South America · ECUADOR TOURS

The 15 Best Tours in Ecuador, Mainland and Islands

63 tours  ·  from $18

A small country with the Andes down the middle and the Galápagos off the coast. These 15 cover Quito and the volcano road, the crater lakes, the cloud forest and the island boats, priced and paced honestly.

Cotopaxi & Quilotoa With Optional Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off - Limpiopungo Lagoon and the first walk
Ecuador Tours, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Volcano Tours, Volcano Tours in Quito

Cotopaxi & Quilotoa With Optional Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off

1.Cotopaxi & Quilotoa With Optional Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 170 reviews · from $59Our pick

Travel from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa on a 12-hour small-group outing. You’ll visit Limpiopungo Lagoon, see Cotopaxi if clouds allow, stop at markets and a museum, and reach Quilotoa’s turquoise crater lake. Guides such as Andrea, Irene, and Javier provide English and Spanish commentary. Hotel pickup costs extra.

“Great trip to beautiful places. The car we went on was very comfortable. Andrea was a fantastic guide, speaking everything in both English and Spanish. Well organised. You will absolutely need cash for this (and most tours in ecuador).”

Check availability →Read our full review

Quito Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel - From customs to the hotel door
Ecuador Tours, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Transfers & Shuttles

Quito Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel

2.Quito Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 150 reviews · from $34

After customs at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, meet a driver holding your name and ride to your Quito hotel in an air-conditioned minivan. Freddy, Carlos, and Christian have helped arriving passengers with luggage, city tips, late-night pickups, and flight delays. The shared service carries up to six people, though some pickups operate in a private car.

“I had a very pleasant experience with being driven from the airport to my hotel in Quito. The driver and his assistant, Christian, were very kind, on time, and gave me helpful information about the city during our drive. Christian even helped carry my luggage for me to my hotel. 10/10 experience, would definitely recommend this to anyone!”

Check availability →Read our full review

PRIVATE CITY TOUR: Quito Colonial, Half the World and Cable Car - Quito’s old center, from stone facades to gold interiors
Cable Car Rides, Cable Car Rides in Quito, City Tours, City Tours in Ecuador, City Tours in Quito, Ecuador Tours, Private, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

PRIVATE CITY TOUR: Quito Colonial, Half the World and Cable Car

3.PRIVATE CITY TOUR: Quito Colonial, Half the World and Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $99Top rated

This 6 to 7 hour private tour combines Quito’s colonial center, the TelefériQo cable car, Mitad del Mundo, and Intiñan Museum. You get private air-conditioned transport, a guide, water, and accident insurance. Guides such as Jessica, Jonathan, Luis, and Juan are praised for adapting the pace and adding local food, markets, and photo stops.

“Ruben was an excellent guide and host for our special first visit. Exploring the sites we hoped to see and adding in information and experiences that we totally enjoyed! A great day!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full Day City tour of Quito -All main attractions WITH ADMISSIONS - San Francisco and Quito’s colonial center
City Tours, City Tours in Ecuador, City Tours in Quito, Ecuador Tours, Full-Day, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full Day City tour of Quito -All main attractions WITH ADMISSIONS

4.Full Day City tour of Quito -All main attractions WITH ADMISSIONS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $130

Spend about eight hours exploring Quito with a guide such as Jorge or Jose. Visit the Basilica towers, San Francisco Church, Plaza Grande, Intiñan Equator Museum, TeleferiQo, El Sagrario, and Yumbos Chocolate. Private transport, parking, and admission fees are included. Lunch is not.

“To take this tour , had a great and wonderful day , thanks Jose tour guide excellent , no rushing lots of information , helpful tips just awesome Best regards Steffi”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! - Learning the park before the hike
Ecuador Tours, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Volcano Tours, Volcano Tours in Quito

Cotopaxi Volcano Quest!

5.Cotopaxi Volcano Quest!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $68

From Quito, you’ll visit Cotopaxi National Park, hike from 4,600 meters to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 meters, then bike a short downhill route to Limpiopungo Lagoon. Guides such as Alejandro and Lincoln explain the volcanoes, wildlife, and high-altitude plants. Lunch, transport, and equipment are included.

“It was an amazing experience, beyond my expectations. Alejandro was a really great guide, i highly recommend this tour. He was really friendly and charismatic, he paid a lot of attention to make sure we were okay as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Mindo Cloud Forest Full Day Tour from Quito - Mariposas de Mindo and its cloud of butterflies
Ecuador Tours, Full-Day, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Mindo Cloud Forest Full Day Tour from Quito

6.Mindo Cloud Forest Full Day Tour from Quito

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $59

Spend about 12 hours traveling from Quito into the Mindo Cloud Forest. See hundreds of butterflies, ride the tarabita, hike to a waterfall, and choose a zipline or another adventure activity. Private transport and a bilingual guide are included, while meals and activity tickets cost extra.

“The nature and the activities were wonderful but we were grossly overcharged. We paid $189 Canadian and part way through the day we learned that the other two participants paid only $65 for the exact same tour. Our guide tried to get us to pay for admissions that we had already paid via Viator and I had to argue with him and he make phone calls to sort it out (wasting 30 minutes). Even so, we paid much more than the local company was actually charging for the tour. Our local guide was highly unprofessional at several points, rushing us along and making derogatory comments about another participant who was…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting - Ice cream with Ecuadorian ingredients
Dessert Tours, Ecuador Tours, Food & Drink, Historical Tours, Quito Tours, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting

7.Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 91 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $29

Spend about four hours with a local guide such as Marcelo, Pablo, or Carlos, walking Quito’s colonial center, tasting market fruit and juices, seeing La Compañía’s gold-covered interior, and making ice cream with South American ingredients. The small group has a maximum of 12 people, and children age 6 and older may join.

“The weather was horrible so the guide altered the tour to help keep us dry in a rain and thunderstorm. Wish I saw more and wasn't so wet and cold! but appreciate the guide being flexible and still making it a great day! He was very knowledgeable about the history of Ecuador and a great conversationalist.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory - Markets that explain daily life better than monuments
City Tours, City Tours in Ecuador, Cuenca Tours, Ecuador Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory

8.Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $34

Spend about four hours seeing Cuenca with a local bilingual guide, often including guides such as Wilson, Cristian, Sebastian, or Genero. Visit markets, churches, the Modern Art Museum, Homero Ortega’s Panama hat museum, Barranco, and Turi viewpoint. Hotel pickup, transport, and a private itinerary are included.

“This half day tour with Enrique was the best part about our trip to Cuenca. We learned so much about the city center and Panama Hat factory. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for more information on the history and details of the best parts of Cuenca's city center!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños - Hola Vida Waterfall and the forest trail
1-Day Tours, Amazon Rainforest Tours, Amazon Tours in Ecuador, Baños Tours, Day Trips in Ecuador, Ecuador Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños

9.Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 8 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Travel from Baños into the Puyo area for a full day of jungle walks, a 30-minute dugout canoe ride, a waterfall swim, Quechua culture, cacao making, and lunch. The small group is capped at 12. Carlos has guided in excellent English, while Christian has driven the route.

“We had a fantastic day! Our driver and guide were incredibly knowledgeable about local plants, chocolate, and medicinal plants. Their passion and insights made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full Day Quito (City Tour + Middle of the World + Teleferico) - Old Town: Quito’s colonial core in two hours
Cable Car Rides, Cable Car Rides in Quito, City Tours, City Tours in Ecuador, City Tours in Quito, Ecuador Tours, Full-Day, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full Day Quito (City Tour + Middle of the World + Teleferico)

10.Full Day Quito (City Tour + Middle of the World + Teleferico)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $90

Travel by private vehicle with guides such as David, Juan, Leo, or Daniel through Quito’s Old Town, churches, viewpoints, chocolate tasting, Teleférico, and Intiñan Equator Museum. The 6 to 8 hour outing is ideal when you want broad coverage in one day, but bring extra cash for entry fees and lunch.

“This tour was a great way to see the best parts of Quito. The Unesco world heritage old city was very interesting. Then the cable car with its magnificent 360 city views and the middle of the earth tour was a lot of fun. David our guide recommended a wonderful local restaurant with great food for lunch. He was an amazing guide and very knowledgeable about his city.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day Mindo Cloud Forest Tour Birdwatching Waterfalls and Hike - Butterflies and hummingbirds in Mindo
Bird Watching Tours, Ecuador Tours, Full-Day, Hiking & Trekking, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waterfall Tours

Full-Day Mindo Cloud Forest Tour Birdwatching Waterfalls and Hike

11.Full-Day Mindo Cloud Forest Tour Birdwatching Waterfalls and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $189

Travel from Quito to Mindo with a private guide such as Kathy or Pato for birdwatching at San Tadeo, hand-fed hummingbirds, a butterfly farm, Pululahua crater views, a waterfall hike, and artisan chocolate tasting. The 10-hour trip includes transport, admission fees, and flexible pacing, but lunch is extra.

“I really enjoyed the hummingbirds and the butterflies. The hike to the waterfall was also nice. My guide Kathy was so knowledgeable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Transportation from Airport to Hotel in Quito or vice versa (one way) - The 45 to 50 minute ride to your hotel
Airport Transfers, Ecuador Tours, Private, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Transportation from Airport to Hotel in Quito or vice versa (one way)

12.Private Transportation from Airport to Hotel in Quito or vice versa (one way)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 45 to 50 minutes (approx.) · from $17Best value

Arrange a private one-way ride between Quito airport and your hotel. A representative meets you with a sign bearing your name, helps with luggage, and connects you with a clean private vehicle. Drivers such as Gustavo, Esteban, Carolina, and Gerogy have earned praise for punctual, safe service. The trip takes about 45 to 50 minutes.

“I would recommend this company only for the transfer from the airport to the hotel and not vice versa. Gustavo was awaiting me upon arrival at the Quito airport with a sign with my name on it. He was an excellent driver who spoke good English and who safely got me to my hotel in the historic center of Quito on a timely basis. I was so pleased with this service that I subsequently made an online reservation for the departure transfer from the hotel to the airport with the same company. However, I ultimately wound up cancelling it because they suggested a hotel departure time that was only 2…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Discover Quito; Old town, Middle of the world + Cable car PRIVATE - Climbing the Basilica del Voto Nacional
Cable Car Rides, Cable Car Rides in Quito, Ecuador Tours, Private, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews

Discover Quito; Old town, Middle of the world + Cable car PRIVATE

13.Discover Quito; Old town, Middle of the world + Cable car PRIVATE

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $120

Spend about seven hours with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide exploring Quito’s Old Town, Plaza Grande, Basilica del Voto Nacional, the Middle of the World, and Teleférico. Private transport, hotel pickup, and guiding are included. Plan extra money for entry fees and lunch.

“Loved this tour. Daniel is a fantastic guide. Knowledgeable, fun and very responsive to questions and requests. We visited the equator (twice!), rode the cable car and the visited the truly charming old town. Quito is wonderful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito - Meeting Edwin at Vicente León and José de Antepara
3-Hour Experiences, Ecuador Tours, Food & Drink, Quito Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito

14.3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $37

Join Edwin for a three-hour walking tour through Quito’s local huecas, small family-run eateries known for distinctive food and drinks. You pay each business directly, so food costs extra. Expect old-town history, artisanal products, friendly introductions to shop owners, and a final community stop. Groups are capped at 12.

“It was excellent to be on this tour and discover places and information only a local would know. It was a wonderful experience to try new things and gain a cool perspective on the city!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Best of Guayaquil - City Tour - Government buildings and independence monuments
City Tours, City Tours in Ecuador, Ecuador Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Best of Guayaquil – City Tour

15.Best of Guayaquil – City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $120

Explore Guayaquil by private vehicle and on foot with a local guide such as Javeth, Tony, or Milton. See Parque Seminario’s famous iguanas, Malecon 2000, the Rotonda, historic streets, and a coffee museum tasting. Hotel or airport pickup and return are included, with time to adjust the route to your interests.

“We had a great early Sunday tour with Tony. Our time was limited as we had a flight later in the day. With driver Richard and Tony as our guide, we saw all the historic and scenic sights in Guayaquil. Tony is very personable and also interested in getting the best photo angles for his clients. We had a great time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Ecuador Tours

★ 5.0Cocoa farm and Chocolate making!From $15562 reviews
★ 5.0Half Day Guayaquil Historical Tour and Cocoa Culinary ExperienceFrom $13542 reviews
★ 5.0Cultural walking tour in LojaFrom $2554 reviews
★ 5.0Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private TransferFrom $7938 reviews
★ 5.0Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 DayFrom $3542 reviews
★ 5.0Visit the Ecuadorian AmazonFrom $3544 reviews
★ 5.0Half-Day Rock Climbing in Canton BañosFrom $3036 reviews
★ 5.0Full Day to Puyopúngo Excursion in the AmazonFrom $4039 reviews
★ 5.0Cotopaxi Volcano Tour from Quito – Day Trip to the AndesFrom $15065 reviews
★ 5.0Day Trip Churute Howler Monkey Observation and Chocolate MakingFrom $27655 reviews
★ 5.0Cable Car and Quito Private City TourFrom $8068 reviews
★ 5.0BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in GalapagosFrom $9044 reviews
★ 4.5Full Day Tour Pinzon Island + La Fe/Las Palmas – Snorkeling & FishingFrom $17547 reviews
★ 5.0The Galapagos Giant Tortoise Experience + Los Gemelos | SharedFrom $15042 reviews
★ 5.0LA PINTA DARWIN’S LEGACY (Fri-Thurs)From $7,94644 reviews

Keep browsing

Machu Picchu ToursIguazu Falls ToursCruises & Boat ToursFood & DrinkCity ToursHiking & Trekking
Scroll to Top

Explore South America

Pick a coastline, an altitude or a kitchen.

The Andes

Machu PicchuSacred ValleyRainbow MountainColca CanyonTrekking Routes

Water and islands

Days Under WayLakes and LagunasSnorkelling the ReefsSchooner DaysSand and Surf

Around a table

Eating ToursWine TastingsCoffee-Farm MorningsKitchen ClassesStreet Eating

Wild places

The AmazonGalápagosGlaciersPenguin ColoniesWaterfalls