Arrive in Quito, dinner at hotel.

Departing Quito, we shall drive northwest, taking in the views over the city. As we leave the metropolis of Quito behind us, the scenery changes dramatically as we enter the cloud forest, becoming green and sub-tropical.

Here we stop to visit an orchid and butterfly farm on the way to Mindo, before continuing on to the Bellavista Cloud Reserve for a late lunch. In the afternoon we shall take an introductory walk into the forest with a local guide, to learn about the regions unique ecology.

Spending a full day at Bellavista there is plenty of time to explore the region further, taking some of the well-marked trails through the forest. The trails span a large area around the lodge and there is plenty of opportunity for bird watching, learning about the medicinal plants of the forest, plus the option of cycling and horse trekking. For those preferring down time, there are numerous hideaways around the lodge to relax and watch the hummingbirds in an idyllic setting.

Departing Bellavista early we shall head south, with a brief stop at the equator monument as we cross from the northern hemisphere into the southern hemisphere. Our drive takes us along ‘the avenue of the volcanoes’, where the road is flanked by the majestic snow capped peaks of the Andes. Passing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, two of Ecuador’s most impressive volcanoes, we arrive in the Andean village of Ichubumba in the afternoon and visit one of the local communities (time permitting).

After breakfast – if it is running – we will board the ‘Nariz del Diablo’ (Devil’s Nose) train for a ride along the historic Trans-Andean Railroad. Travelling on the roof of the train from Guamote to Alausi, we pass through the most dramatic section of the railroad that once ran to the coast, where a series of steep switchbacks cut through the rock face and offer amazing views of the surrounding countryside.

In the afternoon we shall return to Guamote and visit one of the project sites supported by Inti Sisa.

Thursday is market day in Guamote and hundreds of people flood into the town from neighbouring villages to one of the most colourful and memorable markets in Ecuador. Having visited the on-site community project set up to help local women produce handicrafts and the community learn computer skills, we’ll head into the market to get swept up in the crowds, getting a real taste of Andean village life.

Departing Guamote in the afternoon we’ll visit the archaeological site of Incapirca (15th century), Ecuador’s most important set of Inca ruins, before continuing on to the Colonial city of Cuenca.

In the morning we shall take a half day city tour of the ‘jewel of the south’: Cuenca, (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), visiting some of the parks, churches, plazas and local landmarks. Despite being the country’s third largest city, Cuenca retains the feel and pace of a much smaller town and is a pleasure to wander around.

Free afternoon to explore the museums, shops and markets or visit one of the centres that produces panama hats and other haberdashery.

Heading north again we leave sophisticated Cuenca behind us and travel towards one of Ecuador’s best kept secrets – Quilatoa. Nestled in the heart of the Andes, this region showcases the sheer beauty of Ecuador’s mountains. We will spend the night at the cosy eco-lodge at Chugchilan (3200m).

Today will be a free day to relax and explore this stunning spot. There will be the option of going horse riding or on short treks, or just chill out after the long journey yesterday.

This morning we will set off and explore the spectacular Quilatoa Carter Lake and the surrounding area. Rated as one of the gems of the Andes, the region is riddled with splendid hikes, traditional highland villages and indigenous people. After breakfast we will set off from the eco-lodge to the rim of the crater, which offers tremendous views of the surrounding peaks of Cotopaxi and Iliniza Sur, and the green, mirror-like lake below.

There are three different options – a 4-5 km hike circumnavigating the lake, climbing down into the crater itself or a beautiful trek from the crater itself back to the Black Sheep Inn in Chugchilan. For those preferring a less strenuous experience, it is possible to hire mules to ride in and out of the crater or arrange horse rides throughout the area through the eco-lodge.

After lunch we will then set off back to Quito, stopping off along the way to visit the tiny town of Tigua (3500m), an important centre for local arts and crafts in the region.

Amazon Jungle Excursion: Leaving the altitude behind us we take a domestic flight into the heart of the Amazon, flying into the town of Coca – the base used to access the mighty Napo River which is the main tributary of the Amazon. From here we travel by motorised canoe up river to the Yachana Lodge where we will spend the next 3 nights.

This award winning eco-lodge offers a myriad of activities from naturalist-guided walks in the primary and secondary rain forest, visits to the local medicine man and communities, panning for gold, night time safaris, star gazing and river cruises. There is also the opportunity to try your hand at local crafts and skills such as pottery and basket weaving, bee keeping and using traditional blow guns!

Flight back to Quito for some free time to wander around and a final dinner followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Colonial old town. Lit up at night time, the vintage facades, churches and plazas (some of them dating back to the 1500s) offer a great example of the grandeur of the old town. Overnight at one of the best hotels in the city.

Tour ends in Quito.