14 Day Ecuador's Beauty

After arriving at the Quito airport, your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel, Hacienda Rumiloma, to rest up for your upcoming journey.
Hacienda Rumiloma is poised on the western outskirts of Quito on the slopes of the Pichincha mountains: a peaceful paradise just outside the hustle and bustle of the city. This small but opulent establishment boasts only six rooms, which means that the staff can pamper and even spoil you during your visit.
The hotel is full of delightful amenities. The rooms are full of history as well as gorgeous and unique furnishings including many antiques and numerous works of colonial art. The rooms have fireplaces, and hot water bottles are delivered to your room to keep you nice and toasty in the chilly nights. With its gourmet Ecuadoran cuisine and excellent service, the restaurant has a fabulous reputation both locally as well as among international travelers. In addition to the restaurant, the hacienda has a cantina, which it calls the “soul” of the establishment. Its combination of Irish and Ecuadoran elements creates a special atmosphere just right for relaxing with friends as you taste the extensive assortment of beer, cocktails, and spirits offered. The hotel even has birdwatching and hiking trails on site as it sits on some 100 acres with around 80 documented species of birds, in case you have an opportunity to explore the grounds.

Overnight: Quito
Suggested Hotel: Hacienda RumiLoma
Meals: -/-/D

Start the day a with sumptuous (?) breakfast at Rumiloma, after which your guide will pick you up to take you on a personalized guided tour of the centro histórico of Quito, the old town center. Stroll around the narrow old streets, visit La Ronda – one of the oldest streets in the city, admire the churches and other historic buildings, check out the presidential residence, and enjoy some coffee, tea or artisan chocolate while people watching in the Plaza de la Independencia, more commonly called Plaza Grande. Go up the hill at the southern end of the centro histórico to see the virgin, El Virgen de el Panecillo, which happens to be the largest aluminum statue in the world currently and has a fantastic view of the centro histórico and beyond, particularly from the viewing platform in the statue.
Lunch is a chance for a taste of Ecuador, perhaps with a great view included. You could choose to eat at the restaurant on the hill with the virgin, which has a spectacular view. A few other options with stunning views are Vista Hermosa, Techo del Mundo, and Café Mosaíco. Another option – albeit with a different type of view – is Achiote, which creates gourmet versions of the great traditional dishes from around the country; in the dining room is a gorgeous and enormous old tree! If you feel like something smaller for lunch, you could stop for empanadas and fresh juice or canelazo, a hot drink made of the tropical fruit called naranjilla locally but also known as lulo with cinnamon, or a cup of hot coffee or tea.
Later in the day, your guide will take you north of the city to visit the monument to the Equator, Mitad del Mundo. The monument is quite impressive and fun to visit. Don’t forget to take your passport so that you can get a stamp from the Equator! After that, head a few hundred yards/meters north to the Museo Intiñan, which is the actual site of the Equator as determined by GPS. Mitad del Mundo was built at the location French scientists calculated as the Equator in 1736. The accuracy was quite amazing for the technology of the 18th century, and no one figured it out until after Mitad del Mundo had been built! Thus, today there are two such monuments. At Intiñan, the guide explains a number of things special to the Equator, such as the Coriolis effect, and demonstrates them; other things you have the opportunity to test yourself.
Afterward, if there is time, you can consider if you would like to visit the nearby reserve Puluahua. The valley is beautiful, and a restaurant perches on the side of the valley at the entrance to the reserve. The view from the dining room is lovely.
From here, your guide will take you to Otavalo, where you will enjoy a relaxing evening in the lap of luxury at the Hacienda Zuleta. Located at an archeological site of earth mounds and a somewhat unclear history, this hacienda is still a working farm with over 300 Holsteins. It is a diverse enterprise that produces cheese, wool, trout, wheat, cream, barley, wood, and more with a stud farm and an earthworm composting facility.
The farm-to-plate restaurant uses only the freshest of fresh ingredients, those produced on site by the farm whenever possible. Fruit, vegetables, dairy products, meat, trout, herbs, spices, and more are grown on site for you to enjoy in traditional Ecuadoran dishes of the finest quality. You can even order a picnic to enjoy in the flower garden or elsewhere on the grounds.
The hotel has only 20 guest rooms and suites, so you are assured of excellent attention and care by the staff. When you arrive, you will be assigned your own host, someone who will make sure your needs are taken care of and perhaps even give you some ideas of things to visit in the area or restaurants to try. With an excellent meal fresh from the restaurant, a hot water bottle to warm your feet, and fine embroidery on the comfy bed, a good night’s rest is virtually guaranteed.

Overnight: Otavalo
Suggested Hotel: Hacienda Zuleta
Meals: B/L/D

After the perfect breakfast from Marcelina’s kitchen in the hacienda, next is a trip to the market in the town of Otavalo, an important market famous for products ranging from musical instruments, jewelry, and embroidery to vegetables, toys, textiles, and plants. But don’t forget to bargain a little as that is included in the price vendors first quote you! For lunch, take a jaunt to the nearby volcanic crater lake, stunning Cuicocha. The collapsed caldera of the volcano filled with water after an eruption, with two islands that emerged as a result of later eruptions. The lake is on the south flank of the volcano Cotacachi, which is inactive and possibly extinct. Take a short stroll along the lakeside path to admire the midnight blue lake while looking at the flowers and listening for hummingbirds –. It is also possible to take a boat tour of the lake and ride out to the islands to hear about the history of the lake. Have lunch at the excellent restaurant and enjoy its panoramic view of the lake, though you might want to call ahead and make a reservation for a table with a view.
Then a trip to the charming town of Cotacachi to visit its leather artisans is on the agenda. At the town’s main plaza, you will see the lovely church with palm trees standing at attention in front of it. With some 50 leather shops and workshops in a town of only about 9000 residents, everywhere you look you see leather. Much of it is high quality, and you can find shoes, belts, purses, bullwhips, wallets, bags, and even saddles and ceremonial leather-and-fur pants (they are sort of like chaps for riding horses), in case you want a special souvenir.
After a busy but fascinating day, the beautiful and restful Hacienda Zuleta awaits you, ready to help you relax and enjoy the delicacies of the kitchen as well as the delightful atmosphere before a wonderful night’s sleep.

Overnight: Otavalo
Suggested Hotel: Hacienda Zuleta
Meals: B/L/D

After a final turn around the grounds of Zuleta, we head south and east and up to a fabulous hot spring named Papallacta. Today is a day of rest and relaxation after a couple of very busy days!
Once we reach the area, the first order of business is checking into the resort at the springs and getting ready to enjoy the mineral waters of volcanic origins. Located at 10,660 ft (3250 m) elevation, this resort has nine warm pools and three pools with cool water, all at a variety of temperatures so you can find the perfect one for yourself. An on-site spa offers various health and beauty treatments including hydromassage that can improve circulation, alleviate muscle aches, and even help rejuvenate your skin. Enjoy a chocolate body wrap, a wine treatment, a Turkish steam bath, or a mud wrap, among other options. Then relax in the pools, allowing your mind to wander and dream while your body, spirit, and mind have the chance to return to a harmonious balance.
The hotel is arranged in groups of guest accommodations with each group centered around pools available exclusively to hotel guests. Accommodations with en suite jacuzzis are also available by reservation. Gorgeous vegetation intermingles with all the buildings and other facilities in the complex.
The hotel has both a casual bar and a restaurant. Relax with a drink by the fireplace in the bar and then migrate to the restaurant to enjoy local cuisine or international specialties made with produce from the gardens on site. The area also has numerous restaurants in the immediate area if you prefer to eat lunch outside the complex.
In any case, let go and allow the soothing waters to work their relaxing and restorative magic on you.

Overnight: Papallacta
Accommodation: Termas Papallacta
Meals: B/-/-

From Papallacta, the tour goes to the national park that is home to the prototypical stratovolcano volcano Cotopaxi. Rising to 19,347 ft (5897 m) on a high Andean plain, this majestic peak complete with glaciers towers over the rest of the landscape for miles and miles. The Limpiopungo lake is home to many birds that are fascinating to watch. Depending on your luck, Andean foxes, wild horses, eagles, and hawks might come for a drink. Often you can see a spectacular reflection of Cotopaxi on the surface of the lake!
As you look at Cotopaxi from the lake, you might see a little orange thing on the north face (left from the lake). That little orange thing is the roof of the Refugio José Rivas at 15748 ft (4800 m). You have the option to drive up to the parking lot at some 15,088 ft (4600 m), and if you feel up to it, you can walk up to the hut. But be aware that though it’s only some 700 ft (200 m) difference in elevation, it is not a hike for the weak at heart and takes 40–60 minutes along a somewhat slippery sandy trail.
In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the hacienda, El Porvenir. Surrounded by the peaks of four impressive volcanoes – Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, and the two Ilinizas.
After getting settled in, a horseback ride around the hacienda is scheduled for the late afternoon. The provides the opportunity to relax as you experience the charms of the Andes as sunset approaches.
Enjoy a lovely dinner at the hacienda restaurant, which prides itself on using local products and ingredients to create unforgettably wonderful dishes of local and international origins. Then you can get a hot stone massage with local volcanic rocks before turning in for a peaceful night in the heart of the Andes.

Overnight: Cotopaxi
Suggested Hotel: Hacienda El Porvenir
Meals: B/-/-

From Hacienda El Porvenir, we continue south to the market town of Saquisilí to enjoy a turn through the market. Produce, clothes, animals, housewares, and crafts are sold alongside each other in this traditional regional Mercado. The various parts of the market are named after the primary merchandise offered in the area, such as potato plaza. The earlier you get there, the better, as things start slowing down by mid-to-late morning.
Once your market curiosity is sated, the road leads further south, passing through the agricultural metropolis of Ambato and east to Baños. Its full name is Baños de Agua Santa.It is a medium-sized town situated at the foot of the idyllic volcano Tungurahua, for which the province was named. The gateway between the Amazon and the Andes, the town is a quaint, colorful, walkable place overflowing with sweet shops. If you like taffy, definitely try some of the many fruit-flavored varieties on offer as well as the guava paste. In the town’s center is an impressive Catholic church, el Santuario Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa, which receives thousands of pilgrims from the region each year.
The town and the surrounding areas are full of hot springs and waterfalls. The waters contain many minerals and have a reputation as healthy and healing. As you enter the town, you are likely to see several waterfalls cascading down the nearly vertical slope on the south and east sides of town. So many waterfalls adorn the area that waterfall tours are offered. Agoyán is just past the hydroelectric dam east of the town and sports a cable car and zipline. Somewhat further east is the Pailón del Diablo, the devil’s cauldron, where you can rent a bike to go to the falls or admire the thunderous water from the distance.
Perhaps you prefer to head straight up to the resort at which you’ll be staying, Luna Volcán. The resort itself is lovely with amazing views toward the Amazon and the Andes and flowers such as hydrangeas lining the walkways. Four pools with Tungurahua’s volcanic mineral waters are available at the spa resort for you to enjoy at your pleasure; The spa offers myriad luxurious treatments: a spiritual cleansing massage, a chocolate ecstasy exfoliation, manicures, pedicures, a wine wrap, a foot massage, hair treatments, paraffin and avocado facials, a purifying exfoliation with volcanic ash and mineral salts, an ayurvedic massage incorporating dried herbs and flowers, and so many more options.
Close by the resort, the famous treehouse and swing “el fin del Mundo,” the end of the world, balance on the edge of a precipice. From the treehouse and swing, at some 8530 ft (2600 m), the panoramic view of both Baños and Tungurahua is simply stunning. Tungurahua is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador’s Avenida de los Volcanes, perhaps in La. A photo taken here in 2014 as the volcano began to erupt won a prize in a 2014 National Geographic photography contest!
Stay and enjoy the view with a nightcap of your choice, recline in one of the pools, or spend the rest of the evening luxuriating in your room with the in-floor heating to warm your toes. This spa resort will embrace you in a way that allows all your cares and worries from home to vanish.

Overnight: Baños
Suggested Hotel: Luna Volcán Adventure SPA
Meals: B/-/-

This morning after a delightful breakfast, you can choose what you would like to see and do before heading back to Quito. Depending on what you chose to do the previous day, consider the options – visiting waterfalls, a walk, a bike ride, ziplining, a cable car ride, even something more daring such as canyoning, rafting, or kayaking. Or perhaps you saved the treehouse and swing “at the end of the world” for today. Maybe a stroll around town to visit the church, sit in the main plaza to watch people, and get some taffy for the road are what you need this morning.
Later we head back to Quito. En route we keep our eyes open for the natural beauty of the Andes as we might have an opportunity to see any number of gorgeous volcanoes including Chimborazo, Carihuairazo, the Ilinizas Sur y Norte, Cotopaxi, Corazón, Rumiñahui, Pasochoa, and maybe even Antisana and more. Being in the middle of this spectacular land of volcanoes really allows your mind, body, and spirit to come into a harmony most of us don’t experience as often as we’d like.
Once back in Quito, we return to the Hacienda Rumiloma. Depending on what time we arrive, it might be the perfect time to head out into the grounds to look and listen for birds as they take care of their late afternoon business before heading home to their nests around dusk.
This evening is a good time to explore some in Quito if you’d like. So many choices: Dinner at a restaurant with a view – of the centro histórico or just the city in general. A gourmet traditional meal in the Mariscal Foch area in a restaurant whose dining room is built around a gorgeous giant tree. Maybe a seafood restaurant with crab or lobster, depending on the season. Of course, if you feel more like putting your feet up for the evening, another meal at Rumiloma would give you the opportunity to try one of the mouthwatering options you haven’t yet had the opportunity to taste and the chance to lounge around the hotel enjoying its comfort and beauty.

Overnight: Quito
Suggested Hotel: Hacienda RumiLoma
Meals: B/-/-

Early this morning, we head to the Quito airport for the trip to Baltra airport in the Galápagos. After taking care of the entrance requirements, you will be met by your English-speaking guide and escorted from the airport on Baltra to the Galápagos Safari Camp (GSC) on the neighboring island of Santa Cruz where you will stay.
Once you meet your hosts, check-in, and settle into your accommodations at the GSC, take a moment to enjoy and appreciate the gorgeous calm of the scenery, atmosphere, and privacy of these luxury accommodations. Then a welcome lunch of locally sourced delicacies will refill your tank for your exploration of the Islas Galápagos.
After lunch, you take a walk through the grounds to the lava tunnels and tortoise reserve adjacent. Lava tunnels were created, as their name suggests, by lava. As magma reached the Earth’s surface and flowed out, the outside of the lava flow cooled and hardened into a shell while the interior lava continued to flow, eventually flowing out and leaving only the tube behind. We visit one of these fascinating geologic formations, taking the opportunity to explore the inside as well as the surrounding area. During this visit, we get our first glimpse of the iconic giant Galápagos tortoises; Santa Cruz is home to two of the 15 different species of these animals. Afterward, you might rest up a bit – maybe even try out your hammock. Now you can relax with a drink as you look out over the Pacific as the sun sinks below the horizon. Then make your way to the restaurant for an excellent dinner made of the highest quality ingredients put together in unique and creative ways to create a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience for guests to enjoy. You can dine outside if you like, adding a fine South American wine to your exquisite meal if you choose.

Overnight: Santa Cruz Island
Suggested Hotel: Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: B/L/D

Today enjoy a relaxing and replenishing breakfast before heading to an organic coffee plantation – although you might choose to wait for your cuppa Joe! Normally coffee only grows at higher elevations (above 3000 ft/900 m and below the frost line) due to the climate conditions found there that are generally absent at lower elevations. However, in the Galápagos, the unique interaction of the ocean currents around the archipelago—which creates a climate similar to that found in a cloud forest—and the rich volcanic soils make growing coffee possible. We have a tour of the plantation to learn about the science as well as the art that it takes to produce a top-tier coffee. Be sure to get some beans to take home for yourself as well as for your loved ones.

Next up is the reserve Cerro Mesa. The owners are working to revitalize the land and resources on their private ecological reserve, and you will get to take a short walk through the wetlands there. Numerous birds live in these wetlands, which means you might see and/or hear some of the interesting flying friends resident on Santa Cruz Then we stop at a local restaurant for an enjoyable lunch.
From this high area on the island, we jump on the bikes for a downhill ride to the beach Garrapatero on the east side of the island. This peaceful cove with its white-sand beach is home to myriad shorebirds and other wildlife including blue-footed boobies, pelicans, iguanas, lava lizards, and flamingoes. Take a dip in the quiet waters and even borrow a sea kayak to glide around the waters and explore.
Back at the camp, relax in your hammock, sip the drink of your choice, watch the colorful blaze of the sun going down over the ocean, and rest bit while you ponder if you would prefer to eat outside or in for dinner.

Overnight: Santa Cruz Island
Suggested Hotel: Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: B/L/D

Today a boat excursion to one of the following uninhabited islands awaits you: Santa Fé, Seymour Norte, Plaza Sur, or Bartolomé. The particular island you visit will depend on factors such as the day of the week, season, and permits, which ensure that the islands are not overwhelmed with visitors.
The uninhabited islands have unique vegetation and geological formations as well as native wildlife, all of which varies from island to island. You are likely to see many birds such as the three types of boobies and two types of frigatebirds found in the Galápagos, red-billed tropicbirds, and Galápagos hawks as well as sea lions, iguanas, sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and more. Who knows, you might even see a penguin! In this fabulous area, you will even have an opportunity to swim and snorkel from the boat.
After returning to Santa Cruz, you can do some more exploring around the camp and perhaps test a new wine before dinner. Relax as the sun slips below the horizon as if it were sinking into the ocean itself as you ponder what exciting and delicious options might be offered for dinner this evening.

Overnight: Santa Cruz Island
Suggested Hotel: Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: B/L/D

Today your guide will accompany you on a boat trip with a local fisherman and be your interpreter. An experienced seaman, the fisher will tell stories from his years on the water, give you tips and tricks for fishing these waters, and help you work on catching your lunch. However, if the fishing isn’t immediately successful, never fear: There’s a picnic lunch packed on board! Later in the day, the fisherman steers the boat to a secluded beach known only to locals. Here you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, read on the sand, stroll along the water’s edge, or otherwise relax as the spirit moves you.
In the afternoon, you will have some time on your own to explore, visit the tortoises, lounge at the pool, see how the produce is ripening in the GSC, sip some lemonade as you swing in your hammock, maybe play cards with someone, wander through the tropical foliage – so many options! Follow this up with a delicious evening of relaxing with gourmet cuisine as the kitchen staff does its magic with the local ingredients and the staff’s talent.

Overnight: Santa Cruz Island
Accommodation: Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: B/L/D

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading to Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Walk along the beach, spot iguanas and birds, and explore the visitor center and tortoise breeding center. Take time to explore Puerto Ayora, visit the fish market, browse artisan crafts, and stroll around Laguna de las Ninfas to see mangroves and wildlife. After lunch, visit Tortuga Bay for its white-sand beaches and clear waters teeming with marine life. Snorkel with sea lions or rent a kayak for a scenic paddle. Return to the camp for dinner and a sunset view, ideally dining outdoors as the sun sets over the sea.

Overnight: Santa Cruz Island
Accommodation: Galapagos Safari Camp
Meals: B/L/D

Begin your day with a peaceful morning walk around GSC’s grounds, listening to birdsong and watching them in flight. Enjoy a refreshing swim and a quiet moment with tea or coffee as the sun rises. After breakfast, pack up and prepare to depart.

Your guide will accompany you to Baltra airport, ensuring smooth check-in. Take time to browse souvenirs or savor a cup of Galápagos coffee before your flight, perhaps picking up some beans to take home.

Upon returning to Quito, you’ll be transferred to Hacienda Rumiloma for a final luxurious night. Explore the hotel trails and enjoy the evening amidst nature. Alternatively, dine at Techo del Mundo in Hotel Quito for panoramic city views.

Overnight: Quito
Accommodation: Hacienda RumiLoma
Service: Small Group
Meals: B/-/-

Today is your day to explore Quito at your leisure. Start with a relaxed morning organizing and packing. Consider visiting local markets, taking a cable car ride to enjoy panoramic city views, strolling through the botanical garden, or shopping in La Mariscal.

Choose a special place for lunch to try Ecuadorian delicacies like spit-roasted cuy or marinated and fried pork with llapingachos. Sample seafood dishes such as ceviche or empanadas with a side of warm canelazo.

Return to Hacienda Rumiloma in time for a final drink or dinner before heading to the airport. Reflect on your journey through Ecuador’s diverse landscapes and cultures, and plan your return to explore more of this captivating country. Safe travels!

Overnight: N/A
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: B/-/-