Your Journey To Ecuador
Visiting Ecuador offers an incredible blend of experiences, from exploring the vibrant culture and colonial architecture of Quito to embarking on a breathtaking adventure through the Amazon rainforest, where you can encounter diverse wildlife and lush landscapes. The Amazon's rivers, dense canopies, and indigenous communities provide a profound connection and the fascinating cultural pulse of the country.
December 26th - 29th, 2024
- Quito | 3 nights | Plaza Grande Hotel
December 29th, 2024 - January 2nd, 2025
- Amazon Rainforest | 4 nights | La Selva
January 2nd - 5th, 2025
- Imbabura | 3 nights | Hacienda Zuleta
In December, Ecuador experiences varied weather depending on the region. In the highlands, including cities like Quito, the weather is cool and mild with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F), and there might be occasional rain. On the coast and in the Amazon, December marks the start of the wet season, bringing warmer temperatures around 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F) and more frequent rain showers, especially in the afternoons.
U.S. passport holders do not need a visa to enter Ecuador for tourism stays of up to 90 days. However, passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
Details to be confirmed.
Booked Independently
Upon arrival in Quito, meet your airport assistant who will help you with the customs process, assist you with your bags and connect you to your private driver.
Booked by Scenset
Your private driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Booked by a travel agency
Check in to your accommodation. You'll check into your room right away, as your room is booked from December 26th.
Rincón De Francia is a charming and authentic French-Ecuadorian restaurant, celebrated for its traditional cuisine and warm, inviting atmosphere, offering a taste of France in the heart of Quito.
Booked by Scenset | Paid Locally
- Room Type: Plaza View King
- This room features an outdoor balcony, air conditioning and views of the park.
- Breakfast included
Booked by someone
Why we love it for you: Plaza Grande is unique for its prime location in a beautifully restored colonial mansion overlooking the historic Plaza de la Independencia. This boutique hotel combines classic elegance with modern amenities, providing an intimate and refined experience right in the heart of Quito's UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today, set off with your private local guide for a tour of Quito's highlights. The adventure begins with a short tram ride up to a high altitude on the Pichincha Volcano, offering panoramic views of the Ecuadorian Andes and Quito, including over a dozen snow-capped volcanoes. Next, visit the equator line, exploring the historic monument and Inti-Ñan Museum to learn about its global significance and local culture.
After lunch, continue on to Quito's captivating colonial quarters, visiting iconic sites like Plaza Grande, the Presidential Palace, and the gold-leaf-covered La Compañía Church, all within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Booked by Scenset
Zazu is a renowned fine dining restaurant, celebrated for its innovative Ecuadorian cuisine, elegant ambiance, and exceptional service, making it a top culinary destination in the city.
Booked by someone | Paid Locally
Plaza Grande Hotel | Plaza View King
Booked by a guest
After checkout, meet your private driver who will transfer you to the Quito airport for a quick flight to Coca.
Booked by Scenset
Details to be confirmed.
Booked by someone
Upon arrival in Coca, a representative will meet you at the arrival area and escort you to the departure point.
The 2.5-hour trip will be spent in a motorized canoe heading downriver, beginning an unforgettable experience in the Amazon rainforest. Boxed lunch and refreshments will be provided.
At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will be dropped off at La Selva's main dock where the final leg of the trip to the lodge will be completed in a paddle canoe.
Booked by Scenset
After some rest and time to unpack, one of the Naturalist Guides will give you some basic information about the tropical rainforest, the Amazon, and how La Selva operates.
In the afternoon, head out with your guide on the Matapalo Charapa Trail. This trail was given the Spanish name of the famous Strangler Fig, one of many remarkable trees that you can find on this short walk. Mahogany trees over 400 years old can be seen, and your guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna seen along the trail with you.
Due to the time of day, there is soft natural light shining through the canopy, and the diurnal and nocturnal animals are beginning their daily transitional activities.
Booked by Scenset | Paid Locally
Each evening, the culinary team prepares a multi-course meal in the main restaurant. Dine at your leisure and enjoy the sights and sounds of the rainforest around you.
La Selva | Superior Stateroom
- This room features a private balcony, mosquito net and rainforest views.
Booked by a traveller
Why we love it for you: La Selva Ecolodge & Spa in the Amazon is unique for its immersive experience in one of the world's most biodiverse regions, offering luxurious accommodations amidst the pristine rainforest. Its commitment to sustainable tourism and close proximity to the Yasuni National Park allows visitors to explore the Amazon's incredible wildlife and indigenous cultures while enjoying exceptional comfort and personalized service.
After a short walk, the observation tower comes into sight, soaring an impressive 120 feet above the forest floor. Your guides, with the help of a sighting scope, will show you colorful birds enjoying the canopy and maybe even certain primates. After another short walk from the tower, you will reach Mandi Cocha.
This small lake boasts different vegetation and landscapes, displaying the beauty of the flooded forest. With a little bit of luck, you might spot the famous giant otters that make their home nearby. This endangered species is difficult to find, but during this visit there’s a chance you could see them!
Booked by Scenset
Stop for a gourmet lunch along Garza Cocha Lagoon. This lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and is one of several opportunities to spot several different species of monkeys and birds. Sometimes, huge groups of squirrel monkeys join families of capuchin monkeys to look for food. Howler monkeys also like to spend the late afternoon around the lake. The hoatzin, a large unique bird found only in pristine Amazon environments, is very easy to spot.
Booked by scenset
After an early dinner, set off with your guide to spot a new set of wildlife that emerges after dark. All you need is a flashlight and your camera to see the jungle come alive at night. Amphibians, insects, reptiles, birds, and nocturnal mammals may be seen wherever your guides take you.
Booked by Scenset
La Selva | Superior Stateroom
Booked by someone
After an early breakfast, you will make your way back to the Napo River and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay lick, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral-rich soil, an important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to really capture the moment.
Booked by Scenset
Next, you will visit the indigenous community of Pilchi, where you will learn about how the first nations of the Amazon lived dating back thousands of years, including how they dress, what they eat, how they cook, and the many ways they use what the forest provides in their daily lives - a truly unique, fascinating and fun experience! Don’t be shy to ask them questions, and be brave to try some of the traditional drinks and food. They love to share their ancestral knowledge, and spread awareness about their culture and way of life.
Booked by Scenset
After your visit, head to the lagoon for a gourmet lunch with your guide. In the afternoon, the light from the sun makes this walk an amazing experience and the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this amazing forest.
Your naturalist will explain the creatures you encounter, and your guide will show you some medicinal plants used for hundreds, even thousands of years. A canoe ride back to the lodge makes a fantastic ending to this activity.
Booked by Scenset
Take the rest of the day to relax at the resort, have a massage, kayak along the river, and enjoy some downtime.
La Selva | Superior Stateroom
Booked by a guest
The Yasuní National Park is the largest protected area in Ecuador. On this adventure, you’ll visit a different clay lick where scarlet macaws and other species of parrots congregate to drink the sodium-rich water. You might even see mammals such as deer, wild pigs and even tapirs who come to drink water here!
Afterward, there’s a nice walk through this incredible forest where you might find other species of primates that are unique to this area. The Yasuní National Park is also the home of the last uncontacted indigenous tribe of the country.
Booked by Scenset
After a brief stop for lunch, head to the creek for some time on the water. The main creek that feeds into the Garza Cocha Lake is a beautiful place to paddle through. You will see the difference between the Terra Firme forest and the swamp forest also known as moretal. Morete is one of the dominant species of plants in this ecosystem. This extremely tall palm is very important to many different species of animals, and also for the indigenous communities that use its fruit as an important source of energy.
Booked by Scenset
Upon return to the resort, the manager will provide you with all of the necessary information about the departure procedure for the next morning, and the bartender will offer you a delicious farewell cocktail.
Enjoy your final dinner at leisure in the resort's restaurant.
La Selva | Superior Stateroom
Booked by an individual
After breakfast and checkout, your guides will assist you onto the motorboat where you'll begin your journey back to the Coca airport.
Booked by a scenset provider
Take a domestic flight from Coca back to Quito. Details will be provided.
Booked by Scenset
Upon arrival at Quito Airport, a driver will help with luggage and escort to the resort for check-in.
Booked by Scenset
Take the afternoon to settle into your new accommodations, go for a walk around the property and head to the restaurant for dinner in the evening.
Recommendation by Scenset
- Room Type: Deluxe Room
- This room features a fireplace, traditional decor and views of the courtyard.
- Breakfast Included
Booked by a guest
Why we love it for you: Hacienda Zuleta, in the Ecuadorian Andes, is unique for its rich blend of historical significance as a former presidential estate and its commitment to sustainable practices, including its renowned condor rehabilitation program. Visitors are offered a rare combination of luxury accommodations and immersive cultural experiences, including traditional Andean farming and artisan embroidery.
Embark on a 2 hour horseback ride through the countryside, passing by incredible views and vistas of the Andes Mountains. The horses at Zuleta are bred and cared for right on the farm, and your guide will accompany you on a gentle ride through areas only accessible on horseback.
Booked by scenset
You will arrive on horseback at the Condor Huasi Conservation Center for a brief tour of the sanctuary.
In 1995, two individuals and a German biologist couple dedicated to animal rescue established an aviary for two condors. Through donations, the cages currently housing six condors were constructed.
Since 2010, Cóndor Huasi has been a part of the National Andean Condor Working Group, collaborating with other organizations in the country dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and breeding condors. Simultaneously, education and awareness programs are conducted within local communities.
Currently, the aviary is home to two reproductive pairs of condors: a pair, parents of a condor born in November 2022, and another pair, parents of two condors; one resides in Guayllabamba Zoo and the other, a male born in November 2023. The male condor's case presented a challenge, as the parents had to be separated, and the father assumed care of the chick.
The horseback ride is approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Booked by Scenset
Enjoy a relaxed evening at the nightly bonfire and the resort's restaurant for dinner.
Learn to cook Andean specialities together with a local chef, using handpicked produce from the farm's organic gardens. You'll learn the techniques used to create the traditional dishes you've been having during your time at Zuleta, and dine on a delicious lunch of your creations together.
Booked by a scenset participant
Spend your last afternoon and evening at leisure as you soak in your final moments of your Ecuadorian adventure.
After checking out of your hotel, meet your private driver who will bring you to the airport for your flight home.
Booked by Scenset
Details to be confirmed.
Booked Independently
Thank you for travelling with us. We hope you had a fantastic trip and we wish you a safe flight home!
While on the trip, you can access your support team if any need arises to make your trip as smooth as possible. We are here to support you.