WOMEN ONLY TOUR TO Ecuador
Ecuador at a glance
Ecuador may be small compared to its neighbors, but it offers the ‘best of the best’ of South America: sun-kissed beaches, riveting history, friendly locals, and incredible bio-diversity.
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Highlights
Inclusions
- Stay in 4* and 5* hand-picked hotels, guesthouses, and an Amazon lodge
- All tips for driver, guide, and included activities
- Arrival airport pickup on day 1
- 9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- All activities listed in the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, commercial airline domestic flight.
- Max 14 solo female travelers in your group
- Twin share rooms
- Expert local guide for the whole tour
- SoFe Travel leader
Notes
The altitude gain in Quito and many of the mountainous regions make a minority of travelers altitude sick. Symptoms include feeling tired and short of breath. This fades away in a few days as your body adapts, but if you have lung or blood pressure issues, please ask your doctor about traveling in high altitudes.
Meet your new BFF.
A SoFe Travel leader joins groups larger than 5, maximizing your adventure and ensuring you’re well taken care of.
No math on vacay.
Get your beauty sleep.
Enjoy our hand-picked, premium accommodation combining the best of design, location and comfort.
Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to EcuadoR!
Arrival pick up and solo evening
Today our driver will pick you up from the airport after 8am according to your arrival time. Our first hotel is in the center of the beautiful city of Quito and designed to be the perfect blend between old world architecture and modern style. We recommend you arrive by 3pm to have plenty of time to make it to our 6pm welcome meeting with your local guide. This evening is yours to relax and enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby favorite restaurant. Meals: dinner
Day 2
QUITO COLONIAL TOWN
Walking tour of Quito, solo afternoon and welcome dinner
Our walking tour of Quito will lead us through a whirlwind of geography and astronomy, preserved ancient architecture, indigenous art, and neo-gothic cathedrals. We will visit the old town, Middle of the World Monument, La Compañia Church, and Intiñan Museum. Lunch will give you a taste of some local traditional dishes at a well known restaurant in the center of town. We will then stand at exactly 0° 0’ 0” on the line of the equator! The later afternoon is yours to wander the city center with your new travel mates. Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 3
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
Hiking and and afternoon of your choice!
Start the day at Avenue of the Volcanoes! We have an easy hike through Cotopaxi National Park admiring the stunning “paramo”, or grassland landscape, with hummingbirds, wild horses, and loads of other wildlife with the Cotopaxi Volcano always lingers in the background. This afternoon choose to either horseback ride or join a cooking class at one of our feature stays, a traditional hacienda. Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 4
INDIGENOUS VILLAGE Visit
Meet the community & pachamanka experience
Today is one you will never forget – a visit with the people of an indigenous village in the Northern highlands. We especially love this community for all the women owned and operated small businesses making jewelry, embroidery, and more. We will join the community today to help prepare for a very special meal. Panchamanka is an ancestral culinary experience passed down thousands of years and requires everyone to work together. Still practiced today for special occasions, we will help prepare the food and place it underground with hot volcanic rocks. While dinner is cooking, our local guide will show us around the community garden and bring us to see the gorgeous community garden and meet some of the female small business owners. Hours later, dinner will be ready and we’ll eat a big, delicious meal. Tonight, we will stay in the village at multiple small guesthouses to continue to experience the warm hospitality of the community. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5
OTAVALO MARKET & PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS
Discover the Otavalo Market and soak up in a hotspring
The Otavalo market is an ancient tradition and still is an important social and cultural event. Find music, handmade textiles, clothing, artisanal crafts, and other arts. Take some solo time to explore and shop knowing you’re supporting the locals. Later we will soak in springs naturally heated by the nearby volcano with a view that where you could spot hummingbirds, wild horses, or even a bear! Meals: breakfast | Drive time: approx. 2.5 hours
Day 6
COCA TO THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
Travel to the Amazon, join an ecological walk and tuck into homemade dinner
This morning we’ll travel to Coca to begin an incredible 4 day Amazon experience! We will be driving through the stunning cloud forest past waterfalls and majestic mountains. In Coca, we will cruise down the Amazon River on a speedboat. From here, it is a quick canoe ride (with your local guide rowing) and then a 20 minute walk to reach your luxury, remote Amazon lodge. It’s a journey, but it is well worth it. You will be welcomed with a glass of wayusa and shown to our rooms all with views of the Amazon Rainforest. This afternoon, explore your new digs in the heart of the jungle and join your expert ecologist guide on a walk looking for wildlife. End the day with an incredible homemade dinner and maybe even a short trek to find some creepy crawlies that only come out at night. Meals: breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 7
Sacha Lodge
Gentle forest walk, solo time and canoe down a river
Wake up to the beautiful sounds of the Amazon and join your guide for an easy walk as wildlife wakes up for the day. Be on the lookout for monkeys, squirrel monkeys, toucans, parrots, sloths, and more! After this, you’ll take your time to enjoy a nice breakfast overlooking the lake and spend some free time relaxing in the lodge. You can lay in the AC, grab a drink at the bar, hang out by the lake pool, or have some tea at one of the lodge’s beautiful lookout spots. A little later, we’ll take a canoe ride down the river, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
Sacha Lodge
Walk across a suspension bridge, go paddling and explore the nearby area.
Today you’ll get to experience some of the many adventures that Sacha Lodge has to offer in the Amazon. Walk across a bridge suspended over the rainforest canopy, paddle through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, or climb to the very top of a giant kapok tree. Wander through the butterfly house and see hundreds of colorful butterflies flutter from flower to flower. When your adventure-packed day comes to an end, sink into your luxurious bed and get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9
Return to Quito
Boat ride and flight to Quito
After a last delicious breakfast with the views of an Amazon sunrise, it’s time to make the journey back to Quito. You’ll take a boat ride for a last glimpse at the forest and then hop on a quick flight, arriving in Quito in time for a farewell dinner and some leisure time. Meals: breakfast
Day 10
FAREWELL FOR NOW!
Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye…or is it? Keep the adventure going and continue to Galapagos Islands! If you’re home-bound, share a ride to the airport with a fellow traveler and stay in touch! Check out all the details of our Ecuador mainland and Galapagos Meetup Tour. Meals: breakfast
Hand-picked Accommodation
Our accommodation is hand-picked to give you the best combination of comfort, location, and style. These are photos from our collection of favorite hotels and resorts to give you a sense of the accommodation you can expect with us. All of our accommodation is 4 and 5 star with many beautiful views in prime locations.
Hotel Termas de Papallacta
Think volcano views and lush jungle surroundings. Soak in the hot springs right outside your door and stay warm and relaxed as the fog rolls in. Opt in for some spa treatments and get exclusive access to extra private pools. Call room service for a bottle of red and relax.
Sacha Lodge
A huge highlight of your Ecuador Meetup Tour, this is the Amazonian home of your dreams. Sleep in luxury, with views of the jungle in every bedroom. Imagine walking across a bridge suspended over the rainforest canopy, paddling through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, or climbing to the very top of a giant kapok tree – Sacha Lodge has it all. The ecologists here are so world renown that National Geographic photographers stay here and many celebrities including Will Smith (ask you guide about his visit, it will make his day!).
Hotel Patio Andaluz
Located in a colonial style house from the end of the 16th century, the elegant Patio Andaluz, beautifully decorated with large arches and interior patios, is just walking distance to the Plaza Grande and so many other sites perfectly in the center of Quito.
Details
ARRIVAL: Quito International Airport (code UIO). We recommend arriving before 5:00pm on the tour start day to be in time for our welcome meeting, but we will pick you up any time on Day 1.
- We will will have an airport transfer waiting for you at the Quito Airport, when you arrive during the above arrival window. If you arrive a day or two early, an airport transfer is not included.
DEPARTURE: Quito International Airport (code UIO) anytime after 11:00am on tour end date.
- A return airport transfer is not included in the program cost. This is easy to book once you’re on the ground.
We can help you secure an extra night or two at the hotel before or after the start of the tour if you require it. Simply let us know!
- Airfares
- Visa fees if applicable
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Airport drop off
If you hold a US passport, you do not need a visa if you plan to visit Ecuador for 90 days or less.
Most other countries are able to visit Ecuador visa free or with a visa upon arrival. Please check the requirements for your specific citizenship.
The itinerary is subject to change due for any reason – weather, unexpected cancellations, impromptu local opportunities, or surprise additions.
All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory or you may be refused to join the tour. See our guide for help choosing a plan.
Our domestic flight allows up to 30lbs/15kg check-in luggage. If you bring more weight, there may be a fee at the airport.
Got to see so many different cultures
“Ecuador mainland was never on my radar, but I was going on the Galapagos Meetup Tour and decided to add it on. I am SO glad I did, because this country is just amazing and we got to see so many different cultures and corners of the country on this tour.” Alicia P. | Ecuador
Such a dynamic country
“The best part about this tour is how packed it was with experiences and places I could never have accessed all on my own. I went to Ecuador, because it was the only country in South America I hadn’t been to, and I learned that it is such a dynamic country. It’s now probably my favorite South American country. Thanks so much for this incredible trip, SoFe!” Anna A. | Ecuador
so much more than a tour
“SoFe does it again. This is my 3rd tour with these ladies, and I loved every bit of it from the awesome group of women, the food, the community visits, and the food…did I say food? Anyway, loved this trip, loved our local guide Daniella, and I can’t wait for my next SoFe tour!” Julie D. | Ecuador
Photos from the road
We love to collect photos from as many of our Meetup Tours as possible. If you want to see more, check out the stories on our Instagram! @solofemaletravel. When you travel with us, tag @sofetravel and you may even get featured!