Andes Twist Guided Motorcycle Tour

The Andes Twist is built for riders who want the good stuff without getting dragged through a boot-camp vacation. This seven-day guided motorcycle tour starts and ends in Quito and follows a carefully designed paved route through the Andes, the Amazon Basin, cloudforest, hot springs country, and some of Ecuador’s best highland towns. The riding is plenty fun, but the pace leaves room to stop, take photos, walk around, meet people, eat like a civilized human being, and actually enjoy the places you came all this way to see.

The route kicks off in the Andes with volcano views, highland farms, historic haciendas, indigenous markets, and the famous Quilotoa Loop, where the road twists through deep canyons and small mountain villages before reaching the blue-green crater lake. Riders get the big scenery Ecuador is famous for: Chimborazo, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, high passes, and wide-open Andean valleys. But this tour is not about grinding out endless hours in the saddle like some deranged mileage contest. It is about riding great roads at a smart pace, then having enough time and energy left to enjoy the culture, the food, the views, and the weird little roadside surprises that make Ecuador so addictive.

From the high Andes, the tour drops into the Amazon Basin, where the air gets warmer, the vegetation gets thicker, and the whole country changes character in a matter of hours. You’ll ride through jungle roads, river valleys, waterfall country, cacao-growing areas, and lively little towns before climbing back toward Papallacta’s hot springs and the green folds of the cloudforest. It is still a proper motorcycle trip, with curves, altitude, weather, volcanoes, jungle, and plenty of personality, but it is designed for riders who want the adventure without feeling like they accidentally enlisted.

Day 1
Quito – Avenue of the Volcanoes – Chugchilán (Quilotoa Loop)

Your adventure begins in Quito, Ecuador's capital and the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sitting at 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level, Quito is surrounded by volcanoes and steeped in history, with one of the best-preserved colonial centers anywhere in Latin America. Ecuador Freedom's offices are located in the modern La Carolina district, one of the city's safest neighborhoods and within walking distance of excellent hotels, restaurants, cafés, and parks. We recommend arriving a day early to explore the city and acclimatize before the ride begins.

Before setting off, you'll participate in a detailed pre-ride briefing covering Ecuadorian riding customs, road etiquette, safety considerations, and the route ahead. This isn't simply paperwork—it's the foundation for the entire journey. By the time you leave our offices, you'll understand what to expect each day and feel confident, prepared, and excited for the adventure that lies ahead.

Leaving Quito behind is surprisingly easy. Within minutes the city gives way to open farmland, and the enormous peaks of the Ecuadorian Andes begin appearing on every horizon. This is the legendary Avenue of the Volcanoes, a name given by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt almost two centuries ago. Nowhere else in South America do so many snow-capped volcanoes stand so close together. Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, Illinizas and countless other peaks accompany you throughout the day, rising above fertile valleys where indigenous families have farmed these lands for generations.

Lunch is served at the magnificent Hacienda La Ciénega, one of Ecuador's oldest working haciendas. Dating back to the seventeenth century, its thick adobe walls, peaceful courtyards, antique furnishings, and centuries-old chapel transport you to another era. Presidents, explorers, scientists, and even Alexander von Humboldt himself have passed through these doors. Today, it remains one of Ecuador's finest examples of colonial hospitality and an unforgettable place to enjoy traditional Ecuadorian cuisine.

The afternoon offers an experience few visitors ever enjoy: a behind-the-scenes visit to one of Ecuador's world-famous rose plantations. Ecuador's unique combination of equatorial sunlight, cool Andean temperatures, volcanic soils, and high elevation produces roses with exceptionally long stems, vivid colors, and remarkable longevity. Walking through acres of greenhouses, you'll see every stage of production—from cultivation and harvesting to grading, packaging, and shipping—before these flowers begin their journey to florists around the globe.

From here, the road becomes the star of the show. The famous Quilotoa Loop twists through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Ecuadorian Andes. Endless switchbacks climb and descend between patchwork farms, deep canyons, and remote indigenous villages where life has changed little over generations. Every corner reveals another breathtaking panorama, making this one of the country's most rewarding motorcycle roads. This is exactly the type of riding the Andes Twist was created for—technical enough to keep you smiling inside your helmet, yet relaxed enough to stop often and simply absorb the landscape.

As evening approaches, you'll arrive at Mama Hilda's Lodge, tucked into the small Andean village of Chugchilán. More than simply a place to spend the night, Mama Hilda's has become legendary among travelers for its genuine hospitality. Family-style dinners feature hearty Ecuadorian recipes prepared from fresh local ingredients, served around a communal table where conversations about the day's ride naturally continue late into the evening. Surrounded by crisp mountain air and the quiet of the high Andes, it's the perfect ending to your first day on the road.

Day 2
Chugchilán – Quilotoa Crater Lake – Pujilí – Chimborazo Mountain Lodge

The road leaves Chugchilán already twisting. Cool morning air moves through the valley as the pavement wraps around steep mountainsides carved into tiny fields of potatoes, barley, and corn. Shepherds guide flocks of sheep across the road, smoke rises from scattered farmhouses, and every switchback opens another view across the high Andes. This is the Quilotoa Loop at its best: quiet pavement, constant elevation changes, and a rhythm of corners that begins before breakfast has had time to settle.

The climb continues toward Quilotoa Crater Lake, topping out at nearly 12,800 feet. The enormous caldera was formed by a violent volcanic eruption more than 800 years ago, leaving behind a crater almost two miles wide. Mineral-rich water fills the basin far below, changing from deep blue to turquoise and green as clouds move across the rim. Park the motorcycle, walk to the viewpoint, and let the scale of the place sink in. Wind sweeps across the crater, the air is thin, and the silence feels bigger than the landscape.

From Quilotoa, the route drops through a rapid succession of bends toward Tigua. This small indigenous community has become famous for paintings created on stretched sheepskin, a tradition that began as decoration on drums and evolved into a distinct school of Andean folk art. Local artists fill their work with volcanoes, village markets, harvests, festivals, animals, and stories drawn from Indigenous mythology. After miles of high-altitude curves, the workshops offer a worthwhile place to stop, stretch your legs, and see how life in these mountains is translated into color.

The road carries you onward through Pujilí, a busy highland town where vendors, farmers, buses, and pedestrians crowd the streets around the market. Women in bright shawls and felt hats sell produce, grains, tools, and household goods while the surrounding countryside funnels into town for the day. It is a burst of noise and movement before the route opens again and the ride settles back into the mountains.

Beyond Ambato, the road begins one of the strongest riding sections of the entire tour. It follows the canyon carved by the Río Ambato, climbing from roughly 8,000 feet toward the high volcanic plateau surrounding Chimborazo. The pavement rises through cattle country and isolated ranches, alternating between tight canyon bends and broad sweepers that expose the mountains ahead. Traffic thins, the vegetation becomes sparse, and the scale of the landscape grows with every mile.

By afternoon, the route climbs above 14,500 feet and Chimborazo Volcano takes over the horizon. Its enormous mass rises to 20,548 feet, with glaciers cutting white lines across the dark volcanic slopes. Wild vicuñas graze beside the road, seemingly untouched by the altitude, while the weather can change from sharp sunshine to freezing mist, hail, or snow within minutes. The pavement across this high plateau is fast, exposed, and unforgettable—one of those roads that makes you stop simply to look back at what you have just ridden.

A break at the Kunuyacu Hot Springs offers one of the day’s most unusual rewards. These natural volcanic pools sit at roughly 14,000 feet, surrounded by páramo grassland and the massive slopes of Chimborazo. Warm water loosens cold hands and tired muscles while the mountain dominates the view. Fresh trout from the cold highland streams makes a fitting meal before the final stretch to the lodge.

The day ends at Estrella del Chimborazo Lodge, set high on the volcano’s lower slopes. After hours in the cold, thin air, stepping inside to a large fireplace and a hot meal feels well earned. The lodge attracts climbers, motorcyclists, and travelers drawn to Chimborazo, and evenings naturally turn into an exchange of road stories around the fire. Outside, alpacas and wild vicuñas move through the grasslands while the mountain disappears into darkness.

Day 3
Chimborazo Mountain Lodge – Colta – Sangay National Park – Macas

The day begins high on the slopes of Chimborazo, where the morning air is cold enough to bite through riding gloves and the mountain often disappears behind fast-moving clouds. After a hot breakfast beside the lodge fireplace, the motorcycles come to life and the route begins descending through the vast volcanic grasslands. Wild vicuñas, grazing sheep, and isolated farmhouses break up the open landscape as the pavement runs downhill through long curves and wide views.

The transition away from Chimborazo is gradual but unmistakable. Stark páramo gives way to green pastures divided into irregular fields, each one cut by cold streams carrying meltwater from the high Andes. Farmers work steep hillsides where machinery is often useless, and herds occasionally spill across the road, forcing the ride to slow and fall into the unhurried rhythm of rural Ecuador.

Near Colta Lake, roadside stalls begin appearing with baskets woven from local totora reeds and one of Ecuador’s oldest highland foods roasting over open flames: cuy, or guinea pig. It is a traditional meal throughout the Andes, usually reserved for celebrations and family gatherings. Trying it here, surrounded by farmland and the cold waters of the lake, offers a direct taste of a culture that existed long before modern Ecuador.

Nearby stands Balbanera Church, the oldest Catholic church in the country. Built in 1534, shortly after the Spanish entered the region, its weathered stone façade carries nearly five centuries of history. The church was constructed near an important Indigenous settlement and reflects the complicated meeting of Spanish Catholicism and the beliefs of the Puruhá people who already considered this landscape sacred. Its carved stone figures, heavy wooden doors, and modest scale make it far more compelling than its size might suggest.

Beyond Colta, the road begins climbing again toward one of the most remarkable riding sections in Ecuador. The pavement threads between glacial lakes, steep rock walls, and high grasslands before reaching the remote Laguna Atillo region. These dark mountain lakes sit beneath jagged peaks where clouds move quickly and visibility can change by the minute. The road has little traffic, an endless sequence of bends, and the kind of scenery that makes it difficult to decide whether to keep riding or stop every few kilometers for another photograph.

The route then enters Sangay National Park, one of Ecuador’s wildest protected regions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road cuts across an extraordinary range of environments, beginning in cold high-altitude grassland before plunging into wet cloudforest. Waterfalls pour from black cliffs, mist hangs above the pavement, and dense vegetation presses closer with every kilometer. On clear days, observation points along the route reveal Sangay Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, sending ash and steam above the eastern Andes.

This is the road that defines the Andes Twist. It loses thousands of feet of elevation in a relatively short distance, following smooth pavement through tight bends, tunnels of vegetation, open lake country, and steep river valleys. The temperature rises steadily as the ride descends, visors fog less, gloves come off, and the smell of damp soil and jungle replaces the dry scent of the páramo. Few motorcycle roads deliver such a complete change of climate, altitude, and scenery in a single afternoon.

By the time the road reaches the Amazon foothills, the transformation is complete. The air is warm and heavy, broad-leafed plants crowd the roadside, and rivers rush toward the lowlands. The final stretch into Macas follows the edge of the powerful Upano River, with green mountains rising sharply on the opposite bank.

The day ends at Arrayán y Piedra Lodge, surrounded by tropical gardens near the Upano River. After the cold heights of Chimborazo and hours of descending through Sangay, the lodge’s pool feels especially welcome. Dinner and the warm evening air provide time to settle into the Amazon, while frogs, cicadas, birds, and the steady sound of the river replace the silence of the high mountains.

Day 4
Macas – Hola Vida Waterfall – Mirador Indichuris – Puyo – Puerto Misahuallí

The ride leaves Macas with the Andes rising like a wall to the west and the Amazon opening ahead. The road is smooth, warm, and fast-flowing, built from long sweepers that thread through dense green valleys. Broad-leafed plants crowd the roadside, mist hangs above distant ridges, and the air carries the smell of damp earth, river water, and tropical vegetation. After the cold, exposed roads of Chimborazo and Sangay, this feels like an entirely different country.

Rivers define this part of the ride. The route crosses one after another, each rushing down from the eastern Andes toward the Amazon Basin. Some run clear and fast through narrow channels; others spread wide beneath steel bridges, carrying the force of the mountains with them. These waterways attract rafters and kayakers from around the world, but from the saddle, they also shape the rhythm of the road—climb, curve, bridge, river, repeat.

One of the day’s defining experiences begins when the motorcycles are parked and the riding gear comes off. A short hike leads deep into the Amazon jungle toward Hola Vida Waterfall. The trail crosses suspension bridges and passes beneath a dense canopy alive with the sounds of birds, insects, and running water. The smells of wet leaves, rich soil, and tropical flowers hang in the warm air as the path works its way farther from the road.

After roughly fifteen minutes, the forest opens around a tall waterfall dropping into a near-perfect jungle pool. The water is clear, calm, and just the right temperature for a swim after a warm morning on the bike. Diving in beneath the canopy resets the body for the miles ahead, and the sound of the waterfall drowns out everything beyond the jungle. It is one of those places that feels completely removed from the outside world.

From Hola Vida, the route climbs to Mirador Indichuris, a hilltop lookout with an uninterrupted view across the Amazon Basin. A short walk brings you to the edge, where the forest spreads toward the horizon in every shade of green. Rivers cut pale lines through the canopy, clouds gather over the distant foothills, and the true scale of the Amazon becomes visible for the first time.

Indichuris is also a place where Kichwa culture and the landscape remain closely connected. Local families maintain the site and share the hilltop with visitors, while monkeys and tropical birds move through the surrounding forest. The lookout is far more than a photo stop; it gives the day a sense of scale and makes clear just how far the ride has descended from the high Andes.

Back on the motorcycles, the route turns north toward Puyo. The pavement continues in a broad, flowing rhythm through rolling jungle country, with enough bends to keep the ride engaging without demanding constant concentration. Puyo is the commercial heart of this part of the Amazon, busy with markets, cafés, river walks, and traffic moving between remote communities and the Andes. It is a useful place to pause for lunch, fuel, and a taste of regional food before continuing deeper into the lowlands.

The final section follows the foothills north before turning toward the Napo River, one of the great tributaries of the Amazon. The road becomes quieter as it approaches Puerto Misahuallí, where jungle, river, and small-town life come together. The warm air settles in, the vegetation grows denser, and the day closes far from the cold mountain roads where it began.

Tonight’s stay is at El Jardín Misahuallí Lodge, set near the banks of the Napo River and surrounded by tropical gardens. The private cabins blend into the forest and include shaded verandas, comfortable interiors, and private plunge pools or jacuzzis. After a day of warm roads, suspension bridges, jungle trails, and sweeping views, slipping into the water outside your cabin feels like the right way to end the day.

Dinner combines Ecuadorian and Amazonian ingredients, while the sounds of frogs, cicadas, birds, and the river replace the traffic and wind of the road. The lodge offers a rare balance: deep jungle atmosphere without giving up comfort. By nightfall, the Andes are far behind and the Amazon has completely taken over.

Motorcyclist’s Note

Day 4 is built around flowing pavement and rapid changes in atmosphere. The road runs between the eastern Andes and the Amazon Basin, crossing powerful rivers, rolling through warm jungle valleys, and linking two of the tour’s most memorable off-bike experiences: a swim at Hola Vida Waterfall and the vast view from Mirador Indichuris.

Day 5
Puerto Misahuallí – Jumandi – Paccari Chocolate Experience – Papallacta

Before the motorcycles even leave the lodge, the day begins on the water. After breakfast, you'll board a motorized canoe with a local guide and head out onto the broad waters of the Napo River, one of the Amazon's great tributaries. Depending on river conditions and the season, the morning may include a hike through primary rainforest, a visit to an Indigenous Kichwa community, a wildlife sanctuary, or a hidden waterfall where you can cool off beneath the jungle canopy. It's a chance to experience the Amazon from the perspective of the people who have lived here for generations, learning how the river provides food, transportation, medicine, and life itself.

Puerto Misahuallí is famous for its curious troop of capuchin monkeys that roam freely through the town square and riverfront, often greeting visitors before disappearing back into the trees. Whether you're walking jungle trails, listening to the sounds of howler monkeys echoing through the forest, or simply watching life unfold along the riverbanks, the morning offers one last immersion into one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth before the ride heads back toward the mountains.

Back on the motorcycles, the route follows quiet Amazon roads toward one of the tour's most memorable cultural experiences. In a small Indigenous community, you'll discover where the story of Paccari Chocolate truly begins. Rather than simply tasting chocolate, you'll learn the complete journey from cacao pod to finished bar. Community members demonstrate how cacao is harvested, fermented, dried, roasted, and ground before inviting you to roll up your sleeves and participate yourself. The experience finishes with a traditional lunch prepared together using fresh Amazonian ingredients, creating a connection to both the food and the people who produce it.

The afternoon ride is one of Ecuador's great mountain ascents. Leaving the tropical lowlands behind, the road begins climbing immediately, following the eastern slopes of the Andes through an endless rhythm of corners. Dense rainforest gradually gives way to cloudforest as waterfalls tumble hundreds of feet down sheer cliffs beside the pavement. Every thousand feet brings another change in temperature, vegetation, and scenery. By the time you reach the upper elevations, jackets come back on and the warm jungle air has been replaced by crisp mountain breezes.

This spectacular climb is one of the reasons the Andes Twist has become such a favorite among experienced riders. In just a few hours, the route carries you from humid Amazon rainforest to alpine páramo, crossing ecosystems that would normally require days of travel elsewhere in the world. Smooth pavement, perfectly linked corners, and almost constant elevation changes make this one of the most rewarding riding days of the tour.

The day's destination is Termas de Papallacta, one of South America's finest mountain spa resorts. Nestled above 10,000 feet in a valley surrounded by cloud-covered peaks, the resort is fed by naturally heated volcanic springs flowing from deep beneath the Andes. Your private cabin offers the perfect retreat after a full day of riding, while the thermal pools invite you to soak away every mile. As darkness settles over the mountains and steam rises into the cool evening air, you'll find yourself relaxing beneath a sky filled with stars—a fitting ending to a day that began deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Day 6
Papallacta – El Quinche – Guachalá – Cayambe – Ibarra – Aloburo

The morning begins slowly in Papallacta, with steam rising from the thermal pools and cool mountain air drifting down from the surrounding peaks. A final soak before breakfast loosens the muscles and gives the day an unusually civilized start. Once the motorcycles are loaded, however, the road wastes no time reminding you that this is still the Andes Twist.

The climb toward Papallacta Pass begins almost immediately. The pavement rises through open páramo toward the Continental Divide, topping out at roughly 13,500 feet. Cloud banks move quickly across the road, the air becomes sharply colder, and the landscape opens into broad valleys carved by glaciers and mountain rivers. From the summit, the road begins a long, flowing descent, trading exposed highland curves for greener valleys and warmer air with every mile.

The first major stop is the Basilica of El Quinche, one of Ecuador’s most important pilgrimage sites. Every November, thousands of people walk here through the night to ask the Virgin of El Quinche for healing, protection, or a miracle in their lives. Inside and around the basilica, plaques testify to prayers that believers say were answered.

El Quinche is also closely tied to travel. Ecuadorians regularly bring cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles here to be blessed before a major journey or after buying a new vehicle. Riders can take part in the same tradition, asking for safe passage before continuing north through the Andes. Whether approached through faith, curiosity, or respect for local custom, it is a powerful place to pause in the middle of a motorcycle tour.

Back on the road, the route joins a fast, sweeping stretch of the Pan-American Highway. The pavement runs through fertile farmland with long views toward the surrounding volcanoes before reaching Hacienda Guachalá, established in 1580 and considered Ecuador’s oldest hacienda. Its thick walls, stone courtyards, and weathered buildings carry more than four centuries of history.

Once a major sheep farm and textile operation supplying cloth to the Spanish Empire, the hacienda still preserves tools, furnishings, and architectural details from its long working life. Lunch is served in this deeply historic setting, with traditional dishes prepared from Andean ingredients and recipes shaped by generations of life on the estate.

A few miles farther north, the ride reaches the Quitsato Sundial, positioned directly on the Equator. The enormous circular monument demonstrates how Andean civilizations understood the movements of the sun, seasons, and stars long before modern instruments or satellite navigation. Standing on the line with one boot in each hemisphere is a lighthearted moment, but the astronomical knowledge represented here is far more serious.

Beyond Quitsato, Cayambe Volcano rises above the valley. It is the only place on Earth where the Equator crosses permanent snow and ice, a geographical fact that seems almost impossible when viewed from the warmer farmland below. The town of Cayambe is also known for bizcochos, crisp, buttery biscuits traditionally served warm with fresh cheese and coffee. Watching them slide from the ovens and tasting them at the source makes for one of the day’s simplest and most satisfying stops.

The route then continues through a broad agricultural valley known for dairy farms, embroidery, and handworked textiles. Fields spread across the lower slopes while the road moves between small villages and open countryside. The riding is less technical here than the mountain passes earlier in the day, but the views remain wide and the volcanic skyline never disappears for long.

By afternoon, the ride reaches Ibarra, known as Ecuador’s White City for its bright colonial buildings. Cobblestone streets, plazas, and low white façades give the city a distinct character beneath the surrounding mountains. A worthwhile stop here is for helado de paila, fruit ice cream traditionally churned by hand in a copper basin set over ice. Cold, sharp, and intensely flavored with local fruit, it is particularly welcome after a warm ride through the valley.

The final stretch leaves the city behind and climbs into a dry, rugged valley toward Aloburo. The road narrows and becomes more intimate, running between steep slopes before turning onto the cobblestone approach to Hacienda Piman. Hidden high above the valley floor, the hacienda feels completely removed from the city below.

Hacienda Piman combines the seclusion of a mountain retreat with warm, traditional hospitality. Its rooms, terraces, and dining spaces look across the dry northern landscape, while the evening silence settles beneath a sky largely free of city lights. After crossing the Continental Divide, visiting the Equator, riding beneath Cayambe, and moving through centuries of Ecuadorian history, it is an appropriately peaceful place to end the day.

Day 7
Aloburo – Salinas – Cotacachi – Otavalo – Mitad del Mundo – Quito

The final day begins with the rough cobblestone road leading away from Hacienda Piman and a last look across the dry northern valley. Morning light catches the pale hillsides while warm air rises from below, giving this part of Ecuador a climate that feels closer to Southern California than the high Andes. Once the cobblestones end, the route settles into smooth, open pavement and the motorcycles begin their final run south.

The road winds through a landscape of dry hills, irrigated farmland, and deep ravines before reaching Salinas. This region has a distinct rhythm, shaped by agriculture, small communities, and the rail line that once connected the northern valleys with the rest of the country. The riding is fast and fluid here, with long sightlines and broad bends that make it easy to relax into the road.

A worthwhile stop along the way is a hacienda-gallery showcasing the work of local artist Camilo Andrade. His paintings draw heavily from the landscapes, people, animals, and mythology of northern Ecuador. After days spent riding through these valleys, many of the scenes feel immediately familiar—volcanoes, farms, villages, and mountain light translated into vivid color.

From Salinas, the route threads through backroads lined with vegetable fields, rose farms, dairy pastures, and small colonial towns before reaching Cotacachi. The town is widely known for leather, but the most revealing stop is far removed from the polished shops on the main street. Inside a working tannery, hides are stacked with salt, workers scrape away fat and fur by hand, and the heavy smell of leather fills the air. The methods are old, physical, and largely unchanged by modern machinery—a raw look at the process that comes long before a finished jacket or pair of boots.

A short ride brings you into Otavalo, home to the famous Plaza de los Ponchos. The market spreads through the center of town in a dense mix of woven blankets, scarves, embroidered clothing, hats, jewelry, and carved goods. Otavaleño families have traded here for centuries, and although visitors now come from around the world, the market remains deeply connected to the textile traditions and commercial skill of the local Indigenous community.

South of Otavalo, the Pan-American Highway begins one of the day’s most scenic stretches. Lake San Pablo lies beneath Imbabura Volcano, its blue water framed by farmland and steep volcanic slopes. The road then drops toward the drier country around Jerusalem, where green fields abruptly give way to cactus, dusty hills, and sunbaked rock. In less than an hour, the climate shifts again—a final reminder of how quickly Ecuador changes around the motorcycle.

The road narrows as it approaches the Guayllabamba River canyon. Tight switchbacks climb from the canyon floor, each corner gaining elevation and opening wider views across the valley. This is one last serious piece of mountain riding before Quito: steep, technical enough to stay interesting, and especially satisfying after a week spent finding a rhythm with the motorcycle.

Near the capital, the ride pauses at the Intiñan Solar Museum, located directly on the Equator. Exhibits explain how Indigenous cultures identified the center of the world long before modern surveying equipment, while demonstrations explore balance, solar movement, and the Coriolis effect. Standing with one boot in each hemisphere makes for a fitting final stop after a week spent repeatedly crossing Ecuador’s mountains, climates, and geographic boundaries.

The final miles return to Quito and the Ecuador Freedom offices in La Carolina. After seven days of high passes, cloudforest, Amazon roads, volcanic plateaus, fast sweepers, cobblestones, and canyon switchbacks, rolling back into the city feels different from leaving it. The motorcycle is familiar now, the roads have become stories, and the Andes Twist has delivered exactly what it promised: some of the finest paved riding Ecuador has to offer, linked by places and people worth stopping for.

This guided motorcycle tour begins at our offices in Quito’s upscale and secure La Carolina neighborhood. Before departure, we will provide a detailed briefing covering Ecuadorian traffic laws, local riding customs, group-riding procedures, and the route ahead so that everyone sets out feeling confident, prepared, and ready to enjoy the adventure.

On the morning of departure, you will receive the adventure-ready motorcycle of your choice, equipped with a waterproof luggage system, an optional tank bag, tools, and everything needed for the journey. Tours with more than five riders include a support truck to carry luggage. On smaller departures, riders carry their gear in the saddlebags or luggage system provided with the motorcycle.

The Andes Twist Tour is the result of years spent exploring, testing, and refining Ecuador’s finest paved backroads. Your guide knows the route intimately and will make regular stops to introduce you to local people, explain the history and culture of each region, and share places and experiences that most visitors would never discover on their own.

All meals on riding days are included, along with fuel, tolls, and other tour-related expenses. You will only need spending money for gratuities, alcoholic beverages, snacks, souvenirs, and other personal purchases.

Participants are also encouraged to take part in our Ride for a Purpose program, developed in partnership with Pack for a Purpose. Riders may bring school supplies, sports equipment, art materials, and other requested items that are delivered directly to children in remote rural schools along the route. It's a meaningful opportunity to meet local students and teachers while making a lasting contribution to the communities you visit. Before you travel, we encourage you to review the program page for the current list of requested supplies.

The route follows winding paved backroads selected to avoid heavy traffic whenever possible. Along the way, there will be countless opportunities for photographs, visits to remote villages, and encounters with people living in areas where international visitors remain uncommon. These communities are welcoming, authentic, and located in regions with very low crime rates.

When the tour returns to Quito, you will have access to our Riders' Lounge™, including our honor bar, jacuzzi, hot shower, luggage storage, and staff assistance with transportation to your hotel, the airport, or your next destination. You can learn more about our facilities on the Ecuador Freedom headquarters page.

Weather and Temperatures

Ecuador's weather patterns remain remarkably consistent throughout the year because of its equatorial location. Passing showers are common in the highlands, although an entire day of rain is unusual. Longer periods of rain are more likely on the western slopes of the Andes during March, April, and early May, and on the eastern slopes and in the Amazon Basin during June and July.

During this tour, elevations range from approximately 1,400 feet in the Amazon Basin to over 14,500 feet in the high Andes, where temperatures can approach freezing. Dressing in layers is strongly recommended. Our detailed Weather in Ecuador Guide explains seasonal weather patterns, regional climates, and what to expect throughout the ride.

Accommodations

Throughout the tour, you'll stay in carefully selected boutique hotels, colonial haciendas, mountain lodges, rainforest retreats, and family-owned inns that are comfortable, welcoming to motorcyclists, and located away from heavily touristed areas. We choose accommodations that reflect the character of each region rather than generic chain hotels. Should availability require it, Ecuador Freedom reserves the right to substitute accommodations of comparable quality and will notify you in advance whenever possible.

Packing List and Preparation

Before your trip, Ecuador Freedom will provide detailed preparation information to help you get ready for your adventure. We also recommend reviewing our comprehensive Motorcycle Tour Packing Guide, which covers recommended riding gear, clothing, electronics, luggage, travel documents, and other useful items to help you prepare for Ecuador's wide range of climates and elevations.

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