14 Day Self Drive Ecuador

Itinerary

• DAY 1 TRANSFER TO QUITO
  

  This is the first day of your Ecuador Self Drive Tour. After your arrival in Quito Airport, an English speaking driver will pick you up to bring you to your hotel, which is located in the center of Quito.

  • TransportCar.
  • AccommodationsHotel Casona de la Ronda or similar.
• DAY 2 CITY TOUR QUITO – EQUATOR
  

  After having breakfast, you will explore the beautiful center of Quito through a city tour. Afterward, you will visit the equator by private transport and see the highlights of Quito, like El Panecillo, La Basilica, La Ronda, and the Pululahua crater. Later, you’ll enjoy a typical local lunch and can relax for the rest of the day or explore the city by yourself.

  • ActivityRelaxing, Sightseeing.
  • TransportCar.
  • MealBreakfast, Lunch.
  • AccommodationsHotel Casona de la Ronda or similar.
• DAY 3 CAYAMBE – LAGO SAN PABLO – CONDOR PARK – OTAVALO
  

  Today, your actual “self-drive” starts. You will be brought to the car rental parking lot from where you will pick up your car (Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ or similar). We recommend a certain route with nice stops but the only thing you “have” to do is to get to the Hacienda at the end of the day. The number of stops, how to get there, where to eat is all your decision.

  The first stop will be at the Cayambe, where there is a nice local Bizcochos factory. Then, you will go to Lago San Pablo, where you can enjoy beautiful views. Afterwards, you will visit the Condor Rescue Park. The owner Joep, who is Dutch is committed to the preservation of the condors in the Andes. Twice a day, there is an air show with the condors (except on Mondays and Tuesdays). Later, you will drive to Otavalo where on Saturdays there is a big native market with different kinds of handicrafts. You can also visit the beautiful lake of Cuicocha and do a hike there. The town of Cotacachi is also a nice place to visit; you can find here a lot of artisans that make the most beautiful leather products.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking, Sightseeing, Wildlife Watching.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsHacienda Cusin or similar.
• DAY 4 OTAVALO – PAPALLACTA
  

  After your breakfast, you can visit the surroundings of Lago San Pablo and Otavalo before you head to Papallacta. On the way to Papallacta, you will find a lot of flower farms for roses. About 20 minutes before arriving at Papallacta you will go to he highest point of the road (4000 meters). Here you can have amazing views over the Antisana Volcano and there is a little chapel where drivers sometimes stop to pray. You could visit the natural hot springs in the afternoon and enjoy the beautiful views. There is also a spa available with unique “volcanic mud” treatments. You can also do some self–guided hikes.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking, Relaxing, Sightseeing.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsSpa Hotel Papallacta or similar.
• DAY 5 ANDES MOUNTAINS – AMAZON
  

  Today you will drive from the high Andes mountains to the Amazon. After approximately 3 hours driving you will arrive at the sub-tropic climate of the Amazon. It is interesting to see how the vegetation changes in the different regions. Just before arriving to Tena you find a charming eco-lodge along the river.

  • ActivityExploring.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast, Dinner.
  • AccommodationsHakuna Matata Eco-Lodge or similar.
• DAY 6 AMAZON
  

  On this day, you will stay at Hakuna Matata and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Amazon. You can also enjoy the swimming pool, swim in the river, go by car to Tena or arrange an excursion with the lodge.

  • ActivityExploring, Relaxing.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
  • AccommodationsHakuna Matata Eco-Lodge or similar.
• DAY 7 TENA – WATERFALLS – PUYO - BAÑOS
  

  After having a large breakfast, you will drive from Tena to Baños de Agua Santa through the waterfalls trail. Along the way, you can make several stops for a small hike and pictures. Close to that is an animal rescue center in Puyo (Tarqui) where Amazon animals are picked up by a local family. Additionally, in the evening Baños is very entertaining with several restaurants and bars.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsSamari Spa Resort or similar.
• DAY 8 COTOPAXI VOLCANO
  

  Today, you will drive about 3 hours from Baños to the Cotopaxi volcano. You can not enter the park without a local guide, but you can always hire the guide locally. Entrance policies for the National Park change regularly. Rebecca Adventure Travel is not responsible for any extra fees or other restrictions. Once inside you can drive around enjoying the beautiful sights or go for either short or long hikes.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsHacienda Papagayo Sur or similar
• DAY 9 CHIMBORAZO – GUAMOTE MARKET – LOCAL ACTIVITIES
  

  After breakfast, you will drive to the southern part of Ecuador. After about 4 hours driving you will arrive in Guamote. Along the way, you will have beautiful views of the highest volcano in Ecuador, Chimborazo. In Guamote, you will stay at Inti Sisa, where there are a lot of social projects organized by the Indian community. In the afternoon, you will have cooking class from the cook of Inti Sisa. Every Thursday, there is a famous market in Guamote. From the surrounding communities high in the Andes, thousands of indigenous people come together to buy and sell their goods.

  • ActivityCooking, Exploring, Sightseeing.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsInti Sisa or similar.
• DAY 10 NARIZ DEL DIABLO – INGAPIRCA RUINS
  

  Today you can visit the small Andean town of Alausi, straddled alongside a scenic river valley, the town has been named one of Ecuador’s “pueblos mágicos,” or magic villages, and is particularly well-known across Ecuador for its railway heritage. From Alausi, you can also take the breathtaking day hike to the Devil’s Nose. The trail offers incredible views of the river valley and a bird’s eye view of the inoperative tracks. After this, you can drive to the Ingapirca ruins (journey time approximately 45 minutes).

  • ActivityExploring, Sightseeing.
  • TransportSelf-driven, Train.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsPosada Ingapirca or similar.
• DAY 11 INGAPIRCA – CUENCA
  

  Today you will drive to Cuenca which takes about 1.5 hours. When you arrive in Cuenca you can visit the mirador, walk around the Historical centre and discover the villages around. There is also a very nice spa on about 20 minutes driving.

  • ActivityExploring, Relaxing, Sightseeing.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast.
  • AccommodationsHotel Victoria or similar.
• DAY 12 CUENCA – NATIONAL PARK CAJAS
  

  After having breakfast, you will visit the historic centre of Cuenca, and later the Cajas National Park. At the end of the day, you will go to a beautiful hacienda where you will stay the night.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking, Sightseeing.
  • TransportSelf-driven.
  • MealBreakfast
  • AccommodationsHacienda Dos Chorreras or similar.
• DAY 13 HACIENDA LA DANESA – GUAYAQUIL
  

  Today you will drive from Cuenca to Guayaquil. After about 2,5 hours, you will arrive at Hacienda la Danesa, a very beautiful house where you will have lunch. Besides, you can decide between several optional activities, like horseback riding, tubing, mountain biking or hiking (The activities are included, except for horseback riding). Additionally, it is possible to follow a workshop about cocoa or to learn milking cows. From La Danesa you drive to Guayaquil where you would have to hand in your car. The last night night you will stay in Guayaquil and you can enjoy the rich cuisine that this city has to offer.

  • ActivityExploring, Hiking, Biking, Tubing.
  • TransportSelf-driven, Car.
  • MealBreakfast, Lunch.
  • AccommodationsHotel Wyndham Guayaquil or similar.
• DAY 14 FLIGHT BACK HOME
  

  On the final day of your Ecuador Self Drive tour, you will be brought to the airport with an airport shuttle to catch your flight back home. Another option would be to extend your stay at the Galapagos Islands.

  • TransportCar, Bus.
  • MealBreakfast.