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168 hours
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This is a nice tour for you, in this trip you have the opportunity to visit part of the Andean Highlands while you go along the Volcanoes Avenue, you´ll go down to enjoy the beauty of the jungle.
It is a ideal journey for people who want to walk along paths with volcanoes, lagoons, waterfalls, colonial cities, archaeological sites, indigenous markets, etc.
We will start in Quito and end in Cuenca.
Check our tripadvisor photo gallery.
ONE WAY: QUITO TO CUENCA
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Entrance fees
Driver/guide
Lunch
All activities
7 nights accommodation based on double occupancy
Meals (lunch & dinner)
Personal expenses
Tips
Select a pickup point
Overnight in Latacunga
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Quito
07:00 AM – Our accredited tour guide will pick you up from the hotel, after traveling 1 hour you will stop in a restaurant to get breakfast, then you will travel to the Middle of the World city, where you can see one of the most emblematic monuments of Ecuador while walking right on the equator line that divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres. You can also visit the ethnographic museum to learn details about the different cultures of Ecuador.
Cotopaxi National Park
In the afternoon you will visit the Cotopaxi National Park, it is located in the largest volcanic area of Ecuador, inside the park you will make a visit to the Limpiopungo Lagoon, its clear but frigid waters, here you can see a great variety of birds and some other species of mammals, also you will enjoy the beauty of Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, depending the weather conditions you will have a nice view of the volcano.
Overnight in Baños de Agua Santa
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Laguna Quilotoa
07:00 AM - After the breakfast you´ll depart to visit Quilotoa Lagoon, one of the most beautiful lagoons in South America. its emerald green water in the crater of an extinct volcano, it is absolutely unmissable place when you visit Ecuador.
Tigua
On the road you will visit Tigua, the Tigua artists high in the Ecuadorian Andes are renowned for their colorful paintings of rural life. Their delightful folk art, painted with chicken feather brushes on sheep hide and wood masks.
Pujili
Finally you´ll go to Pujili town has a very traditional market, where the indigenous people from the surrounding mountain regions gather to sell, buy or barter their animals and goods.Therefore this a market for people who still like an authentic.
Overnight in Baños de Agua Santa
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
07:00 AM - Departing from Baños de Agua Santa to Puyo in the Amazon Region, you will visit Hola Vida Reserve, upon arriving at the reserve, one can take a half hour hike through the jungle to a stunning waterfall, then you will visit an Indigenous Kichwa Community to learn about their environment and culture.
Cascada El Pailon
Upon our return to Baños de Agua Santa you´ll visit the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall is a magnificent waterfall in the Rio Verde area, it is about 80 meters high and it’s one of the most spectacular waterfalls to visit in Ecuador, also you´ll get to small viewing platform at the top provides an extraordinarily vantage point to appreciate the raw power of the falls. Also you will visit the "Swing of the End of the World".
Overnight in Alausí
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Mount Chimborazo
08:00 AM - You will go to Chimborazo Volcano, is the tallest peak in Ecuador and ranks 17th in the world. A curious fact about Chimborazo is that its summit is the farthest point on the surface of the Earth from the center of the Earth
Laguna de Colta
Road to Alausi you´ll make a stop to visit Colta Lagoon is a large water body of elongated shape, surrounded by lush vegetation, native bird species, colorful boats. This lagoon has a unique shape and stunning topography surrounding it, nearby there is another popular attraction, the "Church of Balbanera" — the oldest Catholic church in Ecuador. The legend says that in times of conquest - in the 1530s, Spanish troops passed by the lagoon, impressed by the beauty and transparency of these waters, they built on the banks of the lake a church in honor of their patron: "La Virgen de Balbanera".
Overnight in Cuenca
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Estacion Ferrocarril
08:00 AM - After breakfast, with the guide you will visit the central park of Alauisi, the train station and the viewpoint of "La loma de Llugli". Then we will travel south to reach the Ingapirca parish.
Ingapirca
Road to Cuenca, you will visit Ingapirca Ruins, it´s a amazing complex where you can see the different construccions belongs Cañari culture and Inca culture Ingapirca is a Kichwa word that means "Inca's wall." Is the most important Archaeological Complex in Ecuador, the buildings are made with perfectly carved stones and joined with natural mortar.
Overnight in Cuenca
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Cuenca
09:00 AM - Depart from the Hotel to make a tour around Cuenca, is arguably the most charming with its cobblestone streets, old-world cathedrals, colonial parks and urban rivers. Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay province, the third largest city in Ecuador, it has the honor of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site. In this tour you will know Cuenca highlights as Toquilla Hats factories, a variety of churches, colonial plazas, traditional neighborhoods and Turi viewpoint. You will have the afternoon free to rest or discover the good restaurants that has the city.
Overnight in Cuenca - End of the services
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
El Cajas National Park
08:30 AM - You will go 33 km to the northwest of the city of Cuenca to Cajas National Park, this National Park has more than 235 lakes, and it is the most lake-rich national parks of the entire Andes. Cajas National Park is the best accessible paramo park and one of the most scenic one of the most scenic areas of the 45 national parks of Ecuador. Is the most visited National Park in the South of Ecuador, here you will enjoy the amazing sceneries, wild life, flora and Polylepis forest. If you want the transfer to Guayaquil we´ll arrange with extra charge.
Economic Class: Option with a nice tourist class hotel (shared tour)
In this kind of tour it´s possible that more people join.
Pickup included
Standard Class: This alternative is with standard kind hotels.
In this option, it´s possible that more people join.
Pickup included
SUV,VAN,MINIBUS: Profesional transportation
Private Tour : Great option with excellent hotels 3 & 4 stars
Pickup included
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
758ranjanis,
Jan 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
The whole trip was really enjoyable. Diego was a fantastic tour guide. His knowledge about the country, culture, indigenous community etc. was excellent. He communicated very well and also accommodated any changes we wanted to the itinerary. I would highly recommend this tour to all my friends.
Heike F,
Nov 28, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
We spent 7 days with Eddy. We enjoyed it very much. Eddy was competent at all times and knew well about plants and animals. From him we have many interesting things about country and people. Eddy has responded to our requests at all times, even if this required a spontaneous change of the itinerary. We were super satisfied and gladly recommend him.


liliya f,
Oct 22, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
Thanks to our guide Edison (Polylepsis Tour Agency), we were able to see Ecuador through his eyes. His love of his country, his passion, his knowledge, all added up to a most enjoyable journey. It was all professional (but he has a great sense of humor and is very personable). We always felt safe and taken care of when we were with him. He never complained and was very flexible when we wanted to make changes to the agenda. We can't say enough good about Edison!! He made our first trip to South America very special.




116linc,
May 26, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
Just returned from Ecuador trip.Our travel agent and also guide Edison was wonderful! He has experience and professional network for organizing a very good trip for us in our budget which includes: Galapagos, Amazon and Highland. All these trips are terrific and all staff and guides were tremendous! Edison knew all the history and very kind! He take care all the details in our trip! Overall a great trip we would recommend Edison to everyone for you Ecuador trip! Thanks again for all help by Edison! Lin Chen & Tong Chu
jsguaman,
Jan 13, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
My family and I were in need of a tour guide as this was our first time in Ecuador. We had heard so many wonderful things, but we did not know where to go. We had a friend who had recently gone, who recommended Polylepis Tours Ecuador. It was one of the best tours we had. He took us to the best places in Ecuador and answered all of our questions. He recommended the best food as well. We saw beautiful mountains and had the best time. The tour guide became more of a friend on this tour. As a family, we would most definitely recommend.


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