Experience the extraordinary cultural diversity and dramatic Andean scenery of Ecuador with our expertly guided small group tour.
Ecuador sits astride the equator in the heart of South America, packing extraordinary variety into a compact country. The Andes spine the nation north to south, flanked by highland communities and ancient markets to the west and the upper Amazon basin to the east. Indigenous cultures — Otavaleño, Quichua, Shuar and Kichwa — have shaped this landscape for centuries, and their traditions remain vivid and living. Ecuador's colonial capital, Quito, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its restored baroque old town rising sharply from a high Andean valley ringed by volcanoes.
Our small group Ecuador tours follow the Avenue of the Volcanoes south through the Andes, dipping into the Amazon rainforest and surfacing through indigenous highland communities before finishing back in Quito. With a maximum of 12 travellers, expert local guides and a carefully crafted 14-day itinerary, our Ecuador tour packages take you well beyond the tourist trail into some of the most striking landscapes and cultures in South America.
Ecuador
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
Ecuador packs the Andes, the Amazon and vivid highland indigenous culture into a two-week itinerary that would take months to replicate across a larger country. It is one of the most varied travel experiences in Latin America.
The Otavaleño, Quichua, Shuar and Kichwa communities along this route are not museum exhibits — they are active, living cultures. Markets, ceremonies and community visits offer genuine insight, not performance.
Nowhere else in South America offers a drive like this — a corridor of Andean peaks stretching south from Quito, passing crater lakes, highland farms and colonial villages in a single spectacular sweep.
Ecuador is one of the easiest South American countries to travel through. Everything is within reach, the infrastructure is reliable and the diversity of the country means no day resembles the last.
See itinerariesEcuador rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
Ecuador's climate varies considerably by region and altitude rather than by a simple wet-dry calendar. Quito and the highlands experience two dry seasons — June to September and December to January — when skies are clearer and temperatures more settled, though the altitude keeps things cool year-round. The Amazon lowlands are warm and humid throughout the year, with slightly drier conditions from December to March. The coast is warmest and sunniest from December to April. At altitude, temperature swings between day and night can be significant regardless of season, so layers are always advisable. Undiscovered Destinations runs Ecuador small group tours in July and November, both of which offer dependable travel conditions in the highlands and acceptable rainforest weather.
Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Ecuador tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
Every one of our Ecuador journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
Ecuador's geography makes it particularly well-suited to a private itinerary. The compact country means a tailor-made Ecuador holiday can weave together highland markets, Amazon rainforest lodges and volcanic national parks without long travel days between them. A private traveller might spend additional time in the Otavalo region, arrange an extended stay in the Amazon with a specialist wildlife lodge, or explore the Quilotoa loop and Cotopaxi National Park at their own pace rather than within a group schedule. Private transport and hand-picked local guides make all the difference in a country where roads can be demanding and local knowledge is invaluable. Speak to the Undiscovered Destinations team to discuss your ideal Ecuador travel package.
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Our Ecuador tour packages start from £2,545 per person for the 14-day Astride the Equator itinerary. The price includes accommodation throughout, all transport, English-speaking guide, most meals and entrance fees to sites on the itinerary. International flights are not included and can be arranged separately — contact the team for advice and a quote.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Ecuador Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Ecuador that we visit on our tours.
Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Ecuador specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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