4 or 5 Day Quito to Cuenca and Cotopaxi,Quilotoa,Baños,Chimborazo
Overview
If you’re short on time and want to see all that Ecuador has to offer, take a comprehensive four or five-day tour. Accommodation and transportation is included between your visits to Quito, Cotopaxi Quilotoa ,Banos, Chimborazo, Cuenca, and more. Every step of the way, your private guide will be with you to narrate your experience. Where you begin is up to you, as the tour can begin from either Quito or Cuenca.
-Enjoy four nights arranged accommodation
-Relax in comfortable transportation between each destination
-Experience a huge amount of Ecuador in just few days
-Get an immersive and personalized experience with a private guide
(OPTIONAL: after fihishing your tour in Cuenca if you need to travel to Guayaquil, you can have a Transfer tour to Guayaquil with an extra charge)
-Enjoy four nights arranged accommodation
-Relax in comfortable transportation between each destination
-Experience a huge amount of Ecuador in just few days
-Get an immersive and personalized experience with a private guide
(OPTIONAL: after fihishing your tour in Cuenca if you need to travel to Guayaquil, you can have a Transfer tour to Guayaquil with an extra charge)
Inclusions
- 4 or 5 nights accommodation depending on the tour option you choose. (based on double occupancy)
- Entrance fees to all activites according to your tour
- Driver/guide SUV (2 to 3 people) - Minivan (4 to 6 people) - Minibus (7 to 15 people)
- 4x Breakfast
- Accommodation included: 5 nights
- 1x Dinner
- Entry/Admission - Canon del Rio Toachi
- Entry/Admission - Mount Chimborazo
- Entry/Admission - El Cajas National Park
- Entry/Admission - La Casa del Arbol
- Entry/Admission - Laguna Quilotoa
- Entry/Admission - Ingapirca Archaeological Complex
- Entry/Admission - Cotopaxi National Park
- Entry/Admission - Piedra de Agua Fuente Termal & Spa
What to expect
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito - Cotopaxi - Quilotoa - Latacunga
Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
06:30 Early in the morning, the guide will pick you up from your hotel in Quito to begin the tour, first visit the Cotopaxi National Park, you will walk around the Limpiopungo Lake, and if the weather is clear you will have time to enjoy the scenery of one of the highest volcanoes of Ecuador and one of the most active in the world.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Laguna Quilotoa, Laguna de Quilotoa, 070701 Ecuador
After visiting Cotopaxi National Park, you will go to Quilotoa Lake, for many the most beautiful place in Ecuador, here you will walk to the bottom of the lake and for the return you can walk up or if you prefer you can rent a horse to ascend..
Finally you will travel to Latacunga to rest in your assigned hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Canon del Rio Toachi, Kilometros Del Canton Sigchos 10, Pujili 050450 Ecuador
After visiting Quilotoa, you will have a short visit to the most impressive canyon in Ecuador. the Toachi canyon located next to the parish of Sumbahua. Finally you will travel to Latacunga City.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Latacunga hotel
Day 2: Latacunga - Baños-Riobamba
Stop At: Laguna de Yambo, Ecuador
The first stop of this day will be the viewpoint of the enchanted lagoon of Yambo. from here you will enjoy an amazing scenery.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Banos, Banos, Tungurahua Province
09:00am-After visiting Yambo Lake you will go to the charming city of Baños to enjoy the famous” Av. De las Cascadas”, after visiting the waterfall of Pailon del Diablo, you will have time for a delicious lunch and then you will travel in one of the nicest cable cars over Pastaza river.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: La Casa del Arbol, Runtun village, Banos 010151 Ecuador
After your lunch, you will take the “Swing at the end of the world”, one of the most famous swings in Latin America. After this experience you will travel aroun 1:30 hours to Riobamba city.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Riobamba hotel
Day 3: Riobamba-Chimborazo-Ingapirca-Cuenca
Stop At: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
07:15am- After breakfast, the guide will pick you up to travel to Chimborazo Faunistic Reserve, there you will walk and enjoy the scenery of the highest mountain en Ecuador "Chimborazo", also there you will see several vicuñas. In this place you will arrive by car till the first refuge (4800masl) and from there if you agree, you could walk up 200mts to the second refuge of Chimborazo located at 5000masl.
After this you will have time for your box lunch.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Iglesia de Balbanera, Pan American Hwy, Riobamba 060150 Ecuador
Here you will visit the oldest church of Ecuador, La Balbanera is located very close to Colta lake , and is considered one of the most important churches in Ecuador.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, Ingapirca Ecuador
Here you will visit an archaeological complex of Ecuador "Ingapirca" here you will learn about the Cañari and Inca cultures.
For people who start their tour on Fridays or Saturdays, the complex will be visited from outside since the Ingapirca ruins are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and will be complemented with a visit to the mountain called "face of the Inca".
Then you will travel 1:30hours to Cuenca.
Stay overnight .
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
Then you will travel for 1:30 min. to arrive to Cuenca to stay at the assigned hotel. Cuenca is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador and Southamerica (two nights in Cuenca)
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca Hotel.
Day 4: Cuenca city tour + Gualaceo and Chordeleg
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
08:30am- On this day you will have a half day city tour of Cuenca considered the most beautiful in Ecuador, here you will visit its historic center that was declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, also you will walk by the riverbank of Tomebamba river. and is possible to visit a Panama Hat Factory.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Gualaceo, Gualaceo, Azuay Province
In the afternoon you will visit the cantons of Gualaceo and Chordeleg to learn about jewelry and the manufacture of textiles in a traditional technique called IKAT, after that you will return to your hotel in Cuenca
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca hotel
End of services ( for the 4 day tour option )
Day 5: Cajas National Park + Piedra de Agua Spa (only 5 day tour option)
Stop At: El Cajas National Park, Cuenca 010219 Ecuador
This day you will visit the Cajas National Park, considered one of the most beautiful places in South America, here you can walk one of its trails and admire the beauty of its mountains, lagoons and Polylepis forests.
In the afternoon after lunch you will go to the parish of Baños to relax your body in one of the best SPAs in the country.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Piedra de Agua Fuente Termal & Spa, Paseo de la Guadalupana S/N Banos - Cuenca, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
In the afternoon after lunch you will go to the parish of Baños to relax your body in one of the best SPAs in the country. Baños is an extinct volcanoe of Ecuador.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
After doing the activities the tour guide will drop you off in your hotel in Cuenca.
End of services.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca Hotel
End of services ( for the 5 day tour option )
Day 1: Quito - Cotopaxi - Quilotoa - Latacunga
Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
06:30 Early in the morning, the guide will pick you up from your hotel in Quito to begin the tour, first visit the Cotopaxi National Park, you will walk around the Limpiopungo Lake, and if the weather is clear you will have time to enjoy the scenery of one of the highest volcanoes of Ecuador and one of the most active in the world.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Laguna Quilotoa, Laguna de Quilotoa, 070701 Ecuador
After visiting Cotopaxi National Park, you will go to Quilotoa Lake, for many the most beautiful place in Ecuador, here you will walk to the bottom of the lake and for the return you can walk up or if you prefer you can rent a horse to ascend..
Finally you will travel to Latacunga to rest in your assigned hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Canon del Rio Toachi, Kilometros Del Canton Sigchos 10, Pujili 050450 Ecuador
After visiting Quilotoa, you will have a short visit to the most impressive canyon in Ecuador. the Toachi canyon located next to the parish of Sumbahua. Finally you will travel to Latacunga City.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Latacunga hotel
Day 2: Latacunga - Baños-Riobamba
Stop At: Laguna de Yambo, Ecuador
The first stop of this day will be the viewpoint of the enchanted lagoon of Yambo. from here you will enjoy an amazing scenery.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Banos, Banos, Tungurahua Province
09:00am-After visiting Yambo Lake you will go to the charming city of Baños to enjoy the famous” Av. De las Cascadas”, after visiting the waterfall of Pailon del Diablo, you will have time for a delicious lunch and then you will travel in one of the nicest cable cars over Pastaza river.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: La Casa del Arbol, Runtun village, Banos 010151 Ecuador
After your lunch, you will take the “Swing at the end of the world”, one of the most famous swings in Latin America. After this experience you will travel aroun 1:30 hours to Riobamba city.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Riobamba hotel
Day 3: Riobamba-Chimborazo-Ingapirca-Cuenca
Stop At: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
07:15am- After breakfast, the guide will pick you up to travel to Chimborazo Faunistic Reserve, there you will walk and enjoy the scenery of the highest mountain en Ecuador "Chimborazo", also there you will see several vicuñas. In this place you will arrive by car till the first refuge (4800masl) and from there if you agree, you could walk up 200mts to the second refuge of Chimborazo located at 5000masl.
After this you will have time for your box lunch.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Iglesia de Balbanera, Pan American Hwy, Riobamba 060150 Ecuador
Here you will visit the oldest church of Ecuador, La Balbanera is located very close to Colta lake , and is considered one of the most important churches in Ecuador.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, Ingapirca Ecuador
Here you will visit an archaeological complex of Ecuador "Ingapirca" here you will learn about the Cañari and Inca cultures.
For people who start their tour on Fridays or Saturdays, the complex will be visited from outside since the Ingapirca ruins are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and will be complemented with a visit to the mountain called "face of the Inca".
Then you will travel 1:30hours to Cuenca.
Stay overnight .
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
Then you will travel for 1:30 min. to arrive to Cuenca to stay at the assigned hotel. Cuenca is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador and Southamerica (two nights in Cuenca)
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca Hotel.
Day 4: Cuenca city tour + Gualaceo and Chordeleg
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
08:30am- On this day you will have a half day city tour of Cuenca considered the most beautiful in Ecuador, here you will visit its historic center that was declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, also you will walk by the riverbank of Tomebamba river. and is possible to visit a Panama Hat Factory.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Gualaceo, Gualaceo, Azuay Province
In the afternoon you will visit the cantons of Gualaceo and Chordeleg to learn about jewelry and the manufacture of textiles in a traditional technique called IKAT, after that you will return to your hotel in Cuenca
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca hotel
End of services ( for the 4 day tour option )
Day 5: Cajas National Park + Piedra de Agua Spa (only 5 day tour option)
Stop At: El Cajas National Park, Cuenca 010219 Ecuador
This day you will visit the Cajas National Park, considered one of the most beautiful places in South America, here you can walk one of its trails and admire the beauty of its mountains, lagoons and Polylepis forests.
In the afternoon after lunch you will go to the parish of Baños to relax your body in one of the best SPAs in the country.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Piedra de Agua Fuente Termal & Spa, Paseo de la Guadalupana S/N Banos - Cuenca, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
In the afternoon after lunch you will go to the parish of Baños to relax your body in one of the best SPAs in the country. Baños is an extinct volcanoe of Ecuador.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
After doing the activities the tour guide will drop you off in your hotel in Cuenca.
End of services.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cuenca Hotel
End of services ( for the 5 day tour option )
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 1 paying adult
- If you are staying in a place different than a hotel, the guide will pick you up from your airBnB or house(please let us know the exact address)
- Passport name, number, date of birth, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- Service animals allowed
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
MARIO_c
December 2019
Una experiencia maravillosa, lugares fantásticos, alojamiento y gastronomía excelente y un guia extraordinario fue la mejor combinacion.
Una experiencia maravillosa, lugares fantásticos, alojamiento y gastronomía excelente y un guia extraordinario fue la mejor combinacion.HVwriter
March 2023
The four day tour from Quito to Cuenca with Polylepis Tours is a winner! Diego is a great guide, knowledgeable about local history, fauna and flora and so much more. The four days flew by and were very informative. For a first-time visitor to Ecuador, the trip opens up the country and shows so...
The four day tour from Quito to Cuenca with Polylepis Tours is a winner! Diego is a great guide, knowledgeable about local history, fauna and flora and so much more. The four days flew by and were very informative. For a first-time visitor to Ecuador, the trip opens up the country and shows some of its best assets. Give it a try!!Departure66556452440
January 2023
Ho fatto un itinerario di 4 giorni. Passa per i principali punti degli Ande equatoriani. I vulcani di 5, 6 mila metri sono spettacolari. La laguna Quilotoa da cartolina. Dopo le cascate a Baños sono belle. Il paesaggio del vulcano Chimborazo mozzafiato, si arriva a 4880 mt di quota. E poi le rovi...
Ho fatto un itinerario di 4 giorni. Passa per i principali punti degli Ande equatoriani. I vulcani di 5, 6 mila metri sono spettacolari. La laguna Quilotoa da cartolina. Dopo le cascate a Baños sono belle. Il paesaggio del vulcano Chimborazo mozzafiato, si arriva a 4880 mt di quota. E poi le rovine inca, parco Cajas e Cuenca. Infine, per 4 giorni può sembrare tanta cosa, però è l'essenziale. Tutto è stato molto bene organizzato da Polylepis e la guida, nel mio caso, Diego è stato molto gentile, con conoscenze non solo storiche come di fauna e flora. Ho fatto il tour privativo, ovviamente è un grande vantaggio, ma ne è valso la pena.bettypS2433IB
October 2023
Just completed the 5 day tour and it was absolutely fantastic. Eddie and Cristian provided a trip way beyond what we were expecting. There is so much to see and do in Ecuador and their knowledge is superb.
Just completed the 5 day tour and it was absolutely fantastic. Eddie and Cristian provided a trip way beyond what we were expecting. There is so much to see and do in Ecuador and their knowledge is superb.B8539VGannab
August 2023
Our favorite was on the one hand visiting Mindo. It is a beautiful small city with its own charm. Visiting Quiolotoa was also a wonderful experience. On the other hand we really enjoyed climbing the Chimborazo. Even though it wasn't easy and a bit challenging, we did it. And standing up there was...
Our favorite was on the one hand visiting Mindo. It is a beautiful small city with its own charm. Visiting Quiolotoa was also a wonderful experience. On the other hand we really enjoyed climbing the Chimborazo. Even though it wasn't easy and a bit challenging, we did it. And standing up there was amazing:) But all in all the whole tour was a highlight! Thanks to our guide Diego! :)Z8760EXphilipp
July 2023
The previous reviews all indicated this trip was excellent; so cutting to the chase was it worth it? It most certainly was and my overall summary is it exceeded our expectations and they were high to start with. My wife and I were hosted by Diego and we enjoyed his company enormously. He was a fo...
The previous reviews all indicated this trip was excellent; so cutting to the chase was it worth it? It most certainly was and my overall summary is it exceeded our expectations and they were high to start with. My wife and I were hosted by Diego and we enjoyed his company enormously. He was a font of information and we spent much of our time swapping information and laughing. Whether is was Diego and my wife nailing the species names of plants, whether trivial or the Latin binomial classification or me discussing the difference between C3 and C4 photosynthesis in plants it was just easy going and informative. It fed into lively discussions of the role of eucalypts in Ecuador from Diego and me discussing the role of epicormic shoots in fire regeneration of the more than 600 species of eucalypts (note the old genus Eucalyptus is now split into several genera). The wonderful fauna, staggeringly beautiful scenery and majestic mountains will take your breath away. Diego hosted us wonderfully and it wasn’t just biology, his knowledge of the history of Ecuador, its people’s and landscape was first rate. Visiting the craft workshops was another high point for us. Finally, I should add how we laughed with Diego about the vagaries of English pronunciation, as my wife is English and I am Australian and many of the families he hosts are American. When we are back in the bubble of Oxford, dodging the tourists, or grappling with our research projects, I am sure we will keep a special place in our hearts for this beautiful country and how special Diego made it. Thank you Diego, my friend.