Ecuador Small Group Tour — Volcanoes, Ingapirca and Cuenca
One set departure, 5 December 2026, flights from London included
Your trip
Your 8 days in Ecuador
Ecuador is small enough to cross in a week, which is why this route works so well. You start in Quito, whose old town is one of the best preserved in the Americas, then follow the Avenue of the Volcanoes south past Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, stop at the Inca walls of Ingapirca, and finish in Cuenca and Guayaquil. It runs on one fixed date, 5 December 2026, in a small group with an English-speaking guide, so you can join it on your own without paying for a private trip.
At a glance
8 days7 nights
Small groupMaximum 15
Easy to ModerateActivity level
Flights includedATOL protected
5 Dec 2026Next departure
EcuadorOur destination guide
What makes it special
Highlights
Walk Quito old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, and stand on the equator line at the Mitad del Mundo monument
Spend a morning in Cotopaxi National Park, under one of the highest active volcanoes in the world
See the Pailón del Diablo waterfalls at Baños, where the Andes drop away towards the Amazon
Cross the Chimborazo wildlife reserve, home to the vicuña herds that were brought back from near extinction
Visit Ingapirca, the largest Inca site in Ecuador, on the way to Cuenca
Two nights in Cuenca, a colonial city of tiled domes, riverside walks and Panama hat workshops
Travel with a small group and a guide throughout, on a date you can book alone
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1London to Quito
Fly from London to Quito. Your guide meets you at the airport and takes you to the hotel. Quito sits at 2,850 metres, so the first evening is a quiet one by design.
Day 2Quito and the equator
A morning in the old town: Plaza Grande, the Compañía church with its gold leaf interior, and the view from the Panecillo. In the afternoon you drive out to the Mitad del Mundo monument and the equator line.
Day 3Quito to Cotopaxi and Baños
South on the Pan-American highway into Cotopaxi National Park, with páramo grassland, wild horses and the volcano itself if the cloud lifts. You carry on to the spa town of Baños for the night.
Day 4Baños to Riobamba
The waterfall route out of Baños, including the Pailón del Diablo, then time to walk the town before the short drive to Riobamba in the central highlands.
Day 5Chimborazo, Ingapirca and Cuenca
The Chimborazo wildlife reserve first, where vicuñas graze at over 4,000 metres, then the Inca site of Ingapirca with its elliptical Temple of the Sun. You reach Cuenca in the evening.
Day 6Cuenca
A full day in Cuenca: the new cathedral with its blue domes, the flower market, the Tomebamba riverbank and a Panama hat workshop, where the hats have in fact always been Ecuadorian.
Day 7Cuenca to Guayaquil
Down through the Cajas highlands to the coast. Guayaquil is Ecuador at sea level: the Malecón promenade, the iguanas in Parque Seminario and the painted houses of Las Peñas.
Day 8Guayaquil to London
Free time in the morning, then your transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Your price covers
What's included
Flights
Return flights from London, with an ATOL certificate for every booking
We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.
Accommodation
Seven nights in selected hotels with breakfast
Guides and tours
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Transport
All transfers and private transport, adapted to the size of the group
Entry fees
- All entrance fees and visits listed in the itinerary
- Cotopaxi and Chimborazo reserve entrances, Ingapirca site entrance
ATOL protection
Your holiday is ATOL protected (ATOL 10898). You get an ATOL Certificate when you book.
Not included: Lunches and dinners, which you can add as a meals package before you travel · Drinks, personal spending and tips for guides and drivers · Travel insurance, which we strongly advise you arrange · The single supplement, around GBP 140, if you would rather have your own room · Optional extras such as the Galápagos extension that follows this tour
Your next step
Dates and price
Departure Dates
No commitment, we respond within 24 hours
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This is a set departure with a small group, so you are not paying private-trip prices to travel alone. The date runs once at least two travellers are booked, and we will tell you where it stands when you enquire. If you would rather not share a room, the single supplement is around GBP 140 for the week.
One date, one small group
Tell us a little about your trip and we will hold your place on the 5 December departure, or price the same route on the dates you would prefer.
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Ecuador with us
Spent twelve days in mainland Ecuador and was blown away by the diversity. The cloud forest at Mindo had incredible birdwatching, we spotted toucans and hummingbirds within the first hour. The indigenous market at Otavalo was colourful and authentic, and the Amazon lodge near Tena gave us a taste of the jungle. Good food throughout, especially the llapingachos. Solid four stars, the roads can be a bit hair-raising.
Alastair F.
Ecuador packs an extraordinary amount into a small country. We started in Quito, the old town is a UNESCO gem, then took the train to the Avenue of Volcanoes. Cotopaxi on a clear day is unforgettable. The highlight was Baños: zip-lining over canyons, the swing at the edge of the world, and soaking in thermal baths afterwards. Fabian's planning was meticulous.
Barbara & John L.
Ecuador is a hidden gem. We trekked to Cotopaxi, explored the Amazon and spent time in gorgeous Cuenca. The variety in such a small country is remarkable. Highly recommend Travelfab.
Tom & Lisa B.
More holidays in Ecuador
Ecuador & Galápagos Grand Tour: Amazon, Andes & Islands
Ecuador & Galápagos Journey: Quito & Santa Cruz
Haciendas of Ecuador: Otavalo, Papallacta & Cotopaxi
Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
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