Top Ecuador Outdoor Activities - page 6

Visit Bartolome Island and for a day of hiking and snorkeling with this small-group tour from Puerto Ayora. You'll take a hike up to the volcanic top of the island to take in great views of the surrounding area before continuing to Playa Dorada, known for its resident penguins. While at the beach, you'll get the chance to snorkel in the waters of Sullivan Bay before returning to Puerto Ayora.

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.

Make the most of the journey from Guayaquil to Cuenca, Ecuador. This full-day one-way trip includes a stop at a cacao farm to see how the main ingredient in chocolate is grown and processed. In Cajas National Park, enjoy a short hike through the high altitude paramo moorland which is an important and scenic watershed.

Wheel your way through Ecuador’s stunning capital Quito on this half-day small group bicycle tour. There is something for everyone on this guided ride through the city’s key districts. Appreciate local art, smell the flora in the botanic gardens, and join the locals you end the day at one of Quito’s iconic markets. A safety-certified helmet and safety vest is provided for comfort and safety while you experience Quito’s vibrant La Floresta, Carolina, Mariscal, and Iñaquito districts.

Embark on an unforgettable journey into the high-altitude cloud forest of Mindo, one of the world's premier biodiversity hotspots. Led by an expert professional guide, this immersive tour takes you deep into lush, ancient trails where you will discover the towering native trees, rich ecology, and fascinating plant life that makes this ecosystem so unique. To ensure you don't miss a single moment, every traveler receives their own personal pair of binoculars. As you trek through the pristine canopy, your guide will help you spot and identify stunning, brilliantly colored birds—from vibrant toucans and tanagers to luminous hummingbirds. You'll learn captivating details about their unique behaviors, calls, and habitats in real time. Perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and birding enthusiasts, this educational hike offers an intimate, up-close look at the dazzling wildlife hidden within the Mindo mountains.

This 3-day tour covers plenty of ground—from the Ecuadorian Andes to the Amazon—with a private guide and vehicle. Leave itinerary planning to experts who know the challenging terrain in Ecuador. Learn about rainforest biodiversity, the customs of indigenous communities, and hike up snow-capped Cotopaxi. Your guide will be with you to assist with any language barriers.

Satisfy an appetite for adventure during an extreme canyoning tour in the Cashaurco Canyon. In a small group limited to only 10—to ensure you receive personalized attention from your instructor—you’ll go swimming, diving, abseiling, jumping, and ziplining, while soaking up the stunning natural scenery surrounding Baños.

Get up close and personal with marine iguanas, sea lions, and hawks on a day trip to Santa Fe Island from Santa Cruz. Included hotel pickup ensures a smooth start. Once aboard the yacht, you’ll set off for Santa Fe Island. In addition to wildlife sightings, you’ll have time to enjoy Playa Escondida. The day tour also includes a filling lunch with a vegetarian option available.

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.

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.

Optimize your time in Galapagos! By visiting the giant tortoise reserve and lava tunnels upon arrival you can save time and use it for other activities. Normally the transfer from the airport is direct and non-stop, the next day they take you back to the upper part of the island to visit the turtles and tunnels, which makes you lose a day in Galapagos. With us you win a day as you visit these attractions upon arrival.

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.

Discover the best of Guayaquil on this half-day experience that highlights the city's history, cultural diversity, and varied Ecuadorian cuisine. In a short amount of time see the gardens, birds, and monkeys of Historic Park, as well as the architecture of the old city. Plus learn all about chocolate with a visit to the Cocoa Museum and a cacao factory where you can see the chocolate-making process from bean to bar.

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.

Cajas National Park protects a huge swath of lake-dotted Andean grasslands—one of the most biologically diverse in the Andes range—just west of Cuenca. During this full-day tour, save time waiting in line at the national park visitors center, and go on a hike through highlands, wetlands, and a Polylepis forest, home to the highest altitude trees in the world. This leaves time for lunch at a local restaurant specializing in fresh trout.

Don’t stress about time-consuming public transport; instead, opt for this private full-day excursion to El Giron Waterfall and Busa Lake from Cuenca. Relax and enjoy the scenery of the Tarqui Valley as you’re driven from point to point, stopping to hike through a cloud forest and lunch at a local restaurant. Ideal for first-time visitors, this tour is an easy way to see places you might otherwise overlook.

Experience the unbeatable beauty of Cajas National Park your way on a private day tour from Cuenca. The start time and duration of the excursion are entirely up to you. Whatever you decide, relax in convenient round-trip transportation from your hotel. The park offers a variety of picturesque trails to suit every experience level. In between your two Andean treks, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After hotel pickup in Cuenca, you’ll set off on an 8-hour avian adventure at El Cajas National Park. From an elevation of 3,800 meters (12,800 ft), you’ll see a long list of endemic birds, including the Tufted Tit Tyrant and Variable Hawk. Go at a leisurely pace with your private guide to maximize your sightings and enjoy the scenery. Unwind as private transport takes you back to your hotel.

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.

Enjoy a day of wildlife and relaxation on a private tour to Papallacta. After hotel pickup, head to the Papallacta Pass where you’re treated to spectacular views of Antisana Volcano and may see an Andean condor. Follow your guide through the cloud forest at Guango Reserve, a bird-lover’s paradise. Have lunch at the Papallacta Hot Spring Complex, then take free time to soak in the natural waters.

Nature, tradition and multicolored market you can experience all of this on this excursion. On our trip to Otavalo we will visit the City of Cayambe, known for its “bizcochos”, a type of baked bread that is accompanied with the so-called “Queso de Hoja” and milk delicacy. Then we will visit the Quitsato sundial museum and continue until we reach the Otavalo Market, where you can see crafts of all kinds made by the skilled indigenous artisans of the area. Then we advance until we reach Cotacachi, a picturesque town famous for its creation of leather goods, here our guide will suggest and give the necessary time for lunch. Later we will visit the Cuicocha Lagoon, which originated after a volcanic explosion thousands of years ago. After this visit we will return to the city of Quito.

Encounter the Ecuadorian jungle at its finest with this day trip to Puyo and surrounds. Departing Baños, first make your way to an animal refuge, meeting monkeys, birds, snakes and other animals of the Amazon. Then head further into the jungle, enjoying a canoe ride, lunch at a local lodge, a beautiful waterfall and much more. This is a great opportunity to experience the very best of Ecuadorian nature.

Experience the sights and flavors of Quito on a private tour. Customize the itinerary based on your interests (and tastes).  You can visit the San Francisco Church and Independence Square in the UNESCO listed historical center. Sample Ecuadorian foods such as tamales, empanadas, canelazo (spiced fruit drink), and much more.  Whatever you decide, your guide is with you every step of the way.

With this two day tour you can enjoy the most popular places to visit while you are in Cuenca. It is a tour for all tastes, you can enjoy history while walking through the Inca ruins, gastronomy while you are in Gualaceo, shopping on your visit to Chordeleg and for nature lovers there is the Cajas National Park. We have everything for all tastes