Journey to the vibrant Ecuador, where the Avenue of the Volcanoes will take us on an 8-day trekking adventure! With Quito as our starting point, we’ll make our way to several volcanoes, but also experience spectacular landscapes such as a piercing-blue caldera lake, a 365-foot tall waterfall, rolling lush hills, moonlike landscapes, and so much more. Our guide has arranged everything, making sure we get a worry-free, authentic Ecuadorian experience. All that’s left to do is to marvel at incredible natural gems we’ll see and to keep an eye out for wildlife!
Welcome to Quito—the largest and best-preserved colonial city in the Americas, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 and often called the Cultural Capital of South America. Depending on your arrival time, you may have a chance to explore the old town; your guides can help organize a day trip. In the evening, a trip leader meets you at the hotel for a welcome briefing to go over trip details and answer questions.
Accommodation: Hotel Wyndham La Quinta or similar
Begin the day with a hike through the Sierra climate around Limpiopungo Lagoon (13,000 ft / 3,800 m), located at the foothills of the Rumiñahui volcano. From this vantage point, you’ll enjoy some of the best views of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. Along the way, you may spot wild horses, bulls, and various bird species. To end the day, we’ll drive to Isinliví, where we’ll spend the night.
Accommodation: Llullu Llama Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 5 miles / 8 km
Elevation gain: 1,000 ft / 305 m
Walking time: Approximately 2 hours on flat terrain around Limpiopungo Lagoon
Total steps: 15,345
Today we trek 13.5 km (8.4 mi) along the Toachi Canyon, taking in charming Andean landscapes, small villages, and indigenous people working the fields. We’ll hike down into the canyon and back up to Chugchilán, a small town in the heart of the Quilotoa Loop, where we settle into eco-house accommodation. In the afternoon, there’s time to explore the village and connect with locals.
Accommodation: Hostal Mama Hilda or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 13.5 km / 8.4 miles
Elevation gain: 998 ft / 304 m
Elevation loss: 1,310 ft / 399 m
Walking time: 4 hours (2 downhill, 2 uphill)
Total steps: 25,481
After breakfast, hike 11 km (6.9 mi) along small trails still used by locals to transport goods and travel between communities, where you might witness the traditional custom of bartering. We’ll descend into impressive canyons before climbing back up to the crater rim for spectacular views of Quilotoa Lake, then enjoy a picnic with the best views on the volcano before transferring 2.5 hours to a hacienda in the foothills of Chimborazo.
Accommodation: Hostería Andaluza or similar
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 11 km / 6.9 miles
Elevation gain: 3,200 ft / 975 m
Elevation loss: 698 ft / 213 m
Walking time: 5 hours (1 downhill, 2.5 uphill, 1.5 flat)
Total steps: 27,518
In the morning, drive through valleys and farming villages to Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador’s highest peak at 6,310 m (20,702 ft) and the point on Earth farthest from its center. In the national park, a short 0.9 km (0.57 mi) hike takes you to 5,000 m (16,404 ft), where the glacier begins, keeping an eye out for the Andean condor, cara-cara, hummingbirds, and the once-extinct, now-protected vicuña. A picnic is served at base camp before we depart.
Accommodation: Casa de Luis or similar
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Elevation gain: 984 ft / 300 m
Walking time: 2 hours 15 minutes (1.5 uphill, 0.75 downhill)
Total steps: 14,974
Trek 6 hours through Llanganates National Park, known for its stunning landscapes and the legend of Inca General Ruminahui’s hidden gold. Climb from 3,200 m (10,498 ft) to 3,600 m (12,024 ft) through diverse vegetation, with views of Tungurahua and Sangay volcanoes (weather permitting). Afterward, return to Baños for your final night—a great chance to book a spa massage, soak in the town’s famous hot springs, and enjoy the lively nightlife.
Accommodation: Casa de Luis or similar
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Elevation gain: 1,315 ft / 400 m
Walking time: 6 hours
Baños sits at the foothills of the active Tungurahua volcano and is one of Ecuador’s top destinations for outdoor activities like horseback riding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and rafting. This morning we explore the road of waterfalls, starting at Bride’s Veil, where we cross the Pastaza River by cable car, then hike about an hour down to Pailon del Diablo, Ecuador’s second-highest waterfall. After a day of cloud forest adventures, we drive back to Quito.
Accommodation: Hotel Wyndham La Quinta or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Elevation gain: 299 ft / 91 m
Walking time: 1 hour 45 minutes (45 minutes downhill, 1 hour uphill)
Total steps: 13,000
The trip has come to an end, but if you’d like to stay longer and explore Ecuador, just ask your guides for some recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
Your guides will do their best to adhere to the itinerary described. However, it may be necessary to make small changes due to weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances. Also keep in mind that any mention of specific wildlife in the itinerary is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.
Included:
Add-ons:
Not included:
While you don’t need to have any particular experience with hiking to join the Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tour, you still need to have good fitness. You will be hiking for six days in a row while also carrying a daypack with things you might need throughout the day. Check out the itinerary to see day-by-day activities.
If you’d love to explore Ecuador and Galapagos by trekking, cycling, rafting, snorkeling, and kayaking, check out these active holidays in Ecuador and Galapagos.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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A big part of going on this Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tour is getting to experience and taste the local cuisine. Your guide will give you terrific recommendations and suggest the best places to enjoy the food. Some meals are included in the price of the tour, but you also get enough free time and flexibility to pick out what suits you best.
Ecuadorian cuisine blends the culinary traditions of Spain, the Andes, and the Amazon. The stars of the show are the fruit of the sea, though you will also find various meats readily available.
If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please let us know upon booking! Your guides are happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets, and they will coordinate substitute meals with chefs and restaurants.
Group sizes and pricing
Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee. If there’s no one to share a room with, paying the single occupancy fee will later on be required.
To get to Quito, the starting point of your Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tour, most people fly into Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO). It will take you anywhere between an hour and an hour and a half to reach Quito city, depending on your mode of transfer. The cheapest way to reach the city is by taking the bus.
The first day is all about reaching Quito and getting settled in. You will meet your guide and your team at a welcome briefing at 6 pm.
All travellers entering/departing Ecuador and the Galapagos must complete the Customs Registration Form (FRA) digitally and in advance. This is a mandatory requirement by Ecuador’s National Customs Service (SENAE). Failure to present the FRA may result in penalties.
How to complete the FRA:
The FRA can be submitted up to 3 days before your travel date.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.