If you’re looking to give your trip a deeper meaning, this is sure to delight you. This 14-day tour highlights the five senses, starting with taste and smell. The tour follows four main themes: chocolate & coffee, wines & liqueurs, culinary heritage, and aromas. You’ll discover Ecuadorian cacao, with a focus on its ancestral varieties; the native fruits of this country with its diverse ecosystems; the aromas of its most renowned roses; and finally, its wine production. In short, you’ll experience Ecuador through your senses—and your taste buds.
Accompanied by a French-speaking guide in private transportation at every stage.
Day 1: Quito Airport – Quito
Welcome to Ecuador! As the saying goes, “Travel first leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”…. So get ready for the adventure of this journey to the country at the center of the world. Chulla vida!
Meet and greet at Quito Airport by an English-speaking guide.
Private transfer with a Spanish-speaking driver from Quito Airport to the hotel.
Overnight stay at the Illa Experience Hotel in a Luxury Room (Standard category).
Day 2: Quito – Quito Historic Center
Quito is notable for its topography, which stretches from north to south along an Andean corridor flanked by the Pichincha volcano and the valley where the airport is located. But above all, it is the largest and best-preserved colonial city on the continent.
You will take a tour of Quito’s colonial and republican downtown:
For a treat for the taste buds, you’ll take part in a chocolate tasting organized in partnership with one of Ecuador’s most famous chocolate makers, Pacari. You’ll learn about the chocolate-making process, the origins of “cacao fino de aroma,” and the history of cacao around the world. You’ll have the privilege of tasting 10 different chocolates while learning how to smell, bite into, and savor them to appreciate all their nuances.
Overnight stay at the Illa Experience Hotel in a Luxury Room (Standard category).
Day 3: Quito La Floresta – Quito Historic Center
You’ll visit the Santa Clara Market, a typical Quito market where you can find fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and more. It’s a great opportunity to get a closer look at local life. If you’d like, your guide can recommend a place to have lunch there (the roast pork is delicious).
The cable car takes you up to nearly 4,000 meters, right to the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Needless to say, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of Quito and the many snow-capped peaks of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. From the top station, you can walk along well-maintained trails.
Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Somos, one of Quito’s top creative and socially conscious restaurants, featuring a tasting menu specially designed for you to showcase the richness of Ecuador’s culinary heritage.
To’ak Chocolate, founded and based in Ecuador, produces extremely limited editions of single-origin Ecuadorian dark chocolate—considered the most expensive chocolate in the world—by selecting one of the oldest and rarest cocoa varieties on the planet and employing various aging methods.
You’ll explore the To’ak chocolate factory during a private tour, getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the brand, the aging process, and the history of cacao. The tour will continue with a tasting of this high-quality chocolate, led by a renowned expert. You will taste three editions (corresponding to the years the cacao was harvested) as well as three vintage chocolates. If you wish, you will be offered the option to pair this chocolate with rum, whiskey, or another spirit.
Overnight stay at the Illa Experience Hotel in a Luxury Room (Standard category).
Day 4: Quito – Nanegalito – Mindo
Depart from Quito and follow a scenic road winding through the Ecuadorian cloud forest to the Mindo region, a place renowned for its biodiversity.
You are in the northwestern part of Quito, in the cloud forest of the Ecuadorian Chocó. During this day, you’ll explore a high-altitude tropical landscape home to some of the country’s most prized coffee crops. On the itinerary, you’ll visit plantations where various coffee varieties are grown. Then, after a lunch featuring local flavors, you’ll enjoy a tasting of this Ecuadorian coffee.
Overnight stay at Terrabambu Lodge in a Suite (Standard category).
Day 5: Mindo
Mindo Waterfalls Hike: Head to the Nambillo Reserve, where you’ll take a cable car to the other side of the valley and begin your hike, which will take you to three of the region’s most beautiful waterfalls. You’ll have the chance to swim amidst this lush natural setting, where you can observe a variety of birds. Depending on your preferences and fitness level, this hike can be tailored to last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.
Difficulty: Easy hike—casual hikers, welcome!
You’ll visit the artisanal chocolate shop El Quetzal, where you can sample some of the best chocolate in the country after watching how it’s made. All in all, it’s a must-visit for food lovers and a chance to bring back unique souvenirs for your family and friends.
Overnight stay at Terrabambu Lodge in a Suite (Standard category).
Day 6: Mindo – Cayambe – Otavalo – Hacienda Pinsaqui
Heading northeast to Cayambe.
You’ll spend two hours at the Hacienda de la Compañia de Jesús, a French Neoclassical-style estate. At the heart of this experience are the roses, including a tour of the adjacent plantation. You’ll learn about the entire process, from cultivation to preparing the bouquets for export. You’ll also learn the technique for coloring roses. Ecuadorian roses are renowned as the most beautiful in the world, largely due to the minerals derived from the volcanoes. To top it all off, head to the showroom! The former stables have been transformed into a visual feast, offering an impressive display of hundreds of roses of different varieties.
Otavalo is just a short drive from Cayambe. Come on… just a little further through these magnificent Andes.
You’ll meet Claudia, a native of the Otavalo region, who will introduce you to traditional Quechua cuisine. An authentic experience in the heart of a local village, featuring locally sourced ingredients.
Take advantage of your host’s generosity to learn more about her customs; she’s the perfect ambassador to help you gain insight into her people’s worldview.
Overnight stay at Hacienda Pinsaquí in a suite.
Day 7: Otavalo – Yaruqui – Quito – San Isidro
You’ll visit the famous Otavalo indigenous market, the best-known Ecuadorian craft market in the Andes. There you’ll encounter the Otavaleños, dressed in sneakers, wearing brown felt hats, and draped in blue ponchos. They are Ecuador’s most prosperous indigenous people and are formidable traders. Of course, this market has a highly developed tourist aspect, but it is one of the country’s must-see attractions.
You’ll return to Quito from the Otavalo region, enjoying magnificent mountain scenery. Along the way, you’ll see locals dressed in traditional attire or tending to their livestock along a road that symbolizes modernity, contrasting with customs inherited from pre-Inca civilizations.
Tour of the Chaupi Estancia vineyard. There are very few vineyards in Ecuador. Located in the Quito Valley at an altitude of 2,400 meters, this vineyard offers a glimpse into this wonderful initiative, which produces white wines including a Palomino—a grape variety native to Spain—and a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Palomino. As for the red wines, they include Pinot Noir and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot, and other grape varieties. Be careful not to overindulge during the tasting…
Departure from Quito to San Isidro.
Overnight stay at the San Isidro Lodge in a Standard Room. You will have dinner at the San Isidro Lodge.
Day 8: San Isidro – Archidona – Misahualli
Departure from San Isidro to Archidona.
You’ll visit the community of Santa Rita, where you’ll learn more about the origins of the cacao selected by the Pacari chocolate maker. You’ll see how the cacao is processed and learn about the entire technical process involved in creating Pacari chocolate’s unique flavor. During your walk through the plantations, you’ll pass by some petroglyphs. These are the ancestral traces of the indigenous cultures that once inhabited this area, known as the Sacred Valley of the Anaconda. You’ll also search for ripe cacao pods to taste the pulp surrounding the beans—sweet and slightly tart… You’ll also learn how to make chocolate paste and hot chocolate. This way, you’ll discover the complete process of cacao production, including local secrets.
You will continue southward to Misahualli.
You will spend the night at Hamadryade Lodge. There will be a variety of activities to choose from.
Day 9: Misahualli – Fatima – Riobamba
You’ll head south to Fatima, a village located just before the city of Puyo.
Half-day participation in a community reforestation activity: You’ll spend the morning at the Los Yapas Reserve, where you’ll take part in community reforestation activities such as weeding, fertilizing, and/or planting a tree. This is one way to better understand the complex environment of the Amazon and the fragile balance of these ecosystems threatened by human activities. It will be a way for you to do your part in this vital struggle.
Lunch at the Reserve before or after the activity, depending on your schedule. Vegan menu.
You’ll head toward Baños and take “La Ruta de Cascadas,” which winds along the deep, steep-sided gorges of the Pastaza River. As you ascend from 950 meters to 1,800 meters, you’ll observe the changing ecosystem and enjoy spectacular views of the upper Amazon basin and a dozen waterfalls. You will continue on to Riobamba.
You’ll take part in a 40-minute cooking class led by one of the hotel’s chefs. You’ll get hands-on experience preparing a traditional Andean dish and a dessert. Afterward, you’ll enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, accompanied by a glass of sangria.
Overnight stay at Hacienda La Andaluza in a Standard Room.
Day 10: Riobamba – Cuenca – San Miguel Winery – Cuenca
You will then return to your vehicle to drive to Cuenca along a scenic road winding through the Andes. The city of Cuenca possesses an indescribable charm. This colonial city, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blends a warm and lively atmosphere with splendid historic buildings, featuring French influences that complement the colonial and republican architecture.To appreciate its warm colors, you’ll stroll through the cobblestone streets, lined with white houses featuring Roman-style tiled roofs and wrought-iron balconies adorned with flowers. Cuenca is also unique for the treasures of colonial art it houses within its 17th- and 18th-century churches and convents.
During this half-day tour, you will discover: the historic center and colonial houses; the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as well asthe old Cathedral; the Plaza de las Flores with its market; local markets to immerse yourself in local life; and the city’s churches, such as Santo Domingo and San Francisco.
The San Miguel Distillery is located 15 minutes south of Cuenca. It is Ecuador’s best-known rum producer. Here, you can visit its small museum and the cellar filled with oak barrels for a tasting.
Overnight stay at the Santa Lucia Hotel in a Standard Room.
Day 11: Cuenca
It’s time for the cooking class. This is your chance to discover Ecuadorian flavors and, above all, ingredients you may not be familiar with. Taking these little touches home with you—which will impress your friends—is a practical keepsake. And of course, you’ll enjoy the meal you’ve prepared for lunch.
Visit to the Turi lookout point, which overlooks Cuenca and the surrounding valleys.
Overnight stay at the Santa Lucia Hotel in a Standard Room.
Day 12: Cuenca – Samborondon
Head west toward the Pacific to reach Guayaquil, Ecuador’s economic capital and largest city. You’ll travel up the Western Cordillera and cross Cajas National Park, where you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the many lakes within this protected area. Weather permitting, you can stop for a hike in the park. Allow between 1 and 3 hours of walking, depending on the trail you choose. You will then descend through the mountains until you reach fertile plains where banana plantations and vegetable farms stretch as far as the eye can see before arriving in Guayaquil.
Visit to the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum: The San Juan Cocoa Hacienda, located in Guayaquil’s Historic Park, has been converted into the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum. It is, therefore, an authentic site formerly dedicated to cocoa, where you can learn about the chocolate-making process as well as the living conditions on a cocoa farm.
You will have dinner at the Hotel del Parque restaurant, in a pleasant setting.
Overnight stay at the Hotel del Parque in a Deluxe Room (Standard Category).
Day 13: Guayaquil – Dos Hemisferios Winery – Guayaquil – Samborondón
Head toward the Pacific Coast, but stop a few miles before the beach, inland, to visit the Dos Hemisferios vineyard.
Wine Adventure: This wine-themed day offers the chance to visit one of the country’s few vineyards, which also produces internationally award-winning wines.
An agronomist will guide you through the vineyards. Depending on the season, you’ll see the grapes or maintenance work such as pruning.
Next, a winemaker will explain the production process and guide you through a tasting of four of their premium wines from the producer’s private reserve.
You will then enjoy an al fresco lunch, accompanied, of course, by wine. Afterward, you’ll return to Guayaquil and spend the night at the Hotel del Parque in a Deluxe Room (Standard category).
Day 14: Cerecita – Guayaquil Airport
Tour of Hacienda El Castillo, which specializes in cocoa production.
You’ll walk through the cocoa plantations to learn about the entire process, which will take you to the state-of-the-art chocolate factory.
You’ll then have lunch at the hacienda and take this opportunity to ask more questions about life in these unique surroundings.
Transfer with your guide to Guayaquil Airport by private vehicle.
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