Ecuador Tours with YPT

Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America’s west coast, hence its name! Its diverse landscape encompasses the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands, and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands, making it a great destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers.

With its colonial past, its liberation through Simón Bolívar and its current involvement with the drug cartel business, it offers a dark and complicated side too, making it a “YPT Destination”. Even the magical Galápagos Islands can be explored from the lens of former whaling atrocities. 

Group Tours to Ecuador

YPT currently offers no scheduled group tour in Ecuador, but as we continuously expand our programme, we might pick up on our “Ecuador Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands Tour” from 2020 again. We recommend coming back to this page and to check our social media to ensure you will not miss out on it.  

Independent Tours to Ecuador

We recognise that our group tour dates may not fit your busy schedule, or you would like to travel alone, or you would like a personalised bespoke Ecuador tour. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but thanks to its network of local partners, YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent tour to Ecuador, either as standalone or linked with tours to Colombia, Venezuela, and beyond.

Below is our example Ecuador tour for the ultimate Amazon and inland city experience. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent tours, especially to Galápagos Islands. 

Example of a 9-day Ecuador Itinerary (Without Galápagos)

Day 1 – Quito

• Arrival in Quito at your convenience and transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Overnight in Quito.

Day 2 – Quito to El Coca

• After breakfast we drive to Quito Airport and board a flight to El Coca, putting us right on the doorstep of Ecuadorian’s remote Amazonian rainforest (1 hour flight).
• Upon our arrival we board a boat that’ll take us into the heart of Yasuni National Park – famous for being one of the world’s most biologically rich regions.
• We’ll then be greeted by our local guide who’ll lead us along a gentle hiking path to have unique opportunities to see the local wildlife in their natural habitats – optional kayaking is available to take you further off track for a more in-depth experience.
• Check into our Amazonian lodge to freshen up.
• Receive a warm welcome by the locals and greeted with a true Amazonian feast for dinner.
• Drinks & overnight at our lodge.

Day 3 – Amazon

• We’ll start the morning off by seeing the colourful side of the Amazon by checking out the Clay Licks, Parrots and Parakeets – fantastic opportunity for photos.
• Stop by the local cultural centre with facts about the importance of the Amazon. 
• Climb to the top of a 40m canopy tower that’ll give us an incredible view across the tree tops.
• Jump aboard an indigenous catamaran ride – experience the traditional way of how the locals have been using the river for transport for centuries.
• Dinner and overnight back at the lodge.

Day 4 – Amazon

• We’ll embark on a canoe tour that’ll give you a closer encounter with the river and wildlife that surrounds it – expect to see some of the 20 different species of monkeys, over sixteen hundred different species of birds, sloths and countless marine life.
• Lunch back on land.
• We’ll jump on one of the most extensive hiking trails available and visit a local indigenous family – here we’ll learn how they’ve turned this wilderness into their home and the benefits of it.
• Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Day 5 – El Coca to Quito

• In the morning we’ll take part in a “Dream interpretation” session by drinking Wayusa – drank like tea this native plant is infused with naturally occurring caffeine and it can give of stimulative effects. YPT might be more about commies and unrecognised countries, but when in Rome…
• We’ll say goodbye to our local guide and jump back on another boat to make our way back to El Cola.
• Board a flight back to Quito city.
• We meet up for dinner and drinks in Zona Rosa AKA “Gringolandia” – Quito’s notorious famous nightlife district.

Day 6 – Quito: Historical City 

• Start the day off by walking off our breakfast and heading up to the very top of Panecillo Hill – the epicentre of Quito – for a perfect view of the bustling city below.
• For those seeking more of a breathtaking view you’ll have the chance to head further up the Virgin of El Panecillo Statue – this monumental sculpture is one of the biggest in South America, even bigger than Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue.
• Lunch downtown at a local eatery – Quito’s cuisine benefits from a unique mix involving a variety of dishes inspired by both Coastal and Andean style.
• Begin our walking tour to learn more of the historical side of the city – Quito was the first city in the world to be listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. It´s also worth to have a closer look at the statue of Simón Bolívar, who defeated the Spaniards in the countries nowadays known as Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador.
• Return to hostel to freshen up.
• For those who really want to soak up the party atmosphere we’ll jump on one of Quito’s famous Chivas – a brightly-lit decked out party truck with our very own DJ complete with drinks on tap that’ll take us around the city in style.
• Overnight in hotel.

Day 7 – Quito: Teleférico and Mitad del Mundo

• We’ll make our way to the top of Pichincha Volcano by catching the Teleférico cable car reaching 4000m (13000 ft).
• Providing the weather holds up, which is usually fine in the morning, we’ll have a view of another 6 volcanoes surrounding Quito, with the city laid out below us. Incredible opportunity for photos.
• Time to indulge ourselves with a local specialty, being that of the empanadas! – deep-fried parcels of sweet bread, filled with a little cheese and sprinkled with sugar. What better way to wash it down with a cup of Canelazo – a local specialty beverage made with raw sugar, cinnamon and a dash (or three) of aguardiente – fire water!
• You have the option of riding on horseback even higher up the volcano, or alternatively have a ride on the rollercoaster in the amusement park back at the bottom of the volcano (extra charge).
• We’ll drive 45 minutes to the famous Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument just outside Quito – Mitad del Mundo was built straddling the equator. You can try out various science experiments here, one of them being if the myth is true about water going down the plughole in opposite directions on opposite sides of the equator.
• We’ll hit up a local joint that does an incredible Churrasco dish – a local version of a Brazilian dish which involves noodles mixed with chicken or beef.
• Drinks in town followed by a good sleep at the hotel.

Day 8 – Quito to Cuenca

• Make our way to the airport and jump aboard a 45 minute flight to Ecuador’s third largest city of Cuenca – situated in a valley at about 2500m with a population of 450,000 people.
• Visit to a hat factory to see the part-artisanal, part-industrial process of making Panama hats – it’s a common misconception that Panama hats are made in Panama, but in fact they are made right here in Cuenca! Hats are available to buy hats at factory prices – around $25, though the very finest hats cost $800 or more!
• For a truly local experience we’ll catch the recently-inaugurated streetcar to the local hot mineral springs baths to restore your wellbeing after being on a few boats and flights from earlier in the trip.
• Dinner at a local restaurant.
• Overnight in Cuenca.

Day 9 – Cuenca

• Morning walking tour of the historic centre of this UNESCO World Heritage city.
• Climb up to the roof of the ‘New’ Cathedral with its very distinctive domes for a view down to the main city square.
• After lunch we’ll visit the Pumapungo park, where you can see real live (well, dead actually) human shrunken heads – a ritual that involved using a severed human head that was used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight at Cuenca.

From here  you can continue for Guayaquil to fly with us to Galápagos, to join one of our other tours in Colombia or Venezuela, or to venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to Ecuador

As part of our travel packages within Latin America, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to Ecuador. These can be done as full Ecuador tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Historical Ecuador Tours – YPT can offer tour stop Ecuador that fit more with the ancient history of the country, from indigenous people to colonial times, as well as the contemporary events. This tour could include visits to Quito, the capital city, with its colonial architecture and vibrant markets; Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning churches and indigenous culture; and Otavalo, home to one of South America’s largest indigenous markets.

Eco-Travel in Ecuador – Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the lesser seen places of Ecuador, such as the rural areas that cater to eco-tourism within the country, its mountainous areas or longer and deeper experiences in the Amazon.

Wildlife Tour – Wildlife: For wildlife lovers, YPT can organize a tour including visits to the Galapagos Islands, where you can see giant tortoises, iguanas, penguins, and blue-footed boobies; the Yasuni National Park, home to an incredible diversity of birds, mammals, and amphibians; and the Cotopaxi National Park, where you can hike up a volcano.

Ecuador to Colombia Overland Tour – Starting with the exploration of Quito and its surroundings, we will then head via bus in direction of the border with Colombia, passing some of the majestic volcanoes that rule the country like silent giants. In Colombia, we will see the hidden gem of Pasto’s Cathedral before arriving in Cali and Medellin with their notorious drug cartel history.  

Underground Ecuador Tours – Quito, Guayaquil, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and guide underground and dark tourism tours to Ecuador. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Ecuador Adventure Tours – Ecuador offers volcanoes and canyons which can be explored while doing water sports, climbing and small to medium hikes. If you prefer to move yourself instead of sitting in vehicles too often, this one is your go-to tour, featuring the famous location of Baños.  

Filming in Ecuador – Through our media arm Pioneer Media (www.mediapioneers.net) we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others to film within Ecuador from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in the country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within Ecuador. 

Frequently asked Questions about travel to Ecuador

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