Introduction to Ecuador Guided Tour

You’ll begin your twelve-day “Introduction to Ecuador Motorcycle Tour" from our shop in Quito, Ecuador - 2850 meters (almost 2 miles above sea level) in the Andes Mountains. Quito is Ecuador's capital city, with about 1.5 million residents and has some of the best examples of Spanish colonial architecture in Latin America.  Quito was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1970s for having the best-preserved and least altered historic center in all of Latin America.

On the morning of the tour departure, we will outfit you with the motorcycle of your choice. We will provide a thoughtful presentation that will answer all your questions concerning local customs, rules of the road, etc. 

Our first stop is in the middle of the world. Inti-ñan means “path of the Sun” in the Quechua language, and the Inti-ñan Museum is situated directly on the Equator. The indigenous peoples have revered this site for thousands of years. We will learn how ancient people came to understand that this was the center of the world, centuries before the advent of modern geography or GPS devices. Standing on a red line that shows the exact Equator, we will experiment with gravity. We will witness how water drains either clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on which side we are standing. We also have the opportunity to see how the indigenous populations of Ecuador live when visiting their homes. These models will enable us to understand better the cultures seen as we pass through various regions over the next few days.  Departing the Inti-ñan Museum, we officially leave the Quito metropolitan region and begin riding in the Northern Hemisphere.

We carefully selected a route to acquaint you with a taste of the wide variety of different kinds of roads in Ecuador and to allow you the time to get acquainted with your bike.  The fun starts with a newly paved road that dives deep into a dry river canyon.  This road is "canyon carving" at its finest, and you'll quickly see why Ecuador is a motorcycling paradise!

From the colonial town of San José de Minas with its manicured central plaza and towering church, we will climb in altitude, taking back roads. Here we will be rewarded with grand vistas of the serene farmlands and forests below. We will experience great aromas as we pass through eucalyptus and pine forests. We will stop to add a layer of clothing as we ride up to a height of over 12,000 feet (3714 meters) to view the majestic Mojanda Lake surrounded by the Fuya-Fuya volcano, which guards the lake. This high road will be the first time we will be in the high-elevation paramo climate.

From there, we will ride down through the colonial city of Otavalo, famous for its expansive indigenous market. We will finish today's ride enjoying the local music and delicious local fare at the 300-year-old Hacienda Pinsaqui. This historic inn is one of the oldest haciendas in Ecuador. Simon Bolivar stayed on several occasions and is famous as the Pinsaqui Treaty site, which brought lasting peace with neighboring Colombia.

After a hearty breakfast of fresh juices, baked bread, and eggs, we'll start the day by riding to Otavalo's indigenous market.  For hundreds of years, the indigenous people have brought their animals, crafts, and produce down from the surrounding hills to sell in the market here. Don't worry - this market has very little to do with typical knick-knacks and tourist dollars. The Otavalo Market is the real thing.  

We'll witness the frenzy of the animal market - one of the most authentic experiences you'll find anywhere.  We'll also have time to explore the Plaza de Los Ponchos- a maze of hanging tapestries, weavings, and handmade garments.  A second animal section of the market deals with fowl, cuyes (guinea pigs), rabbits, puppies, and kittens.

We'll ride out of Otavalo and to the meticulously clean streets of the town of Cotacachi.  Cotacachi is internationally known for its talented leather artisans.  Many of the world's designer clothing brands manufacture their leather goods in this beautiful Andean city. You'll get a chance to acquire a belt, wallet, or jacket here at excellent prices.  From here, we'll ride a series of beautiful ancient Incan cobblestone roads that are still maintained in the old fashioned way.  Don't worry - these roads have no traffic, and the stones are very easy to ride on.

You'll then head off the beaten path, on a twisted, recently paved highway that gradually descends from the Andean mountains, through farms of papaya, mango, and other exotic fruits.   You will have entered the lovely Pacific province of Esmeraldas.  You will pass through miles of giant coastal mangroves and witness more incredible biodiversity.

You will get a glimpse at the lively city of Esmeraldas, northern Ecuador's principal port, and coastal city.  You can stop for lunch to try out some of the Creole cuisine, unique to this part of Ecuador.

Keeping along the coast, we enter the Galera Marine Ecological Reserve and end the day's ride at the gorgeous Cumilinche Club.  This lodge has comfortable, private cabins and a secluded stretch of beach of unspoiled natural beauty. You will be able to go for a swim in the warm Pacific Ocean and explore the natural caves that surround the beach. The location is stunning and unlike any other place in the world.

You will want to take a walk to admire some of the incredible birds, crabs, and other coastal wildlife along this isolated and quiet empty stretch of the rocky coast.

Distance covered:  339 Km / 211 miles 

This morning, we will have a little time to relax and enjoy the beautiful natural beach available at the Cumilinche Club. You can explore the rocky coastline and caves and observe the teeming sea life living in the rocks and puddles between them.

Then, after a lovely breakfast, we will start the day riding along miles of the Ecuadorian coast and past many shrimp farms and then through rolling hills of the tropical grasslands of the coastal lowlands.  You will see that the preferred form of transport here is horseback.  We usually stop for lunch in the somewhat chaotic little city of Pedernales.  Known as the capital city for shrimp harvesting and trade in Ecuador (the country's third most important export). Here we will stop at our favorite restaurant serving the freshest shrimp you will have ever tasted in your life! 

We will continue our ride down the unspoiled coastline of empty, sandy beaches and into the warm, friendly fishing village of Jama. We'll take a short jaunt off the main road to ride over a causeway that passes through several shrimp farms so we can fully take in the beauty of this region.  You will then head inland a little for a ride on some of the serene, undisturbed countryside of Manabi, passing cattle farms. 
Canoa is home to a mixed population of native fishermen, transient surfers, and expatriate retirees seeking sun and relaxation. And we'll have a brief stop here to take in the scene.

Further down the coast, we'll ride through another popular ex-pat town, San Clemente, where we will stop to see the local fishermen bring in their catch.

 After a ride across a dry, desert-like area, we will arrive in the coastal city of Manta. Manta is set in a broad bay dotted with freighters, cruise ships, and its wooden tuna fishing fleet. Here, tuna and shrimp processing is the main industry. Catching swordfish, tuna, dorado, and shark here is lucrative enough to draw fishing fleets from the USA and Japan.

Manta is known as a lively vacation destination. It is famous for its mile-long Playa Murciélago, where the surf is good enough to host international bodyboarding and windsurfing competitions.

 We will check into the beautiful Hotel Balandra and enjoy a gourmet seafood dinner before setting into our rooms overlooking the ocean.

Break Day!  Relaxation and sunshine!   Manta has one of the best beaches on the Ecuadorian coast and is a very popular place for surfing and lazy beach days.  You can also book a full or half-day of deep-sea tuna fishing with a local charter company or go snorkeling in the crystal blue waters. Santa Marianita beach nearby offers kite surfing and surfing lessons. 

You can visit the Manta Central Cultural museum to see its display of artifacts from the Valdivian culture, which flourished here from 3500 - 1500 BC, and later the Manteño culture.  The market at the Plaza Civica throngs with indigenous traders, artists, and Panama hat sellers.  You are welcome to take your bike out for a ride to explore the coast on your own or to visit the Machalila National Park, one of Ecuador's most beautiful natural beaches, less than an hour away.

Or, you can pull up a chair at some of Manta's great hang-outs, beachside bars, and restaurants and enjoy a restful day away from the bike.

 Day 6

In the morning, we will have some time to enjoy the tranquil farm life at Hacienda La Danesa.  We will learn about how cacao is grown and turned into chocolate and how their organic dairy farm is managed and operated.

Then, onto the bikes, for it is more adventures ahead!  We will head across the vast plains with plenty of fishing birds and rice paddies.  We'll cross through the Churute mangrove national wildlife area - known for its beautiful mangroves and alligators.

You'll see the agriculture and landscape change as you enter El Oro Province.  The smell of ripening bananas and cacao plantations will fill your senses.  This area is known for being the "Banana Capital of the World" - where a large portion of Ecuador's banana trade and market activities occur.

Onward, you will then head back inland through mangroves and farmlands and into the hills that were once one of the Spanish Empire's wealthiest regions.  The Canari Indians died here, deep in the gold tunnels of Ecuador's Andes. First, the Incas, then the Conquistadores, working the Indians till they dropped. It is a rugged yet strikingly beautiful region of Ecuador, known as the gold province.

We'll spend the night in the gold mining town of Zaruma.  Zaruma was founded in 1549 and still boasts some of the most excellent examples of early colonial Spanish architecture in all of South America. Zaruma is also known for having the most beautiful women in Ecuador.  You will find a nice, cozy room at the Roland Hotel.

We'll enjoy the local favorite breakfast of steak and tigrillo.  Tigrillo is an energy-packed mash of eggs and green plantains enjoyed by the hard-working gold miners here.

Before heading out of Zaruma, we'll stop to visit one of the gold mines. Some of the world's most productive gold mines are located here. We will visit the mine by riding one of the carts used to transport the raw ore.

Then, as you head back on your bike, we ride changing landscapes on rural, mountainous backroads through dense forests.  You will pass through the town of Piñas, known for its beautiful orchids.

We will climb in elevation again, riding through the picturesque Spanish colonial towns of El Cisne, with its magnificent cathedral and the charming city of Catamayo.  This road has non-stop curves.  We have tried to count them, but each time we do, we lose count.  It must be in the thousands!  This road is where you'll want to make sure you don't scrape off the ends of your footpegs.

We will finish today's ride in the peaceful, hippy-mecca town of Vilcabamba in what is known as the "Valley of Longevity." The population here is known to live very long lives.  With its lush green scenery freshened by the mountain air, it is no wonder that Vilcabamba has been a popular vacation spot for hundreds of years.  Once a retreat for Inca royalty, foreigners discovered Vilcabamba in the 1970s after a series of articles were published, including one in "National Geographic" that highlighted the locals' long lives.

Since then, Vilcabamba has become one of Ecuador's most popular destinations. Because most people come to Vilcabamba to relax, the town has managed to keep its small-town appeal. It has a cluster of small restaurants and internet cafes surrounding the sleepy town square. The tranquil atmosphere, perfect weather, and an endless array of outdoor activities have combined to create a place where people often come for a weekend and end up staying for a month.

We check into the comfortable award-winning Descanso del Toro Lodge, a very well-managed hotel and spa with a spectacular pool. The rooms are very spacious, and the on-site restaurant and brewpub is fantastic, but you are still close to everything this town has to offer. The hotel also offers great massages and spa treatments if you would like to undo some of the effects of riding.

Today's ride will be in high elevations, so you will want to add a layer of clothing.

We head north on the Panamerican highway and experience some of the beautiful high altitude vistas below the dark blue sky found only above 10,000 feet.  We ride through the gorgeous colonial city of Loja, full of Universities, cafés, and plazas with street musicians.  Then we continue north along one of the most scenic stretches of the Panamerican highway, with tremendous views and exhilarating curves and climbs.

Once in the indigenous town of Saraguro, we stop and take a stroll through the famous market there.  The Saraguro is a unique ethnic group brought to Ecuador from Bolivia by the Incas to work on the Royal Road.  Their distinct dress sets them apart and makes them proud, productive people. Their jewelry, especially their handcrafter necklaces, are cherished by women around the world.

After a hearty lunch, you are back on the bike, with breathtaking scenery fighting for your attention as you keep your eyes on the curves and swoops.   You will climb to over 11,500 feet at the Tinajilla Pass as you cross the high altitude pampa.  Keep a careful eye out for wild llama and try to capture them with your camera.

On today's ride, you will roll into Ecuador's third-largest city and arguably its most charming -the city of Cuenca.   Cuenca is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site as its historic center is a well-preserved example of Spanish Colonial architecture.  You will be staying in the luxury colonial Hotel Victoria -right in the historic center of this beautiful city. For a list of things to see and do in Cuenca, click here.

This is a long riding day, so we get up early in the morning and get on the road after a great buffet breakfast.  We head out on the Panamerican highway towards the north, first passing through dense pine and eucalyptus forests.  The scent of these forests will be something that will stay with you long after the ride.  We continue on these mountain roads, passing through high altitude paramo and crossing chilly high altitude mountain passes at 11,000+ feet.  After some breathtaking views, we turn right onto a road that takes us through scenic farmlands. It was once part of the Incan trail during the reign of the Incan empire.  The people along this road still use centuries-old farming techniques.  It is a ride through the past.

The road takes us to the most extensive Incan ruins in Ecuador - Ingapirca.  Otherwise known as Ecuador's "Macchu Picchu," - you can visit the ruins of this Incan Solar temple and marvel at their advanced irrigation techniques.

Then, we arrive in the Andean town of Alausi, which is known for its warm and welcoming indigenous population who wear brilliantly colored clothes.   The town has a very active market and some great restaurants serving fresh trout, locally grown produce, and other regional specialties.  Alausi is the right place for lunch.

With permanent glaciers at its peak, Chimborazo is the highest point in Ecuador and is the highest point on Earth.  This relatively unknown factor is because the Earth bulges at the Equator and Chimborazo's peak is the furthest piece of land from Earth's core. It's just another way of saying that this is literally the closest place to Heaven on Earth.

The road we take crosses through the Chimborazo National Wildlife Refuge, home to thousands of wild vicuña, the smaller, lighter, faster cousin of the llama and camel.  Ecuador has one of the best-protected vicuña populations in the world, and we will be sure to see these majestic creatures as we wind around the gigantic mountain.  We'll reach an altitude of over 14,500 feet (4.500 meters), and here, the weather is unpredictable.  Be ready for bright sunshine, freezing rain, hail, or even snow!  

This area will make you feel like you are on another planet.

We ride through the outskirts of Ecuador's fourth-largest city, Ambato. We will head through lush farmlands and valleys, dropping to an elevation of 5,000 feet to arrive in Baños.

Baños is the adventure tourism mecca, famous for its health-giving thermal springs. The town is set in the shadow of the mighty Tungurahua Volcano, a very active volcano that occasionally erupts with pyroclastic emissions and thick ash.  Banos is located in what is known as a "magnetic vortex," a unique place where the planet's four essential life elements - Air, Earth, Water, and Fire - are found.   You will check into the Posada del Arte Hotel and enjoy access to the great restaurants, hot springs, and activities that Banos has to offer.

Day 10

¨Rest¨ Day in Baños

Today is another chance for some additional great adventures! Baños is one of the world's best centers for adventure and extreme sports.  With so many inexpensive, experienced guides and tours available, we strongly encourage you to take full advantage of them to experience the incredible natural beauty surrounding this town.

You can go for a day of rafting or kayaking on some world-class rapids, do some bungee jumps, go canyoning (rappelling down waterfalls), take a jungle tour, ride down a volcano on a mountain bike or improve your rock-climbing skills.

If none of those activities appeal to you, Baños has some great hangouts, restaurants, and bars, and exciting nightlife, too.

Baños is the perfect spot for a rewarding rest day, no matter what you choose to do.

Take another steamy volcanic bath and enjoy a full breakfast at the comfortable Posada del Arte hotel before we head back on the road.   We will head you eastward - riding down what is known as the "Route of the Waterfalls" through the Andes' eastern slopes, which will eventually descend into the Amazon River Basin.

On the way down the Eastern Slopes, we will have several opportunities for exhilarating activities, including zip lines across the Pastaza River Gorge.  You can also try one of the "swing jumps," which is like a bungee jump but with an ordinary rope.  The idea is to jump out off a high bridge and then fall while swinging under the bridge.   It will give you a significant surge of adrenaline!

In the town of Rio Verde, we stop to view the tremendous "Pailon del Diablo" or "Cauldron of the Devil" waterfalls.  The falls crash about 250 feet into a hole that has been bored into the rock over centuries. To get the best view of the falls, we will take a small hike and cross over a suspension bridge, which leads to steps that will bring us down into the "cauldron."  The falls draw photographers from around the world, and they will amaze you.

Again,  you will see the vegetation and cultures change dramatically on today's ride.  The air will become warm as you arrive in Puyo - and you are now officially in the Amazonia region.   We will be riding north, and with a great view of the Sierra to our left as we ride the comfortable, newly paved road with rolling hills and plenty of sweeping curves to keep it fun.

We take a right, turning onto a road that follows Napo River's southern bank and going deeper into the Amazon jungle.  The Napo River is the fifth most significant tributary to the Amazon River.

We arrive at the El Jardin Misahuallí Lodge, and you will check into your private cabin for the night.  Each one is built in harmony with the surrounding rainforest. All bungalows are equipped with a private bathroom, a private veranda with reclining chairs, and a private plunge pool or jacuzzi to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of Ecuador's Amazon.  You can swim on the sandy banks of the Napo.

We'll enjoy a gourmet dinner at their restaurant, which serves up some of the best cuisines in Ecuador with many dishes made from Amazonian ingredients.   The El Jardin Lodge will show you how luxury and comfort can be so relaxed and natural.  You'll enjoy a night of the pure sounds of the Amazon jungle.