What's a group trip?
Join a small group of like-minded travellers on a guided trip.
What's a tailor made trip?
We put together a bespoke tour to fit your requirements.
Prices From $3207 / £2607.291 per person
Dates: From January 2025 to December 2025
Duration: 15
Capacity: 5 per person
The mountain areas we visit on our volcano climbing trip are stunning. Once acclimatised to the high altitudes we climb three of Ecuador’s biggest and most beautiful volcanoes: Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
We have picked the best accommodation in each place to provide good access to the mountains. Cosy haciendas and mountain lodges offer us excellent Ecuadorean food and hospitality throughout the trip.
Our expert mountaineering guides are qualified and experienced. They know the mountains well and will also fill you in on the history and culture of this fascinating Andean country. This will help you make the most of your Ecuador trekking and volcano climbing trip.
Duration: 3
Situated within a private reserve, the El Monte lodge offers unparalleled access to the biodiverse Andean cloud forest. You’re surrounded by lush greenery, wonderful wildlife, and beautiful scenery.
The lodge owners decided, when they opened in 1998, to stay small, and keep a healthy balance between guests and the area of land to minimize the ecological impact.
Food is mostly vegetarian with lots of colour, but chicken and fish are also sometimes served (veggies are catered for too). The cooks are creative so there’s no fixed menu, just a guarantee that it will be tasty. Almost all dietary requests can be catered to.
Arrival at El Monte is via a 20-metre ride on a tarabita—a hand-pulled cable car—over the Rio Mindo which gives a sense of seclusion from the outside world, but you are only a couple of miles from the small town of Mindo.
From El Monte venture out to enjoy a range of activities. There are options catering to all visitors: go bird watching, join a nature walk, swim in a waterfall, visit a butterfly farm, visit an orchid garden, take a chocolate or coffee tour, feed hummingbirds, or simply relax in a hammock!
For the adventurous and for families, there’s zip-lining, horseback riding a cable car over the canopy, and tubing.
Prices From $3000 / £2439 per person
Duration: 10
On this adventure holiday, you will explore three islands by land, sea and small plane, using shared transportation.
Enrich your adventure with the perspectives of the different knowledgeable and experienced guides who will accompany you and ensure you experience the islands to the fullest.
Kick back at our comfortable and well-located hotels. We’ve included breakfast and some lunches while you’re out on an excursion but most days you will be free to choose from a range of typical local restaurants, allowing you to eat what and where you want.
Prices From $2360 / £1918.68 per person
Duration: 13
The vegetation changes from the humid Andean forests to the high altitude grasslands known as “paramo”. Humming birds and other brightly coloured tropical birds accompany you at lower elevations. As you go higher and walk through the grassland look out for wild horses, the Andean Condor, Black Chested Buzzard Eagles, Puna Ibis, and more.
Next is the hilly farming region of Quilotoa, where you visit the colourful market of Saquisili and walk round the deep blue crater lake of Quilotoa volcano.
The landscape here is stunning, a patchwork of fields across steep mountain sides, with deep gorged out valleys. The many mountain paths that criss-cross the area link together and are ideal for this multi-day trek. We see several remote villages and have the opportunity to chat to and learn about the traditions and working life of Ecuador’s rural people.
The last few trekking days are spent walking in the Chimborazo Reserve, home to Ecuador´s highest volcano, Chimborazo. The tour ends with a visit to Baños, then return to Quito.
Ecuador is one of the best of all the Andean countries for multi-day trekking holidays as well as day walks. We have planned this route to include the best and most interesting places to stay, some historical, colonial haciendas, some local high mountain lodges, some beautiful hotels with views.
These haciendas are old colonial Spanish style farms. They have been adapted to accommodate tourists and visitors in some degree of comfort. Staying at the haciendas gives a good insight into farming life as most are still working farms, and also allow you to experience some excellent Ecuadorian hospitality.
Mashpi Lodge is in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The Choco bioregion stretches from Panama through Ecuador to the border with Peru.
Ecuador’s section, the Andean Choco, is part of the world-famous Tumbes-Choco-Darien biodiversity hotspot. It covers 125,000 hectares with diverse microclimates across its undulating topography, offering a unique richness in flora and fauna.
About Mashpi Reserve and Lodge
Mashpi Lodge came to life in 2001 when a group of environmentalists bought 3,000 acres of land in the Choco bioregion. Once farmed and logged, the group set out to protect an area home to more than 400 species of birds, 150 butterfly species, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 100 varieties of trees.
Mashpi Lodge aims to mix the best-in-class hotel service in an artistic, natural environment. It succeeds thanks to luxurious rooms and tasteful communal spaces that blend in and play with the surroundings.
The contemporary and sustainable lodge sits at the beating heart of the Mashpi Reserve, 950m/3,100ft above sea level, among the lower montane tropical rainforest and cloud forests. Panoramic views unfold from almost all areas, fusing you with nature during your stay.
Connect with nature at Mashpi
Connect with nature on the yoga deck, unwind in the spa, or enjoy a meditation session among the cloud forest sounds. Awaken your senses in the lodge’s pristine swimming area next to a refreshing natural waterfall, one of several cascades surrounding Mashpi Lodge, where you can re-energise your spirit.
Your wellness is cared for with high-end gastronomy, exotic cocktails, and the plush Samay Centre and Spa. Learn more about the environment in the expedition room. There’s an indoor and outdoor bar lounge, coffee bar, well-stocked library, gift shop, and viewing platform. There are even some computers for those that may need access.
Mashpi Lodge is also a member of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World programme; no need to say more.
Birdwatching
Mashpi Lodge is a birdwatching paradise, with explosively coloured birds sighted among the lush, tropical greenery. Look for the azure blue, deep vermillion, and forest green flashes of birds among the kaleidoscope of butterflies, frogs, and insects.
Some 35 of the 400 species at Mashpi Lodge are endemic, and more than 30 species of hummingbirds have been identified in the area. A highlight for many is the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek.
Highlights at Mashpi Lodge
Mashpi’s eight-storey high observation tower (26m/85ft) gives a view over the cloud forest canopy like no other. Watch nature in all its beauty from above the jungle floor.
A life centre offers a journey of learning and discovery for children and adults alike. There, resident scientists talk you through the area’s wildlife while inviting you to witness one of nature’s most striking wonders; the metamorphosis of butterflies.
The dragonfly gondola offers an 80-minute ride through and above the cloud forest canopy along a 1.2 mile/2km route. Alternatively, take the sky bike, pedalling 200m/650ft through the cloud forest canopy, over the jungle, rivers, and wildlife.
A hummingbird garden viewpoint allows guests to observe up to 19 of the 32 species identified at Mashpi. Marvel at the magical hovering birds while keeping your eyes peeled for the toucans and squirrels that share the garden.
Expert guides to help
Local and naturalist guides help spot wildlife on the numerous trails that follow the undulating features of the Mashpi zone. They range from short, 20-minute walks to those up to and over three hours, often combined with other activities. Evocative names include the Howler Monkey, Healing Water, Capuchin Monkey, and Walking Palm trails. You can also head out on night walks and experience the jungle from an entirely new perspective.
Kids love the laboratory where the experiments are designed to make them fall in love with the natural world. Research and conservation projects—new species are often being discovered—amplify this connection.
Take it easy among the birds and breeze on the outdoor yoga deck, soft mats provided. Or try Samay, which means ‘soul’ in Kichwa, a Wellness Centre that offers inner harmony for the mind, body, and soul. Massages, beauty treatments, and a hot tub await.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in Touch
+44 (0)131 378 5593
+44 (0)131 554 6025
info@andeantrails.co.uk
The whole trip was just incredible; the planned itinerary went smoothly, everything was perfectly organised and I could not think of any better way to have visited this beautiful country. The cruise on Galapagos Islands obviously was the highlight. Lost in paradise!
The accommodation/food/guides on Coral 1 were amazing! The crew was super nice and we had a lot of fun! The guides had great knowledge to share and the itinerary was super exciting and interesting. During my time on the cruise I talked a lot to the crew members that were all locals working for the conservation of the Islands, I got great insights on the people and culture of the country.
I am super happy to have chosen Andean Trails for my trip and so grateful for the help of Kat, she gave me great recommendation and helped me in the best possible way with the planning of my trip.
Marie Becker (France), July 2022 » Coral I & II Galapagos Cruise Yachts
It was everything we hoped and more! Bellavista was amazing, and the guys there arranged some really fun additional activities around Mindo on the day we went zip lining (butterfly farm, orchid farm, chocolate factory). The Quito city tour they put together was also great. But the highlight of course was the Galapagos. Again, it far exceeded expectations. The food was good, the guides were great, and the other passengers were wonderful to meet and spend time with. And the animals -- we saw them all, both above and below the water. All in all, a spectacularly successful holiday that was enjoyed by the whole family and will be remembered fondly forever. Thanks so much for all your help in putting it together!
M. Williamson, UK, 2012 » Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge
