucan barbet, blue-winged tanager, and the cock-of-the-rock plus dozens of hummingbirds at the Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve. This personalized service include breakfast, private hotel transport, and admission fees.

Take a break from the busy streets of Quito and visit Ecuador’s second-highest summit, Cotopaxi Volcano, on this full-day tour. With a private guide, head to the top of the volcano and take in the surrounding views. Learn about the geological history of Ecuador, home to several volcanoes, and enjoy a short hike around Limpiopungo Lake.