Quito to Cuenca Tour: Exciting 4 or 5 Day Exploring Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, and Chimborazo

Embark on an exciting 4 or 5-day tour from Quito to Cuenca, exploring Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, and Chimborazo. Experience the best of Ecuador with accommodation, transportation, and a private guide.

Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Quito - Cotopaxi - Quilotoa - Latacunga

Cotopaxi National Park - At 06:30 in the morning, the guide will collect you from your hotel in Quito to start the tour. The first stop is Cotopaxi National Park, where you will stroll around Limpiopungo Lake. If the weather is clear, you will have the opportunity to admire the scenery of one of Ecuador’s…

What's Included
  • Breakfasts
  • Pure water throughout the trip
  • One complimentary meal
  • Driver/guide with SUV, Minivan, or Minibus depending on group size
  • 4 or 5 nights accommodation based on tour option (double occupancy)
  • Entrance fees to all activities included in your tour
What's Not Included
  • Meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips
  • Optional Horse at Quilotoa Lake ($10)
Additional Information

If you’re short on time and want to see all that Ecuador has to offer, take a comprehensive four or five-day tour. Accommodation and transportation is included between your visits to Quito,Cotopaxi Quilotoa ,Banos, Chimborazo, Cuenca, and more. Every step of the way, your private guide will be with you to narrate your experience. Where you begin is up…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(60 Ratings)
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82paulu
Jan 28, 2026
Outstanding experience - I took the 5-day tour from Quito to Cuenca. I was the only passenger, so it was a private tour. My guide and driver, Diego, spoke perfect English. Moreover, he was a great driver, very polite, and extremely knowledgeable--a veritable walking encyclopedia. For example, when we were in the Andes, every few meters there was some plant or geological formation that he would describe in the indigenous Quechua genesis, the Latin name, the Spanish history, and the current uses including traditional medicine. In Cuenca, which I discovered as one of the great cities of the world, he did the same for all cultural artifacts and places. I'm thinking of going back to Cuenca next year. Two caveats: the Andes are VERY HIGH, so it's not for the light-headed although I wouldn't recommend high-altitude pills because of their side effects. I also recommend paying some extra for accommodations. The least expensive option is quite Spartan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lmg4272rj
Jan 13, 2026
A great tour of the Ecuadorian Andes mountains - This is an active trip along the Ecuadorian Andes avenue of volcanoes. Visit Cotopaxi national park and Laguna Quilota. This is a steep climb down into the inactive volcano, but you can hire a mule to ascend. Visit Banos,famous for it's waterfalls and Swing at the End of the world. Climb to 5000m at Chimborazo. Visit Ingapara archeological complex, a large Canari and Inca ruin. I had an extra day,so we had an extended city tour to also see a couple of museums, including Museo Pumapungo and the old cathedral, and then a longer day hiking in Cajas National Park. So many highlights. You do need to be fit to get the most from the activities at high altitude. The guide, Ed, was very accommodating and helpful to fill in my extra day. He was very informative throughout the tour. A great tour guide for a solo traveller. I had some issues with my Latam Airlines booking, and all communication was in Spanish. Ed helped to communicate with the airline to enable me to be sure this was sorted. Great appreciated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lyn_m
Jan 13, 2026
Great tour through the Ecuadorian Andes mountains - This is an active trip along the Ecuadorian Andes avenue of volcanoes. Visit Cotopaxi nationaal park, and Laguna Quilota. This is a steep climb down into the inactive volcano, but you can hire a mule to ascend. Visit Banos, famous for it's waterfalls and Swing at the End of the world. Climb to 5000m at Chimborazo. Visit Ingapara archeological complex, a large Canari and Inca ruin. I had an extra day, so we had an extended city tour to also see a couple of museums, including Museo Pumapungo and the old cathedral, and then a longer day hiking in Cajas National Park. So many hightlights. You do need to be fit to get the most from the activities at high altitude. The guide, Ed, was very accommodating and helpful to fill my extra day. I had some issues with my Latam Airline booking, and all communication was in Spanish. Ed helped communicate with the airline to enable me to be sure that this was sorted.
Review provided by Viator
Andreact9752sn
Jan 11, 2026
Authentic and unforgettable Ecuador - This 4 day journey from Quito to Cuenca was absolutely exceptional and far exceeded all my expectations. The itinerary was thoughtfully designed to showcase the very best of Ecuador in a relatively short time, without ever feeling negatively rushed. The drive itself was an experience. Throughout the journey, breathtaking Andean landscapes unfolded before us, with spectacular views of iconic volcanoes appearing one after another in this order: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Los Ilinizas, Rumiñahui, and El Altar. Every transfer offered new panoramas and highlighted the raw beauty and immense scale of Ecuador’s landscape. Each stop along the route was unforgettable. Cotopaxi was powerful and majestic, while Laguna Quilotoa was simply unreal — such a stunning crater lake can, in my opinion, only be compared to places like Iceland or Laguna de los Tres in Patagonia. Baños was vibrant and full of energy, and getting extremely close to the mighty Pailón del Diablo waterfall was an intense and emotional experience. One of the absolute highlights of the trip was driving up to approximately 4,800 meters above sea level, followed by a hike up to 5,000 meters. Being so close to Chimborazo, feeling the cold, the wind, and its overwhelming presence, was truly humbling and deeply powerful. The logistics, pacing, and overall organization were excellent. Despite covering so much ground, everything ran smoothly and felt well thought out. I would wholeheartedly recommend this route to anyone looking for an intense, authentic, and unforgettable experience in Ecuador. It was a challenging, beautiful, and deeply rewarding journey that I will remember for a very long time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_g
Dec 28, 2025
We had an incredible trip... - We had an incredible trip with guide Christian and driver Jose! We explored and never felt rushed. Wha an incredible trip! Highly recommend this company!!
Review provided by Viator
Reyesgirl77
Dec 26, 2025
Don’t miss out on visiting Central Ecuador! - We went on the 4 day tour and had a fantastic time. Luckily we were the only ones on the tour with our guide, Sebastian, who was able to tailor our itinerary each day. He was a safe driver and knowledgeable about the different sites on the tour. Although there is a lot of time in the car, the landscapes are truly beautiful which made the ride enjoyable. Additionally Sebastian made sure to provide bathroom stops along the way. We have awesome photos and great memories of all the different sites on this tour of central Ecuador. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Aishaalexandra1
Dec 18, 2025
Unbelievably perfect for a short trip - the most incredible guide - Me and my fiancé only had a week in Ecuador and chose this tour as we were so impressed by all the sights that were included! This tour exceded every and all expectations that we had. Edison was the most incredible tour guide, so knowledgable, kind and unbelievably friendly. He really went the extra mile to make our trip fantastic, personalising it and answering our many questions. He gave us insight and wisdom into the different foods, geography, and rich cultural and political history of Ecuador. Do not hesitate if considering this tour, I would and already have recommended it to friends and family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kasiaguroth
Dec 6, 2025
Through Ecuadorian Andes - Very well planned and executed tour. We were able to see and experience a lot of different aspects of life in Ecuador. Beautiful country. Sebastian our guide was very knowledgeable. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
545tanmayk
Nov 12, 2025
An Unforgettable Ecuadorian Adventure with the Best Guide! - My 4-day Quito to Cuenca tour with Polylepis Tours was flawless, largely thanks to our guide, Diego, and the owner, Edison. Diego was the heart of the experience. His knowledge about the volcanoes, lagoons, and local culture was impressive, and he shared it with a friendly and engaging attitude that made every day a joy. He is a true asset to this company. The owner, Edison, was incredibly prompt and helpful in all our communications. As a wonderful final touch, he even gave me a courtesy ride to the airport, which was so thoughtful. I highly recommend Polylepis Tours for anyone wanting to see the best of Ecuador with a reliable, friendly, and professional company. A five-star experience all around!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tessp678
Nov 9, 2025
Reliable Team - Polylepis was a great team to work with on this 5 day trip. It exceeds my expectation. Our guide Diego is well versed with each of the areas we visited. Respectful and accommodating with our needs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $645
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).