9-Nights Quito & the Ecuadorian Amazon

Goway Travel

This 10-day Ecuadorian vacation showcases Quito and its surroundings before taking you on a cruise along the Amazon. It features first-class accommodations and private tours.

Your journey begins in Quito, the nation’s capital and one of the former centres of the Inca Empire. Head just north of the city to the Mitad del Mundo, “the middle of the world,” where the Equator bisects the planet. You’ll learn about the equinox ceremonies that were held at the Equator for thousands of years before returning to Quito to explore the colonial city centre and see the Governmental Palace and San Fransisco Monastery. Cap off your city tour with a journey into the history of chocolate-making.

Connect to the forest town of Coca in the country’s east and board a motorized canoe to ride up the Amazon River. There, you’ll connect to the M/V Manatee, your river home for the next four nights. This 4-star cruising vessel offers luxurious accommodations for up to 30 passengers as well as ample lounge space and wildlife viewing on deck. Aboard the M/V Manatee, you’ll journey through the Ecuadorian Amazon. Go for a forest walk that first evening to spot nocturnal animals hunting in the forest. Head into Yasuni National Park to see the legendary pink river dolphins as well as anacondas and river turtles in the waters. Visit a Secoya Indigenous community and learn about life deep in the forest. Meet a local Kichwa Indigenous family on the banks of the Napo and go kayaking along the river itself. Hike to an observation tower to see incredible views of the Amazon Basin over the jungle canopy and hike through the forest to spot some of the world’s most colourful birds. At the end of your Amazon journey, you’ll ride back to Coca and fly to Quito.

Based back in the capital, you’ll explore the surrounding mountainside. Explore the grasslands and pristine lakes of the Cayambe-Coca Reserve, located only 50km from Quito, and enjoy the hot springs of Papallacta in between hikes to mountain waterfalls. Another day, you’ll learn about the pre-Columbian cultures near Cayambe Volcano and visit Otavalo, home to one of the best craft markets in South America. Enjoy the bright colours of the market as you barter for textiles and join master weave, Miguel Andrango, to learn about how Incan crafting traditions are kept alive today. Cap off your journey through the Avenue of the Volcanoes in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, where you’ll skirt the deep-blue crater lake of Cotacachi Volcano and visit the mountain town known for its leather making.

After a final night in Quito, you’ll head to the airport for onward travels.

Vacation Inclusions

• Private arrival and departure airport transfers
• 5 nights in first-class accommodations in Quito
• 4 nights on a first-class boutique Amazon cruise including:
  • Roundtrip airfare between Quito and Coca
  • Transfers to and from the M/V Manatee
  • Standard suite accommodations
  • Small group touring as listed throughout the sailing
  • Access to shared spaces
  • Community fees
• Private-guided tour of the Equator and Colonial Quito
• Private-guided tour to Papallacta Hot Springs
• Private-guided tour to Otavalo
• 4 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners

Featured Destinations

Ecuadorian Amazon Ecuadorian Amazon The Ecuadorian Amazon is a fragile jungle that contains some of the planet's most bio-diverse ecosystems. It is is also home to thousands of indigenous peoples who have lived there for more than 10,000 years. Its 2% share of the Amazon is known as the Oriente, including Cuyabeno Wildlife Preserve, Huaorani Protectorate, Upper Napo and Yasuni National Park. Observe plant and animal species unlike any you've ever seen on hikes through the primary jungle and canopy, canoe down the river for even more jungle and wildlife viewing, and have adventures to remember forever.	Destination Guide
Napo Wildlife Center
Coca Coca Also called "Puerto Francisco de Orellana," "El Coca" or "Coca" for short is the gateway into Ecuador's jungle tours into the Amazon Rainforest. It is the central hub where the Napo and Coca Rivers meet. Take a break from the wild rain forest and return to civilization in Coca offering a plethora of hotels, bars, and nightlife!
Quito Quito Quito is a fantastic place to visit and the best place to start your Latin American journey. Quito is also the entertainment center in Ecuador with new bars and discos opening every week and also the best place to shop, either at the small souvenir shops or at big malls. Quito has many interesting cultural sites, historical sites, museums, private galleries, churches, exhibition centers, and theaters.	Destination Guide

View Full Itinerary

Valid Date Ranges