4 Day Amazon Tour from Quito: Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños and the Jungle

This 4 day Amazon tour from Quito crosses the Andes first, with Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños, and then drops into the jungle, ending at the Papallacta hot springs. Prices start at $670 per person.

4 Day Amazon Tour from Quito, Through the Andes

This is a 4-day Amazon tour from Quito that takes the scenic way in: Cotopaxi National Park, the Quilotoa crater lake and Baños on the first two days, then the Amazon rainforest around Puyo and Misahuallí, and a soak at Papallacta hot springs on the drive back. Hotels, a bilingual guide, transport, four lunches and all the entrances are included, from $670 per person.

Most Amazon trips from Quito go straight down the highway and back. This one crosses the Andes first, so in four days you see the snow-capped volcanoes, an Indigenous Kichwa community, the Route of the Waterfalls and the jungle, without changing hotels every night and without a single domestic flight. It is the shortest way to do the Andes and the Amazon in one trip, and it fits well before or after the Galápagos.

Route at a Glance

Is This Andes and Amazon Tour Right for You?

It is a good fit if…

• You have four days and want both the Andes and the Amazon, not one or the other.
• You prefer a local guide and driver who set the pace around your group.
• You want the jungle without the long flight to Coca or the overnight bus to Cuyabeno.
• You are adding days before or after the Galápagos and want the mainland highlights in one go.

It is not the best fit if…

• You want several nights deep in the rainforest. For that, look at the 5-day Amazon rainforest tour to Tena or the 4-day Amazon lodge stay at La Casa del Suizo.
• You struggle with altitude. Day 1 goes up to about 4,800 m at the Cotopaxi refuge; the walk is short and optional, but the altitude is real.

Amazon Tour Price by Group Size

This is a Amazon tour, so the Amazon tour price per person drops as your group grows: $1,655 for one traveler, $910 each for two, $750 each for three and $670 each for four or more. That includes transport from your hotel in Quito, a bilingual guide, three nights of accommodation, three breakfasts, four typical lunches and every entrance on the route: Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa, the Swing at the End of the World, the Manto de la Novia cable car, Pailón del Diablo, Yana Cocha, the chocolate tour and Papallacta hot springs. Tips, drinks and personal expenses are not included.

Amazon Jungle Tour in Ecuador: Booking Questions

Will we join a group?

Only your group travels in the vehicle with your guide, and you can start on any day of the year.

Is hotel pickup in Quito included, and where does the tour end?

Yes. We pick you up at your hotel in Quito on day 1 and drop you back there on the evening of day 4. If you have an early Galápagos flight the next morning, we can plan the last night near the airport.

What fitness level do I need?

Average fitness is enough. The tour is rated medium: short walks at Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and the waterfalls, and the hike down to the Quilotoa shore is optional. The hardest part is the altitude on day 1, not the distance.

What is included in the price, and what is not?

Transport, a bilingual guide, three nights of hotels, three breakfasts, four lunches and all the entrances on the route are included. Tips, drinks and personal expenses are not.

Can I customize the route or add the Galápagos?

Yes. Many travelers add a Galápagos land trip or more nights in the jungle. Send us your dates and a local specialist replies within 24 hours with a combined route and price.

Planning on your own first? Read our guides to an Amazon trip from Quito and the best things to do in Baños.

Want to compare this with longer routes? See all our Ecuador vacation packages, including the 7-day Ecuador circuit from Quito to Cuenca.

Highlights

• Explore Cotopaxi National Park and hike up to the Jose Rivas Refuge (15.958 ft).
• Admire the stunning Quilotoa Lagoon, a turquoise volcanic crater lake
• Walk the Route of Waterfalls, including the powerful Devil's Cauldron, one of Ecuador's most impressive cascades.
• Meet Amazon wildlife in Misahualli, where monkeys roam freely in the village.
• Relax at Papallacta Hot Springs, surrounded by misty mountains and mineral-rich thermal waters.

Itinerary

1. Day 1Quito-Cotopaxi National Park

   

   This adventure begins at your hotel in Quito. We will head towards the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a route famous for its panoramic views of the main peaks of the Ecuadorian Andes.

   Along the way, we will pass through Machachi, a picturesque town surrounded by mountains, known for its charming rural atmosphere. Next, we continue to Cotopaxi National Park.

   Upon entering, you will be able to see the famous Cotopaxi Volcano, which reaches 4,864 meters (15,948 feet) in height. We’ll then ascend to the Jose Rivas Refuge, located at over 4,800 meters (15,748 feet) above sea level.

   From this point, the view is breathtaking, giving you a true sense of the grandeur of the Andes. Afterwards, we’ll head to Limpiopungo Lagoon, a beautiful body of water at the foot of Cotopaxi Volcano. Here, you may spot wildlife such as Andean foxes, wild horses, and Andean birds like the Andean duck, and if you’re lucky, the majestic Andean condor.

   How the day runs: after an early pickup it is about two hours from Quito to the park gate. From the upper car park it is roughly a 45-minute walk to the José Rivas refuge; take it slowly, because you are close to 4,800 m. The loop around Limpiopungo lagoon is flat and takes about an hour. Bring: warm layers, a hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen, since it can be near freezing on the slope and bright at the lagoon. Guide's tip: the mountain is clearest in the morning, so we start early and have lunch after the refuge. You sleep at Hacienda La Ciénega, a centuries-old hacienda below the volcano, or a similar hotel.

   Overnight: La Cienega Hotel or similarMeals: lunch

2. Day 2Quilotoa Lake-Baños de Agua Santa

   

   This 4-day adventure continues in the Indigenous community of Zumbahua. Along the way, you will visit a traditional Andean house, built with local materials such as adobe, straw, and stone. There, the indigenous inhabitants share their ancestral way of life, agricultural techniques, and Kichwa culture. Next, you will arrive at the Quilotoa Lake, a natural gem formed in a volcanic crater. The turquoise color of its waters changes depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Here, you can descend to the edge of Quilotoa Lagoon to enjoy activities like kayaking or simply relax and take in the stunning scenery. After the visit, the journey continues to the charming town of Baños de Agua Santa. This town is known for its relaxed atmosphere and mild climate, and it also serves as the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon.

   How the day runs: it is about an hour and a half from the Cotopaxi area to Zumbahua, then a short drive up to the Quilotoa rim at around 3,900 m. Walking down to the water takes 30 to 45 minutes; the climb back takes longer, and mules are usually available if you prefer to ride up. From Quilotoa it is roughly three hours to Baños, which sits much lower, at about 1,800 m, so the evening is mild. Bring: a windproof jacket for the rim and comfortable shoes with grip for the sandy trail. Guide's tip: the lake colour is at its best when the sun is high, so we time the visit for late morning.

   Overnight: La Floresta HotelMeals: breakfast, lunch

3. Day 3Baños de Agua Santa - Yanacocha wildlife rescue and breeding center

   

   On our third day, we will start by exploring the surroundings of Baños de Agua Santa. Our first stop is the famous Tree House with its “Swing at the End of the World,” where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Tungurahua Volcano and the surrounding valleys. Next, we continue along the Waterfall Route, a scenic road that runs alongside the Pastaza River. One stop you cannot miss is the Pailón del Diablo, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Ecuador. We’ll also visit other waterfalls such as Agoyán and Manto de la Novia, where we can enjoy the cable car that crosses the river canyon, offering panoramic views and lush tropical vegetation. Finally, we’ll head to Yana-Cocha in Puyo, a wildlife rescue and breeding center located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

   How the day runs: the Tree House is about 30 minutes above Baños. The Route of the Waterfalls follows the road toward Puyo; at Pailón del Diablo plan on around 40 minutes each way on a path with stairs, and the Manto de la Novia crossing is a short open cable car ride. From Baños it is roughly an hour and a half down to Puyo and the Yana Cocha rescue center, and the air turns warm and humid. Bring: a light rain jacket, insect repellent and light long sleeves for the evening at the lodge. Guide's tip: you will get wet near the falls, so keep a dry layer in your day bag.

   Overnight: Banana lodgeMeals: breakfast, lunch

4. Day 4Misahualli-Chocolate Chacra-Papallacta Hot Springs-Quito

   

   The adventure continues eastward, descending to Puerto Misahuallí, a small Amazonian town on the banks of the Napo River. It is a lively place, where capuchin monkeys roam freely through the plaza and the sounds of the jungle accompany your visit. In the area, you can take a chocolate tour, learning about the traditional process of making cacao: from harvesting the pods, drying, roasting, and grinding, to tasting pure chocolate, one of Ecuador’s most iconic delicacies. Afterwards, the journey heads back to the highlands, ascending through the Andes to the Papallacta Hot Springs. This complex, nestled among mountains and mist, offers natural thermal pools rich in minerals perfect for relaxing and revitalizing your body after days of adventure. Finally, the tour concludes with a return to Quito, completing a journey that combines mountains, lagoons, jungles, waterfalls, and Andean and Amazon Rainforest culture.

   How the day runs: Misahuallí is a short drive from the lodge, and the monkeys in the plaza are wild, so keep sunglasses and snacks in your bag. The chocolate tour takes about an hour and a half. From there it is around three hours back up through Tena and Baeza to Papallacta, at about 3,300 m, where the thermal pools are warm and the air is cool. The last stretch to Quito takes about an hour and a half, so you are back at your hotel in the evening. Bring: a swimsuit and a towel for Papallacta. Guide's tip: if you fly to the Galápagos the next morning, tell us and we will drop you near the airport instead.

   Meals: breakfast, lunch

Prices per person