Top Ecuador Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises - page 5

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.

The villages of Gualaceo and Chordeleg with their traditions of producing fine local handicrafts lie just east of Cuenca. With this private tour, browse the colorful wares at your leisure while learning about traditional artisan techniques. Watch as guitars, filigree jewelry, Panama hats, and shawls are being made, taste local fruits only found in Ecuador, and sit down for a local lunch. You’ll have plenty of time to shop in each village.

Visit two of the world’s most interesting locations on a full-day private tour. First, visit one of only two inhabited volcanic craters in the world and see how locals are living. Then, head to the Intiñan Museum to visit the exact division of the northern and southern hemispheres at 00º 00’ 00”. Lastly, head to Quito for a tour of the world’s first UNESCO-listed city and learn about its rich history.

Cover some of Ecuador’s top cultural attractions without having to worry about planning or speaking Spanish on an action-packed private sightseeing tour. You’ll cover San Pablo Lake, the charming towns of Cotacachi and Cayambe, and Otavalo Market—the largest indigenous market in South America—while you enjoy the undivided attention of your guide.

Explore Quito without breaking a sweat on this half-day e-bike tour. Join a small group and pedal through both the colonial and modern parts of the city, exploring hidden gems and diverse neighborhoods. Climb atop quality, German-made electric bikes for a smooth ride through the city while listening to fascinating insights from your expert guide. This tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

Swap the bustle of Quito for the natural beauty of Mindo, a small mountain town home to an abundance of nature, on a private tour from Ecuador’s capital. You’ll tick off all the highlights—which include a nature reserve, waterfall, zipline, and chocolate factory—without having to book each one separately or navigate between them.

Mindo, known for its coffee and chocolate production, sits just off the main road between Quito and Esmeraldas. On this chocolate-centric tour, get a behind-the-scenes look at the chocolate-making process from bean to bar at a small-batch factory. Taste fresh fruit straight from a cocoa tree and finish with a tasting of several varieties of chocolate.

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.

Cerro Blanco is a birdwatcher's paradise home to more than 200 bird species, many of which live nowhere else on Earth. Rise and shine on this roundtrip door-to-door tour from your Guayaquil hotel, arriving at Cerro Blanco visitors center in time for the morning chorus. Your naturalist guide will lead you around the lower mountain paths, helping spot and identify the flora and fauna you'll see and hear along the way.

In this tour we will do in the bay of port villamil isabela island, we will observe several endemic animals in this tour, such as sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, sharks, marine iguanas.

Spend a half day exploring both the city of Guayaquil and the Cocoa Route with a private guide. The private tour is done at your own pace, so you can maximize your experience. In private transport, you and your guide will visit a nearby cocoa plantation, and enjoy a hands-on experience with chocolate making. After lunch (included), experience the excitement of Ecuador’s largest city— Guayaquil—stopping at the Malecon Simón Bolívar and more.

Chimborazo volcano, located in the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, is the highest mountain in Ecuador and the closest to the sun. Its dreamscapes invite us to dream higher. Our tour begins in Quito and we will venture with our professional guide along the paths of the imposing Chimborazo. The summit of the volcano reaches 6310 meters, a challenge for mountaineering lovers. On our tour we will explore until 5100 meters above sea level, where the mystical lagoon Condor Cocha is located, surrounded by moorland flora and local fauna such as the vicuña. After this experience, we will descend to the parking lot and finish our tour in Quito. Optional we can extend 1 more day and visit Quilotoa, Cotopaxi or Baños de Agua Santa.

Rather than be overwhelmed at one of South America’s largest markets, let a personal guide accompany you. On this private day trip from Quito to Otavalo Market, you’ll have a better opportunity to interact with traditionally attired Quichua vendors selling handicrafts, textiles, and even livestock. Savor views of the Ecuadorian Andes on a brief waterfall walk after lunch in Cotacachi, a town known for its leather goods.

Discover Pinzon Island's vibrant birds, reptiles, and marine life on a day tour from Santa Cruz. This excursion is perfect for travelers interested in native wildlife both above and below the water. On the island, enjoy a walking tour through the candelabra cactus forest. Wildlife sightings may include blue-footed boobies, frigates, and marine iguanas. Later, snorkel with sea lions, manta rays, sea turtles, and more in clear waters.

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.

Guayaquil, Gateway to the Galapagos, is more than just a layover city. See for yourself during this layover roundtrip sightseeing tour to/from the airport. This whirl around Ecuador's most important port city is completely flexible depending on the length of your layover. Stop by a local market to haggle over Ecuadorian handicrafts, pick up some handmade chocolate, get an overview of the city from downtown sights, or simply grab a bite to eat. Whatever you decide, it beats hanging out in an airport!

The traditional town of Otavalo lies in the foothills of the Andes Mountains around two hours north of Quito. On this tour, visit the famous Otavalo market and Cotocachi Leather Market, shop for traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, and stop at local beauty spots such as Peguche Waterfalls or Cuicocha Lake.

After your guide collects you from your hotel, set off an adventure around the city.  First, ascend to Quito’s famous viewpoint in a cable car. From 4,100 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, you’ll see the city in all its splendor. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the historic center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight and stop to visit major attractions like the Presidential Palace, La Ronda, and the Cathedral.

If you’re short on time in Ecuador, you can still get a glimpse of the wonders of the Amazon without having to spend days deep in the forest. This day trip from Baños introduces you to some of the flora and fauna of one of the world’s most biodiverse places. You’ll admire the landscapes from multiple perspectives during canoe rides and hikes to panoramic viewpoints.

This private full-day tour from Cuenca, Ecuador was designed with hikers in mind. Explore trails through primary cloud forest, then continue to Cajas National Park to explore the high altitude paramo landscape and watershed within this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A well-earned lunch of trout from local fish farms is included.

Quito’s Old Town is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its colonial architecture and historic churches. With this small-group tour, visit two of the city’s most important churches and discover other less-visited attractions around the city. Climb up to the dome of the Santo Domingo Church for a magnificent view over Quito and visit the Church of the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as the ‘Golden Church’.

The Ingapirca ruins, one of Ecuador’s largest and most important archaeological sites, sit just north of Cuenca. Save time navigating public transport and waiting in line at the entrance to the site with this private tour, and visit this Incan fortress-temple in the Cañar Valley with a guide who can fill you in on its history. This leaves time to visit a family of indigenous weavers to see who Panama hats are made.

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.

Learn how to prepare authentic Ecuadorian food during a cooking class in Quito. An in-the-know guide whisks you around the local fruit and vegetable market to shop for ingredients. Discover the traditional flavors used in Ecuadorian cuisine and enjoy a hands-on culinary experience preparing a delicious 3-course meal. Your tour includes all ingredients, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off.