This 7-day Ecuadorian vacation takes you to Quito, the Mindo Cloud Forest, and Cotopaxi. It features first-class accommodations and a mix of private and small-group tours.
Your journey to Ecuador begins in Quito, the nation's capital and one of the best-preserved cities in South America. Start the day off with a visit north of the city to Mitad del Mundo, where the Equator bisects the planet. Back in the city centre, you’ll explore the colonial churches and government buildings around Plaza de la Independencia before capping off the day with a cocoa experience, learning about the world’s most beloved sweet in the country where it’s from. Then head north to the Mindo Cloud Forest, stopping at butterfly and orchid gardens en route. Ride the cable car into the forest and reach El Monto Cloud Forest Ecolodge, your home for the next couple nights. In Mindo, you’ll explore the gorgeous natural landscape of winding rivers and cloud-draped mountains on guided tours and have the opportunity to spot some of the world’s most exotic birds, including the Golden-Headed Quetzal and Cocho Toucan.
After exploring the cloud forest, stop by Tony’s House, a remarkable property where over 24 species of hummingbirds congregate, before returning to Quito and continuing on to Cotopaxi National Park to the south. In this park along the country’s Avenue of the Volcanoes, you'll explore the landscapes surrounding some the highest peaks, including Cotopaxi Volcano. In the mountains, you’ll hike and go mountain biking along trails to lookouts with stunning views. Visit the volcanic lake of Quilotoa, located in the crater of the volcano of the same name, and meet with local Tigua villagers in remote parts of the park.
Turn back towards Quito and stop by an Indigenous craft market to do some shopping. You’ll also swing by a rose plantation, where you’ll learn about Ecuador’s role as a leading exporter of roses, before reaching Quito, where you’ll head to the airport for onward travels.
