Day 1 : Quito
Welcome to Ecuador. Your expedition begins in Quito, a high-altitude capital nestled amid towering, cloud-shrouded Andean peaks. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to settle in. This evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader, National Geographic Expedition Expert, and fellow travellers for an engaging welcome that sets the stage for your upcoming exploration. Follow this with a celebratory welcome dinner at your hotel.
Arrival Transfer
Mariscal Sucre International Airport - Quito 1h
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Quito
Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2 : Quito
Awake to the morning light illuminating the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre. Navigate the iconic Plaza Grande, a square flanked by the Presidential Palace where the city's political pulse beats strongest amidst the fragrance of roasted coffee. Wander the historic San Francisco Church and Convent before stepping into the Antiguo Circulo Militar. Here, join a local artisan collective specializing in masapán. Paint traditional hummingbird figures alongside local women, directly supporting their community livelihood. As night falls, travel to the Intiñan Solar Museum for a private, after-hours tour. Try your hand at interactive experiments right on the Equator line, standing precisely between two hemispheres.
Quito City Tour & Masapán Workshop
Quito
Discover the many layers of Quito on a curated journey through its historic heart, where grand colonial architecture, artistic heritage, and living traditions come together. Begin in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, exploring the ornate San Francisco Church and Convent or the “Escorial of the Andes.” Continue to Plaza Grande, the historic centre of Quito’s political and civic life, surrounded by landmarks including the Presidential Palace and Cathedral. Next, step into the world of local craftsmanship as we join a local artisan collective specializing in Masapán (marzipan). Under their guidance, you will paint traditional figures. This is more than a craft; it is a tactile connection to Quito’s living heritage, where your participation directly supports the preservation of ancestral techniques and community livelihoods. Conclude with a thoughtfully curated lunch inspired by the flavours and biodiversity of the Andes.
Enjoy some free time to relax at the hotel or head downtown to explore Quito at your own pace.
After-Hours Visit to the Intiñan Museum
Quito
Step beyond the exhibits and into the living history of the Intiñan Museum during a private visit led by a local host who once called this area home. Gather around a traditional fogón for a demonstration of handmade corn tortillas while listening to stories about the museum’s origins, the land around it, and the people who have helped preserve its cultural heritage.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle, with transfers to and from the Intiñan Museum on the outskirts of Quito.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 3 : Quito to the Amazon Jungle
Leave the highlands behind and catch a flight inland to the sprawling Amazon Jungle. Board a motorized boat to glide along the wide Napo River, watching the vegetation thicken into an impenetrable wall of deep green as you enter the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve. Arrive at your lodge on the pristine shores of Lake Garzacocha. Later, step into the rainforest with a naturalist guide under the soft light filtering through the high canopy. Marvel at ancient mahogany trees towering over four centuries old and listen to the jungle as it shifts from day to night. Return to the lodge for dinner, relaxing to a symphony of wild, nocturnal sounds.
Private Vehicle
Quito - Mariscal Sucre International Airport 1h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Sit back and enjoy the views from above on a short flight between Quito and Coca.
Travel by motorized canoe through the lush scenery of the mighty Amazon Jungle down the Napo river to your lodge stay in the jungle.
Amazon Wildlife Excursions
Añangu
Settle into the Amazon lodge and prepare for exhilarating excursions over the next couple of days into the rainforest to try and spot birds and wildlife. Learn from the naturalist guides about the diverse plant life and about the indigenous communities who call the jungle home.
Matapalo Charapa Trail
Añangu
Named after the striking strangler fig, this short trail offers a glimpse into the remarkable diversity of the surrounding forest. Walk beneath the canopy alongside mahogany trees that have stood for more than 400 years, while your guides share their knowledge of the flora and fauna found along the way. As soft light filters through the trees, the forest comes alive with the transition between day and night, offering the chance to spot both diurnal and nocturnal wildlife.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Dinner
Day 4 : Amazon Jungle
Rise early and travel along the river to a vibrant parrot clay lick. Witness a mesmerizing display as hundreds of colourful parrots and parakeets gather to feed on mineral-rich soil. Continue to the indigenous community of Pilche to learn about their daily life, traditional dress, and culinary customs sourced from the forest. In the afternoon, ascend a spectacular 120-foot observation tower, climbing above the treetops to spot canopy birds and primates through a telescope. Watch a breathtaking sunset paint the sky before venturing onto the Tucaneta Trail for an evening walk. Your guides reveal the secret world of amphibians, insects, and mammals that emerge only when darkness falls over the rainforest.
Parrot Clay Lick and Pilche Community Visit
Añangu
Today, return to the Napo River and travel by motorized canoe to a clay lick, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to feed on mineral-rich soil, an essential part of their diet. Bring your binoculars for a closer look at this remarkable wildlife spectacle.
Continue to the Indigenous community of Pilche, where you’ll learn about daily life and the deep connection between the community and the surrounding forest. Discover traditional clothing, foods, cooking methods, and the many ways the forest provides for everyday life. Meet the community, ask questions, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, sample traditional food and drinks as local hosts share their ancestral knowledge and culture.
Observation Tower and Tucaneta Trail Nocturnal Walk
Añangu
After a 15-minute walk through the forest, reach an observation tower that rises 120 feet above the canopy. From this vantage point, your Naturalist and Native guides will help you spot colourful birds and, with luck, perhaps even primates moving through the treetops. As the sun sets over the forest, settle in and take in the changing landscape.
As darkness falls, the forest awakens with the sounds of nocturnal wildlife. With your flashlight and camera, set out on a guided night walk, where you may encounter amphibians, insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals as they emerge from the shadows.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 5 : Amazon Jungle to the Andean Highlands
Travel by motorized boat out of the rainforest to catch your flight back to Quito. From there, drive north along the dramatic Avenue of the Volcanoes, stopping for a traditional lunch amidst the mountain scenery. Arrive at an historic estate situated within a vast, 4,000-acre working farm. Surrounded by dramatic peaks and cloud forests, this hacienda offers total immersion into its rural heritage. Settle in before taking a private tour of the property with a member of the family that has owned the grounds for generations. Conclude the afternoon with a tasting of artisanal local cheeses typical to the region. Enjoy a delicious farm-to-table dinner featuring fresh, local ingredients before relaxing by the fireside.
Travel again by motorized canoe back to civilization from your lodge in the Amazon to Coca.
Fly from Coca back to Quito this morning as the adventure continues.
Private Vehicle
Quito - Angochagua 2h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle as you transfer from Quito to Hacienda Zuleta. Stop for lunch on the way.
Private Tour of Hacienda Zuleta and Cheese Tasting
Angochagua
Discover the history and traditions of Hacienda Zuleta on a guided tour of the property. Learn about the estate’s heritage, its connection to the surrounding landscape, and the traditions that have shaped life here over generations. Conclude with a tasting of the hacienda’s renowned cheeses with one of the property owners.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6 : Andean Highlands
Immerse your senses in the vibrant colours and sounds of the Otavalo Market, renowned for its handmade textiles, intricate ceramics, and wooden musical instruments. Gain insights into the market from the President of the Zuleta Embroidery Association and visit a local artisan workshop for a private cultural exchange. Discover the rich history and storytelling woven into every traditional design, and participate in a hands-on demonstration of this delicate cultural heritage. Return to the historic hacienda to enjoy a peaceful afternoon at your own pace, perhaps strolling the green pastures. In the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a grand farewell dinner, celebrating the rich traditions and unforgettable encounters of your Ecuadorian experience.
Private Vehicle
Angochagua - Otavalo 1h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Otavalo Market and Workshop Visit with the Head of the Zuleta Weaving Association
Otavalo 4h - 5h
The Otavalo Market is known for its artisanal products, handmade by local artisans and master craftsmen. You can find everything from intricate ceramics to musical instruments made with wood from the nearby cloud forest and various textiles and clothing items. Continue from the market to the workshop of local artisans for a cultural exchange and to learn about the history and storytelling of the traditional embroidery of the region. Take part in a weaving demostration of Zuleta embroidery to witness the traditional techniques and cultural patrimony that the designs play in the indigenous cultures of Ecuador's highlands.
Private Vehicle
Otavalo - Angochagua 1h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Enjoy some free time at Hacienda Zuleta. Relax and unwind with a soothing spa treatment (at additional cost) or take a refreshing dip in the pool, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the Andean countryside.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7 : Angochagua/Quito
After breakfast, drive to the historic Hacienda La Compañia, a beautifully preserved private home held by the same family for five generations. Begin your visit at their rose farm, Rosadex, to see where the estate's spectacular blooms originate. Wander a vibrant showroom displaying dozens of exquisite rose varieties before enjoying a traditional snack in the old hacienda building. After lunch on the property, continue your drive back toward the capital to check into a comfortable hotel located near the airport, where the tour ends. Take advantage of the convenient day-use rooms to relax and prepare for your evening departure flight.
Private Vehicle
Angochagua - Cayambe 0h45m
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Hacienda La Compañia
Cayambe
Step into the history of La Compañía, a beautifully preserved hacienda originally owned by the Jesuits and now cared for by the same family for five generations. Begin your visit at the nearby Rosadex rose farm, where you’ll discover how the exquisite roses that adorn the hacienda are grown. Continue to a showroom showcasing a selection of the estate’s 58 rose varieties before visiting the “Old Hacienda,” where you’ll enjoy a traditional local snack.
Private Vehicle
Cayambe - Quito 1h30m
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
