Top Quito Nature and Wildlife Tours

Check out two of Ecuador’s top natural attractions—the Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa lagoon—and their natural landscapes with ease on this day trip from Quito. Head to Cotopaxi National Park to see its snow-capped volcano—stopping to drink coca leaf tea on route to reduce altitude sickness—before visiting Limpiopungo Lagoon and Quilotoa’s turquoise caldera lagoon. Plus, during your trip, stop to browse a local market or two.

After private pickup from your Quito hotel, head to the Cloud Forest in Mindo. Your private day tour stops at the best viewpoints and gives you plenty of time to take photos. Get the best views of the plants and wildlife on a cable car ride through the Cloud Forest.  Let your private guide lead you to the best waterfalls in Ecuador, before returning you to your hotel.

Journey to the beautiful Quilotoa volcano, driving through stunning mountain scenery and stopping to visit local Andean communities, during this day trip from Quito. Travel along the spectacular ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’ passing beneath its towering peaks, eventually stopping at a village of an indigenous community, to explore a local home and learn about their daily life. Finish your day with a trip to the lagoon inside Quilotoa volcano. This day trip includes a guide, entrance fees, round-trip hotel transport, and lunch.

Laguna Quilotoa, a blue-green volcanic crater lake, sits in the rugged Andean countryside south of Quito. With this tour, escape the busy streets of Quito for an all-inclusive day in the Andes, and see Quilotoa Lake from two different lookouts on the crater rim with views of Cotopaxi in the distance. En route back to Quito, spend some time craft workshops in Tigua.

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this private tour visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza, and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south.

For travelers who have never been to Banos, it can be difficult figuring out how to plan your time. Take the stress out of your trip with this Banos Full-Day Tour from Quito that plans your activities for you with entrance fees included. Visit the small town of Machachi, Cotopaxi National Park, La Casa del Arbol, and Devil's Cauldron waterfall all with a guide who knows the ins and outs of the area.

- Explore the stunning Cloud Forest with a professional guide. - Capture with your camera the most beautiful hummingbird of the área with the feeders facilites. - Walk into the forest looking for tanagers, toucans, woodpeckers and more.

Tour the capital city of Quito at your leisure aboard this popular hop-on hop-off bus tour. Enjoy hassle-free double-decker transportation through narrow city streets as you make your way to numerous city attractions and landmarks. Choose to get off at any of the stops and make the most of your time in Quito.

Experience the best of Quito on this replica traditional tram tour. Trundle through the Ecuadorian capital’s colonial and modern neighborhoods; and hear tales of the city’s history and culture you might miss if alone. See the Plaza Grande and Basilica of the National Vow; admire panoramic views, and savor local ice cream (own cost). Monday tours bring the chance to watch the Changing of the Guard at the Presidential Palace.

See where the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres on this tour of the Middle of the World Monument from Quito. Climb aboard a 20th-century replica tram to head to the museum built to honor a French expedition and where numerous Ecuadorian crafts and items are displayed. This tour highlights one of Ecuador's most popular attractions and allows travelers plenty of time for exploring, shopping, and learning, too.

Skip the public transportation and enjoy an easy Arrival, Airport and Ground Transfer in Quito. After landing in Mariscal Sucre International Airport join other travelers to depart for your Quito hotel in a shared minivan.

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Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

This full-day private adventure from Quito to Banos includes whitewater rafting, waterfall hikes, a visit to the Amazon jungle and a cable car ride across the Pastaza River. Start early from your hotel to reach the Class 3 rapids and join a group to shoot the chutes. Float between national parks to arrive at the “Avenue of the Waterfalls” where lunch and a hike down into the Ecuadorian Amazon basin awaits. Ride a 500m cable car over a roaring river before heading back to your hotel.

This popular private tour hits all of Quito's top attractions. Follow your expert local guide through the capital city's historic district, stand on the equator and ride on the highest gondola in South America. This full-day experience is perfect for travelers who want to gain insight and understanding into the history and culture of Quito.

Mindo, just two hours from Quito, is in a biodiverse cloud forest that's home to hundreds of species of birds and butterflies. This full-day tour with a private driver and guide includes a visit to a butterfly farm and a tour of a chocolate factory plus one other eco-adventure of your choosing, including ziplining, hiking, or an orchid farm visit, for a customized experience.

Don’t worry about confusing and time-consuming public transit in Quito; instead, opt for a comprehensive full-day excursion which covers several city highlights and includes private transportation. Ideal for visitors with limited time in the city, visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, tour the old town, and more in the company of a local guide, learning more than you could if exploring independently.

Boasting a huge diversity of birdlife, the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve draws ornithologists worldwide. It’s also a popular destination for anyone wishing to escape the busy streets of Quito. With a small group and a guide to help you set the itinerary, you can visit a chocolate factory to learn how the finest cocoa is processed and discover the secrets of coffee cultivation at a plantation. Transport is made easy with hotel pickup in a 4WD vehicle.

Enjoy this full-day tour of Otavalo Marketplace, the largest Indigenous market in Latin America. Departing Quito, you’ll travel to Otavalo Marketplace, to browse stalls for colorful, artisan souvenirs and delicious flavors. See, too, the famous equator monument and stop in Peguche to visit a waterfall and a local family to learn about local music.

Spend the day exploring the stunning natural landscapes of Ecuador on this full-day Quilotoa Lake hiking tour from Quito. Your expert guide will lead you through tropical forests to one of the area's most beautiful lagoons. Make stops at a quiet village and local markets as part of this incredible day away from the city.

Discover the true site of the equator during your time in Ecuador when you take this “Middle of the World” tour from Quito. Join a small group and make visit the village of San Antonio de Pichincha and Pululahua Volcano before heading to the landmark. Then, visit the Intiñan Museum, to learn about the science of the equator, and the obelisk that represents the equatorial line.

Spend a day immersed in the beauty of Ecuador’s Mindo Cloud Forest when you embark on this full-day tour from Quito. Hike into the forest with a private guide and visit a butterfly farm, learn how to take photos of hummingbirds, spot several species of birds, and see beautiful waterfalls. You also have the option to include other activities like tubing or ziplining (at an additional cost).

For an unparalleled nature experience, take a day tour to Antisana Volcano.  After morning pickup from your hotel, you’ll set off to hike along the Andean slopes with your private guide.  Along the way, you’ll spot exciting species like carunculated caracara puma, and the noteworthy Andean condor. Explore the flora and fauna at your own pace. You’ll dine at a local restaurant for lunch, before being returned to your lodgings.