Ecuador Grand Tour: Quito to Cuenca 5-Day Andean Adventure

Our road trip through the Highlands of Ecuador was nothing short of magical. The diversity of its beauty kept one constantly in awe. It is hard not to fall in love with this place. None of this would have been possible without our amazing guide Sebastian from Polylepis Tour. He was knowledgeable, experienced, flexible, and patient. He took such great care of us throughout this journey. The trip was also very well-organized. The accommodations were clean and pretty, and we saw everything we wanted to see. I would highly recommend booking with them.

Unforgettable, Magical, Epic, Breathtaking. Highly recommended. We just came from our trip to Galápagos and didn’t expect mainland Ecuador to be this beautiful, but it totally surprised us in the best way. Here’s what we saw, the highlights and absolutely loved: Cotopaxi National Park Stunning volcano views and beautiful open landscapes. It was amazing to be near one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Quilotoa Lagoon The crater lake was absolutely breathtaking. Photos really don’t do it justice. The hike back up is tough, so we definitely recommend taking the horse. It adds to the experience and makes the climb a fun little adventure. Riding a horse up a steep mountain? That’s something you don’t get to do just anywhere. Baños Pailón del Diablo The waterfall was huge. When we went it was raining but we still go ahead and it was worth it as we got to experience how super powerful this largest waterfall in ecuador it is. And the cable car ride over the Pastaza River was ridiculously scary as it seems old technology but honestly so thrilling. Totally worth it if you enjoy a bit of adrenaline. La Casa del Árbol or Swing at the End of the World It was cloudy when we visited, but we still had a blast. The swing itself was fun and a little scary in the best way. Totally worth checking out. Mount Chimborazo This is the tallest mountain in Ecuador and also known as the closest point on Earth to the sun because of how the planet bulges at the equator. It was really cold and super windy at the top, but the views and the whole atmosphere made it a must-see. Ingapirca Archaeological Complex This was a really cool stop to learn more about Ecuador’s history, especially the Inca and Canari cultures. If you enjoy a mix of nature and culture, this place is a great add. Cuenca We loved the vibe here. One of the main highlights was the New Cathedral, also known as Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción. It’s the biggest church in Cuenca and one of the largest in Ecuador. The blue domes are stunning and the whole area is full of charm, especially at night! El Cajas National Park This park felt like something out of a dream. Misty lakes, high-altitude trails, and peaceful scenery made it one of the most magical hikes of the trip. Even though it was cloudy when we started hiking, the weather is unpredictable and it can be in a good way such that it became sunny for awhile allowing us to take stunning photos. Bonus stop at Devil’s Nose Train in Alausí This wasn’t part of our original itinerary, but since we were ahead of schedule, our guide brought us there to check it out. The train wasn’t operating yet when we visited. It was set to reopen the following weekend after being closed for several years due to COVID. We didn’t get to ride it, but it was really cool to see the station and feel the excitement of the upcoming reopening. It felt special to be there just before it all starts again. And of course, a huge thank you to our guide Edison. He was fantastic. Super knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Ecuador. We felt very safe and well taken care of throughout the trip and learned so much thanks to him. Overall, Ecuador has completely won us over. If you are short on time but want to see as much as possible, this tour is such a great way to experience it all without feeling rushed. We absolutely recommend it. We truly didn’t expect Ecuador to be this beautiful and Ecuadorians to be so welcoming, and we’re happy to say it also felt safe from start to finish, including during our personal trips to the Amazon region and the Galápagos.

This was an amazing trip, the volcano visits and views were outstanding. We even saw five Andean condors at Antisana. We opted for upgraded hotels and the selection was great. Edison made us feel safe and secure the entire trip and he knows facts and history of the areas visited.

It was a very good four days tour. Our guide, Diego, was excellent. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and pleasant to be with. There was a bit more driving than we expected, but there was no other way to attend all those beautiful places we visited.

Our guide Diego was phenomenal. His knowledge of history, geology, and culture of Ecuador and his love for his country made this trip very special. He attended to all our needs, supported us at every step and yet gave us enough private time. All the sites were truly remarkable: mountains, lakes, local festivals and workshops.

This 4 day trip took us through different parts of the central Andes, from Cotopaxi to Cuencaa. Diego is one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He arranged things smoothly and went the extra mile to have us feel well looked after throughout our four day trip. He provided rich commentary with broad knowledge of a wide range of topics. He pointed out differences in the ecosystems as we changed zones of the Andes, discussed how current economic development initiatives and initiatives affected the communities we traveled through, educated us about indigenous culture and agriculture, pointed out the medicinal uses of various plants, and shared his deep love of his home city, Cuenca. We came away with rich context that helped us understand the people, climate, indigenous legacy and modern history that shape the beautiful landscapes we were seeing.

Eddie was an amazing tour guide for our 5 days from Quito, through Cuenca, and then to Guayaquil for our flight to the Galapagos. He was always kind and professional and had a wealth of information to share about the regions cities, geography, and history. He knew every plant we asked about and always presented information clearly and concisely. Our driver Jose was also very kind and made getting from place to place smooth and easy. We were sad to leave them for our next leg of the trip! If you are looking for a guide and driver, you can’t go wrong with these two!

Our trip to the Ecuadorian has been awesome. Diego was very attentive , giving us a lot of information , giving us all the time we needed and the scenery was amazing. Thank you for making our vacation so memorable.

Amazing tour that shows you authentic Ecuador and amazing sights in a quick period of time. My guide Andrés was by far the best tour guide I’ve ever had in any country. He went above and beyond, was extremely knowledgeable, and great to get along with! I would highly recommend this tour if you want to learn about Ecuadorian culture, cuisine, and nature.

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.