Ecuador

Equatorial Affair

On arrival, we’ll meet for a detailed briefing to go over the route, safety protocols, and what to expect during the journey. This is your chance to get to know the team, ask questions, and prepare for the days ahead. We spend the night in Quito and fly early the next day to the city of Manta, where our 4x4 vehicles await

After a 45 min flight to Manta, our official overland journey will begin. Today the route combines smooth tarmac with well-kept dirt roads as we pass through scenic coastal villages and experience the rhythm of local life. A highlight of the day will be the unforgettable drive along a deserted Pacific beach—an iconic and liberating start to the adventure.

Although today’s drive covers a relatively short distance, it definitely raises the bar in terms of challenge and excitement. Welcome to La Dogola—a legendary stretch of inland dirt road that has earned a fearsome reputation. Since it will be the dry season, when the red earth is solid and the challenge lies more in navigating the steep gradients and rugged terrain than in battling the mud. This will be our dramatic introduction to the infamous Colón–Colonche Mountain range, a wild, scenic region known for its sharp ascents and descents.

We begin today with about 80 km of smooth tarmac—an easy stretch before the day’s true adventure begins. Soon, we leave the asphalt behind and head into a completely different world, entering a new mountain range with jaw-dropping views and winding dirt roads. Unlike the vast flatlands of the Amazon to the east of the Andes, Ecuador’s western slopes are home to a patchwork of short, steep mountain ranges blanketed in tropical greenery. This remarkable topography is part of what makes Ecuador so uniquely diverse, offering ever-changing landscapes around every corner.

Today we embark on what may be one of the most unforgettable drives of your life—a dramatic ascent into the heart of the Andes. After a short stretch of tarmac, we hit a winding dirt road that carves its way up the mountainside. The route is both challenging and awe-inspiring, with narrow, sharp U-turns snaking up the mountain. Over the course of the day, we will reach a staggering maximum elevation of 4,169 meters and by late afternoon, we’ll arrive at a cozy eco-lodge perched at 2,900 meters, known for its warm hospitality, delicious meals, and sweeping views of the surrounding Andes.

We begin the day with a visit to an extraordinary turquoise lake nestled inside a volcanic crater. From there, we descend into a dazzling white sand canyon, following a remote dirt road that winds its way into the birthplace of the Toachi River, one of Ecuador’s main rivers. After many kilometers on this spectacular dirt track, we finally reconnect with tarmac—and shortly afterward, we enter the majestic Cotopaxi National Park, home to the highest active volcano in the world.

After a night of sleeping in this Colonial Hacienda, high in the Andes, surrounded by silence and starlight, today offers a more relaxed pace. We then retrace our route along the scenic 40 km dirt road—crossing rivers and open plains once more—before reconnecting with the Pan-American Highway, heading south toward the heart of the Ecuadorian highlandstowards the towering Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain and the closest point on Earth to outer space due to the equatorial bulge, dominates the horizon. Tonight, our group will split in two. Those who wish to take on the challenge of climbing Chimborazo will set off with the guide later in the evening—the ascent begins at night. For those who prefer to stay behind, the hacienda offers a peaceful evening of relaxation, fine dining, and reflection. We will reunite the next day at Chimborazo Base Camp, ready to welcome back our climbers and continue the journey together.

In the morning, we set out along a mix of tarmac and dirt roads toward Chimborazo Base Camp. Afterward, we descend along remote dirt roads that wind through picturesque villages and centuries-old routes, offering a glimpse into traditional Andean life. This is Ecuadorean Andes at its best, with indigenous people plowing the land by hand or with animals, giving you a glimpse of how life has not changed much in these rural parts for centuries.

We get ready to leave the Andes with a bang! Driving 27 km along a dramatic black-sand trail carved by ancient volcanic eruptions. As we descend into the Amazon Basin, the landscape transforms into a lush, green world teeming with life. The views of entering the amazon by road will stary with you for many years to come, this road and its views are magical. Our journey ends in the jungle town of Macas, where we’ll stay in an award-winning eco-lodge.

Our final day of overlanding begins in a relaxed rhythm, cruising north along smooth tarmac and soaking in the stunning views. By now, it feels as though we’ve crossed not just a country, but several worlds—and today is no exception. We are deep in Ecuador’s Amazon, and it truly feels like another country altogether.

Today our tour takes an unexpected turn—the beginning of an adventure within the adventure! Here, we bid farewell to our trusted vehicles and climb aboard chartered planes for a 200 km flight to the Peruvian border, heading deep into the Amazon to one of the most remote jungle lodges in the world: Kapawi Lodge. We have plenty of activties and exploration planned for 2 days as we will be staying here the next day as well.

Kapawi is fully owned and operated by the Achuar community. It is a place like no other—authentic, luxurious, and rooted in ancient tradition, managed by the very people who have ruled this land for centuries. The Achuar are legendary—perhaps most famously for their practice of shrinking human heads. An all day expeirence with the community and induldging in various activities around the lodge. We regroup back in the evening for our expedition farewell dinner.

Charter plane to the town of shell and a 4 hour drive to Quito. Here we say goodbye to each other and you can fly out on the same day if you have a late evening flight out of Quito or else we can help you organize a hotel in Quito and you can fly out the next day.