Ecuador - Tours and excursions in Quito

Tours and excursions around Quito

Quito is situated in the northern part of Ecuador, in the midst of the breathtaking Andean mountain range. On a day tour from Quito, you can easily visit five different unique vegetation zones listed below.

  • Tierra Nevada – Also known as the place of eternal snow, it is located at about 4000 metres with an average temperature of around freezing point. This day tour allows you to visit volcanoes like Cotopaxi, Antisana or Cayambe.
  • Páramo – Tierra Helada (frozen earth) is an area which experiences the most intense night frost.  Located at 3600 metres, lichen, moose and rosette grow aplenty here. To visit this area, a day tour from Quito to Cayambe-Coca-Nationalpark and to the Papallacta Hot Springs is highly recommended.
  • Tierra Fria (cold earth) is a vegetation zone which begins from 2000 metres. This area experience high levels of humidity where orchids, bromeliads and grasslands thrive and bloom. This area can be visited on a day tour from Quito to Latacunga.
  • Tierra Templada is located between 900 and 2000 metres. This area experience moderate temperature with relatively high levels of rainfall in the cloud forest. Visit this zone on a day tour from Quito to Mindo!
  • Tierra Caliente (warm earth) – located at the coast and in the Amazon below 900 metres, this area is evergreen with a humid tropical climate. We highly recommend a day tour from Quito to Santo Domingo.

Below is a list of our best-selling day tours in Quito:

Besuchen Sie den imposanten Cotopaxi von der Stadt Quito aus während eines Tagesausfluges

Day Tour to Cotopaxi National Park (Tierra Nevada) – This day tour includes a pleasant hike around the Cotopaxi National Park and a visit to the indigenous market. Lunch at one of the beautiful Hacienda is included.

Wunderschönes Bergpanorama umgeben die heißen Quellen von Papallacta in der Nähe von Quito

Day tour to Papallacta at the Cayambe-Coca National Park (Tierra Helada) – This includes a short hike in the cloud forest or the national park, followed by a relaxing bath at the Papallacta hot springs.

Devils Nose Train: Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Ecuador

Day Tour on a Train Ride to the Clouds (Tierra Fría) – This tour includes a train ride through the fertile plains in the south of Quito where you get to visit farms and have lunch there.

Tolle Exemplare ganz nah beobachten - Männlicher Kappennaschvogel in der Region Mindo bei Quito

Day Tour around Mindo (Tierra templada) – After stopping by the Equator Museum, the tour heads north-west to Mindo where you can visit the butterfly farm, travel on the waterfall route and experience the cloud forest with its very own bird paradise.

Amazonas Tagestouren - Erleben Sie die lebhafte Schamanenkultur

Day Tour to Santo Domingo de Los Colorados (Tierra Caliente) – This tour brings you on a breathtaking ride over a pass south of Quito from as high as 4000 metres to as low as 600 metres through the desert vegetation. The tour also includes a visit to the indigenous Shamen community.

Otavalo Markets are known for the colourful patterns and incredible textiles - Shopping in Ecuador

Day Tour to Otavalo – With its legendary Poncho market, this day tour allows you to witness how the entire city transforms into a colourful marketplace. Otavalo is best visited on Saturday – the main market day of the week.

More exciting day tours await you below!

How would you like to travel?

✪ Ecuador Tours ✪

Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz Island

Ecuador & Galapagos trip with the experts 2026

Duration: 15 - 15 days
Highlights:

This trip is accompanied by Galapagos and Ecuador expert Beate Zwermann, founder of Galapagos PRO.

From ,-
Price per pax
Chimborazo Lodge

Ecuador by Car - classic routing

Duration: 8 - 10 days
Highlights: Vulcanos, local markets, train ride Devils nose, Ingapirca

Individual round trip along the Avenue of the Volcanoes - Quito, Cotopaxi, Baños, Chimborazo, Alausí, Cuenca, Guayaquil

From 880,- USD
Price per pax
Otavalo Artists

Best of Ecuador: Andes, Coastlines and Cloud Forests

Duration: 18 - 18 days
Highlights: Otavalo Markets, Condor Park, Cuicocha Lagoon, Mangrove Forests

Prepare to be inspired as you experience Ecuador's breathtaking landscapes. Departing every Friday

From 1660,- USD
Price per pax
Marine Iguanas

Galapagos Discovery (6)

Duration: 6 - 6 days
Highlights:

Discover the Islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela in the Galapagso Archipelago.

From 1680,- USD
Price per pax
Chimborazo

Volcano Summit Striker: Cotopaxi and Chimborazo +3

Duration: 10 - 18 days
Highlights: Acclimitisation, Experienced Mountain Guides, Pasochoa Summit - 4,200 meters, Guagua Pichincha Summit - 4,794 meters, Iliniza North Summit - 5,116 meters, Cotopaxi Summit - 5,897 meters, Relaxation Day, Baños, Whymper Refuge, Chimborazo - 5,000 meters, Chimborazo Summit - 6,310 meters, Daily Departures, Group Appointments by Request, Incredible Landscapes, Includes Transfers, Includes Park Entrance Fees

Experience a unique Andean panorama from the peaks of the Ecuadorian volcanoes.

From 2010,- USD
Price per pax
Lagunas de Ozogoche

Ecuador Rental Car Round Trip: 6 National Parks

Duration: 14 - 21 days
Highlights: Hotel car park , Exchangeable stops and activities, Flexible activities

Visit all six amazing national parks in the Andes by car. All stops are interchangeable.

From 2040,- USD
Price per pax
City of Guayaquil

Rental car tour to/from Guayaquil

Duration: 14 - 21 days
Highlights:

Begin your rental car tour from Guayaquil and visit the best highlights in Ecuador along the way.

From 2450,- USD
Price per pax
Zaruma

Ecuador/Galapagos Round Trip with Rental Car

Duration: 32 - 42 days
Highlights: Galapagos Islands, Safe hotel parking spaces, Exchangeable stops

Visit all highlights from North to South, East to West with this extensive Ecuador rental car tour.

From 2750,- USD
Price per pax
With the Huaorani tribe

AJ: Huaorani Warriors (5)

Duration: 5 - 5 days
Highlights:

Explore the Amazon rainforest with the Huaorani tribe.

From 3000,- USD
Price per pax
Quitos koloniale Altstadt

Gruppenreise Ecuador und Galapagosinselhopping

Duration: 14 - 14 days
Highlights:

Erkunden Sie Ecuador und die Galapagosinseln mit deutschsprachiger Reiseleitung und Naturführer

From 7480,- USD
Price per pax
Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz Island

Ecuador & Galapagos trip with the experts 2025

Duration: 15 - 15 days
Highlights:

This trip is accompanied by Galapagos and Ecuador expert Beate Zwermann, founder of Galapagos PRO.

From 8470,- USD
Price per pax