An off-the-beaten-path exploration of Quito
A Fascinating Trip through
Northern Ecuador
Explore less-known neighborhoods of Quito by bike
Taste your way through the variety of Ecuadorian chocolate
Enjoy the views of
Pululahua crater
- 6 Days
- Quito (5 nights)
- Daily Schedule
| Day | Highlights | Location |
| Day 1 | Arrival in Quito, Craft Beer Tour in Quito | Quito |
| Day 2 | Quito City Tour, Salsa Dancing Class | Quito |
| Day 3 | Urban Bike Tour in Quito, Chocolate Tasting in Quito | Quito |
| Day 4 | Pululahua Crater, Lunch at El Patio Restaurant, Visit to Casa Ágave | Quito |
| Day 5 | Hiking Rucu Pichincha Volcano | Quito |
| Day 6 | Free Morning in Quito, Departure |
- Detailed itinerary
Transfer from Quito Airport to the City
Private transfer · 45 minutes
Craft Beer Tour in Quito
Small group · 2 hours
Enjoy the opportunity of sampling a variety of award winning beers made in Ecuador. This refreshing and delicious tour lets you dive into Quito’s craft beer culture, expanding your knowledge of beer and the history of the city along the way.
No hotels selected in Quito
Quito City Tour
Private group
Explore Quito with a guided tour, and see why it’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At 9,350 feet (2,850 m), Eucador’s capital is one of the highest cities in the world, with plazas organized among
Andes mountain peaks. See Baroque La Compañía church with its gold-covered interior, and neo-Gothic La Basílica. Take a walk down La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in the city, then head to Panecillo Hill for skyline views.
Salsa Dancing Class
Private group · 1 hour
It is time for another adventure: a salsa dancing class! Learn basic steps and turns, listen to beautiful music, dive into Ecuador’s dancing culture, and just have fun! Your teacher will make you sweat!
Urban Bike Tour in Quito
Small group · 4 hours · Breakfast Included
Today you’ll take a half-day bike tour in Quito! At the appointed time, meet your guide in the northern part of the city where you’ll set off on a four-hour bike tour through the neighborhoods of La Floresta, Carolina Park, and Iñaquito.
La Floresta is the place where you can see how urban art in the city is flourishing with its street murals, designers, and boutiques. Then, cycle through Carolina Park, which is spread over 165 acres (66 ha). Finish the tour in Iñaquito and visit the Mercado to sample street food followed by a look around the green space and murals of Isla Tortuga Park.
Chocolate Tasting in Quito
Private group · 1 hour
Today you will have an opportunity to participate in a chocolate tasting at a local facility in Quito! As a visitor, you’ll learn how Ecuador cultivates a great deal of cocoa and then turns it into fine chocolate that is sometimes combined with tropical fruits or other local ingredients. During this one-hour chocolate-tasting experience, you will not only sample different types of chocolate, but you’ll also learn about the history of cocoa in Ecuador.
Pululahua Crater
Private group · 2 hours · Breakfast Included
The Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve is a protected area located north of Quito. Its crater, the Pululahua crater, is one of only two volcanic craters in the world that is inhabited by humans – and the only one that is farmed! The land there is very fertile thanks to its volcanic soil. Many afternoons, a thick layer of fog or clouds covers the crater and gives it a mystic appearance. You can enjoy the views from the viewpoint close to the entrance, or if you are up for some walking, you can hike down into the crater and take a walk there – it is up to you!
Lunch at El Patio Restaurant
Self guided · 1.5 hours · Lunch Included
Taste traditional Ecuadorian flavors with ingredients straight from the garden for lunch. At El Patio, sit outside while trying l dishes such as fritada quiteña (braised pork), cuarato de cuy (guinea pig), and fanesca (soup topped with hard-boiled egg, fried plantains, and nuts).
Visit to Casa Ágave
Small group · 1.5 hours
Agave grows wild in the Andes and you’ll learn about the world of Andean agave at Casa Ágave—a museum, shop, and bar. See the process for making agave juice and liquor, and how the plant is also used to create clothing and instruments. Explore a garden, museum, and distillery and taste Agave in its many forms including miske, which is similar to mezcal.
Hiking Rucu Pichincha Volcano
Private group · 6 hours
Summit the beautiful Rucu Pichincha volcano today! Located directly next to Quito, it’s a great and challenging day trip. To start your adventure, take the cable car “Teleferico” to the viewpoint Cruz de Loma, on 4.000 m. The hike to the summit (4.698 m) takes approximately 3-5 hours. During the first part of the ascent, the path leads you through páramo, the typical Andean vegetation. The second half is a bit more technical as the terrain gets rockier and steeper. Once you reach the summit, enjoy the views (if the climate permits) and make your way back down.
Free Morning in Quito
Self guided · 4 hours · Breakfast Included
Feel free to explore the city on your own this morning. Take a stroll through the narrow streets of Quito’s historic city center, visit one of the interesting museums, or do some souvenir shopping, for example at “Mercado Artesanal”.
Are you a foodie? Check out traditional Ecuadorian food, either in typical restaurants or on the streets – for example “empanadas de viento”, fresh fruit juice, “hornado”, or “cevichochos”.
If you are up for some walking, take the cable car Teleferico and enjoy spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains from the Pichincha Volcano at 4.000 m.
Transfer to Quito Airport, Depart
Private transfer · 1 hour
It’s time to say goodbye to Ecuador! Enjoy a leisurely morning in Quito before your driver transfers you to Quito Airport for your ongoing departure. Safe travels!
- What's Included
Activities
Day 1: Craft Beer Tour in Quito (small group)
Day 2: Quito City Tour (private group), Salsa Dancing Class (private group)
Day 3: Urban Bike Tour in Quito (small group), Chocolate Tasting in Quito (private group)
Day 4: Pululahua Crater (private group), Visit to Casa Ágave (small group)
Day 5: Hiking Rucu Pichincha Volcano (private group)
Transportation
Day 1: Transfer from Quito Airport to the City
Day 6: Transfer to Quito Airport, Depart
Accommodations
Your specialist has not yet selected any hotels for you. Please ask your specialist to select hotels with availability for your travel dates.
- Excludes
- International flights
- The meals not mentioned in the trip plan
- Personal expenses
Travel insurance, and repatriation insurance - Optional excursions, activities, and optional tours
- Reservations marked as “reserved by traveler” are reservations that the traveler is responsible for directly.
- These items are not reserved or supported by authenticecuador and are included in the trip plan just for completeness
- Places you will visit
Quito
5 nights
Ecuador’s most culturally rich city, Quito is packed with attractions, from impressive archeological museums to hilltop viewpoints high above the metropolis. Not to be missed is Quito’s old center, a Unesco World Heritage site dotted with colonial mansions and gilded churches, some of which date back to the 16th century. High-quality
lodging options and some of the country’s best restaurants make Quito an excellent base before or after visiting other parts of the country.
City tours take you to key landmarks in Quito, like La Compañia, a gold-filled Jesuit church that took over 160 years to complete. Just north of the city, the Inti Ñan museum, which lies near the equator line, has interactive exhibits and demonstrations on water and energy. You can also learn about Andean culinary techniques during a private cooking class.
Suggested things to do:
- Take a day trip to the Termas de Papallacta, a hot springs complex with over a dozen steaming pools amid mountain views.
- Ride the TelefériQo, an aerial gondola, to the top of Cruz Loma for lofty views from an elevation of 12,900 feet (3932m).
- Have a craft beer inside one of a growing number of microbreweries around the city. Cherusker Cervecería Alemana, located in the lively Mariscal district, has some excellent drafts.
- Map
- Book This Tour