Volcanoes, Amazon & Pacific: A Family Adventure in Ecuador

Rise and shine to make the most of your first full day in the Andean highlands. After a hearty breakfast this morning, you’ll be met by an experienced local guide for an adventurous day in and around Otavalo. Begin with a short hike to Lake Cuicocha, a startlingly-blue crater lake perched at the bottom of a volcano. When your tummies start to grumble, head to the home of a local indigenous family to learn all about ancestral ingredients and cooking techniques, before helping to cook up a selection of delicious dishes to enjoy together. Walk off your meal with a stroll though the daily Otavalo market, the most famous indigenous market in the Andes. Drift between fruits and vegetables, ceramics and baskets, embroidery and woolen fabrics, as well as countless other colourful stalls. Keep an eye out for the indigenous Kichwa vendors, identified by their brown felt hats and blue ponchos. The rest of today is yours to play with. We can arrange for you to continue your day of cultural immersion with a visit to a musical instrument workshop to meet a Kichwa musician, or you ccan head back to your hotel to relax and enjoy the facilities there after your busy day of exploring.

Your cultural exploration of Andean Ecuador changes pace today, as you swap the indigenous roots of Otavalo for the colonial grandeur of Quito. After breakfast this morning you’ll be privately transferred back to the capital, where you’ll check in for two nights at an elegant hotel in the heart of the historic centre. After settling in and freshening up, spend the rest of the day getting to know your new city surroundings. You’ll have our coveted destination-specific Dossier on hand, which is full of our tried-and-tested recommendations for bars and restaurants in the area.

On today’s agenda is a private walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, one of the best preserved historic centres in all of Latin America. From the adorable single-story colourful homes, with their Spanish balconies, to the imposing civil and religious buildings rising at every turn, walking through the streets is like stepping back in time. Your guide will lead you to some of the neighbourhood’s most important historic buildings, such as the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Saint Francis Church, which houses the Virgen de Quito, a wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary venerated throughout the northern Andes. Between stops, mum and dad can enjoy Canelazo (an alcoholic tea made with aguardiente, sugar, water and cinnamon), while the youngsters munch on delightfully sweet and fluffy quesadillas. Round off your discovery of the Old Town with a visit to a chocolate factory, where you’ll have the chance to make your own bar of chocolate cocoa. This is a great way to delve into the intricacies of producing the world’s favourite sweet treat, from melting and moulding to adding nuts or dried fruits. While the chocolate cools, enjoy an ice cream or hot drink – but make sure not to spoil your appetite so you can sample your handmade delight.

Your family adventure in Ecuador continues today with an hour-and-a-half drive to Cotopaxi National Park. After a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning, you’ll be collected and driven through an ever-changing landscape of residential neighbourhoods, countryside villages and, finally, past impressive towering volcanos in the distance. On arrival, settle in for two nights at a charming hotel surrounded by nature, and spend the rest of the day enjoying your new rural surroundings. Head out for a gentle walk around the area, enjoy the facilities at the hotel, or if you’re feeling active, we can arrange a private horse riding adventure through the national park.

While the little ones are resting up ready for the day ahead, we recommend mum and dad wake up bright and early to enjoy the incredible sunrise views over Cotopaxi Volcano (weather permitting). Following this, tuck into a filling breakfast with the whole family, before getting the kids prepped and primed for a day of outdoorsy adventures. On today’s itinerary is a guided drive though Cotopaxi National Park. This superb nature reserve is home to 34,000 hectares of protected Andean wilderness, where llamas, wild horses and Andean wolves roam free. There is also the unmissable namesake volcano, which at 19,300ft, is the highest active volcano in the world. Begin with an acclimatisation walk around the serene shores of the Limpiopungo Lagoon, before journeying up to an altitude of 14,500ft by car. On a clear day, you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Valley of Volcanoes, home to the rumbling peaks of Illinizas, Antisana, Cayambe and Tungurahua. Head back to your hotel later today for an evening of R&R, good food and perhaps a spot of stargazing.

Wave goodbye to the rugged Andean highlands (and your alpaca hat), as you’re privately driven five hours through mountain ranges and lush emerald landscapes towards the Amazon basin. Before you know it, you’ll be in the heart of the Amazon: a region of thick forest and jungle waters, where the roads are rivers and the paths are streams. Your next destination is an enchanting eco-friendly lodge near Puerto Misahualli, one of Ecuador’s gateways to the Amazon. The rest of today is then yours to spend settling into your new surroundings – adjust to the hot and humid temperatures, breathe in the fragrant jungle air, listen to the sounds of tropical birds outside, admire the vibrant colours of plants and butterflies, and get your first taste of some delicious Amazonian specialities at dinner this evening.

Wake up to the sound of birdsong coming from the trees and get ready for a day full of jungle adventures. Your lodge will organise one or two activities per day (depending on local weather conditions), such as naturalist walks to discover the birds, reptiles, insects and medicinal plants that call the Amazon home; a visit to a national Amazonian community deep in the jungle; an evening observing the nocturnal wildlife that live near your lodge; a walk from the village of Misahualli to a six-century-old tree; or a mountainous walk on a marked trail up to Las Latas Waterfall, one of the most treasured natural wonders of the region.

Bid the thick emerald vegetation of the jungle a warm adieu as you journey on to your next destination: a tucked away coastal enclave on Ecuador’s central Pacific Coast, near the port city of Manta. After breakfast this morning, you’ll be collected by a private driver and whisked four hours back to the capital, where you’ll be dropped at the airport and guided through security, before a one hour domestic flight to Manta. On arrival, you’ll be privately transferred to a luxurious family-friendly hotel perched right on the coast, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. The rest of the day is then yours to spend soaking in the ocean panoramas of your delightful new digs, before tucking into some fresh seafood at the restaurant this evening.

Today is all about enjoying Manta’s beautiful collection of beaches. First head to Santa Marianita for a long stroll along the kilometre-long stretch of golden sand, try your hand at a spot of sailing or surfing at San Lorenzo, and settle in for an epic sunset at Murciélago. When you’re ready for a dose of culture, make your way to Manta, a pleasant seaside town founded long before the arrival of European conquistadors. The arrival of the Spanish did, however, strongly influence the town’s architecture, and you can discover this for yourself with a stroll through the historic centre. We could also arrange for you to spend half of today exploring the lush tropical forests of the Pacoche Reserve with a private guide.

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel this morning, bundle the family back into a private car and sit back, relax and enjoy the coastal views as you’re driven two-and-a-half hours down the Pacific. Your final destination in Ecuador is La Rinconada, a beautiful beach town bordered by ocean and thick tropical forest. On arrival, check in for two nights to a cosy cabin nestled on the hill overlooking the coast, and spend the rest of today settling into the rhythm of your new surroundings. You could head down to the beach for some fun in the sun before enjoying another surreal sunset. We could also arrange a visit to a panama hat workshop, or a horse riding adventure in Machalilla National Park.

Spend your last full-day in Ecuador in absolute style: boating out to the idyllic El Sucre Island with a private guide. Located just off the coast and forming part of the the Machalilla National Park, El Sucre is a magnet for flourishing wildlife. The array of native birds that call this island paradise home include blue-footed seabirds, pelicans and gulls. The clear waters that surround the island are perfect for snorkelling to observe colourful marine life, such as clown fish mahouts and other tropical species. Head back to your hotel this evening for one final evening of delicious food, excellent views and family conversations about all the experiences you’ve shared over the last 12 days.