8 Days – 7 Nights | Off-Road Expedition In Ecuador – Guided Tour

We’ll have breakfast by the river before departing, and then begin our journey through the land of the four kingdoms to one of Ecuador’s most beautiful places, Quilotoa Lagoon, the emerald crater of the Andes. Quilotoa is one of the 15 most beautiful volcanic lakes in the world. Although dormant, Quilotoa is still an active volcano; gas bubbles and steam emissions have been detected at the bottom of the lagoon.

The lake lies within its crater, with a diameter of 9 km. A crater of this size is the result of the volcano’s collapse 800 years ago, and according to studies, its last eruption reached the Pacific Ocean. The Kichwa people of Zumbahua and Chugchilán live near the crater and preserve ancestral traditions of agriculture and herding. For Andean communities, the lagoon is a spiritual place, associated with the spirit of water and the forces of nature.

A few minutes after leaving the hotel, we find the detour that takes us off the paved road and onto a dirt road. We resume our ascent into the mountains, a slightly technical but adrenaline-filled route where you’ll test your skills and dexterity in a challenge against yourself, as well as the culture of the region. We begin the journey with a waterfall next to the road, which allows us to see that Ecuador is a rich country thanks to its water sources that run throughout the country.
We continue our journey where you can see that the myth is true: the community born in this land is friendly and willing to lend a hand to those in need, always welcoming us with a smile while they carry out their daily agricultural activities. Corn fields, vibrant pastures, and green mountains guide us to the town of San Francisco de las Pampas, part of the Cotopaxi province, nestled between the coast and the mountains. In this place, known for its hospitality, travelers on motorcycles or bicycles are often welcomed with local products or artisanal coffee. We can take a break and stroll through the market, enjoying the joy of the children who come to learn a little more about us. And, of course, to satisfy their curiosity at the sight of our fully loaded bicycles.

We continue our journey and enter a cloud forest with abundant vegetation, animals such as toucans, guantas, armadillos, sloths, and several species of frogs; and streams that accompany us as we cross it, with the Ecuadorian Andes mountain range as our backdrop.

After a well-deserved rest and preparing for what lies ahead, we resume our journey toward the highest part of our route. It starts out a bit chilly, and the landscape changes drastically. In the middle of nowhere, between mountains and valleys, we arrive at Sigchos, a town in the heart of the Andes. Our hotel welcomes us with a perfect view of the base of Quilotoa. We can visit it by horseback riding there, or we can leave it for the next day and relax by visiting a nearby artisanal cheese factory.

A flat view, passing through places that will take our breath away with the flavor of Ecuador, between pastures with cattle and local crops, such as potatoes and peas, among others, as we roll towards Quilotoa. The transition between off-road terrain and paved road on each stretch allows us to rest while we travel the distance to the next destination of interest. After approximately 30 minutes of travel, we will exit onto a paved road. In a few hours, we will go from the cold, pure air of the Andean moorland to the sweet aroma of tropical cacao, discovering how the landscape, people, and culture change with every bend in the road.

A winding road between immense green mountains takes us to the coast, with vegetation changing with every kilometer. Many contrasts of vegetation change, the landscapes seem straight out of a movie; You’ll feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones movie as you pass through several villages, such as Zumbahua, with its predominantly indigenous Kichwa population, and Panzaleo, famous for its local market (mainly on Saturdays), one of the most authentic in the region.

This is the ideal place to buy wool fabrics, ponchos, hats, and traditional crafts. Pilaló, an example of Andean rural life combined with sustainable agricultural production, is ideal for those who enjoy culture, nature, and active rural tourism in a peaceful and authentic setting. And La Maná, ideal for adventure tourism, where you can go tubing, rafting, sport fishing, and natural bathing.

We arrive at the Maná Valley, a magical place full of stories, myths, and legends. Like the Miner’s Goblin, history tells us that over the years, the gold mines that formed this town were abandoned after their production declined. It was here that these places became perfect places for the goblin to store his gold.

With a stunning landscape, we’ll have the opportunity to explore a uniquely beautiful group of waterfalls, the 7 Cascadas del Zapanal. This group of seven impressive waterfalls is located in the La Envidia complex, on the La Maná – La Playita – Estero Hondo road, where you can enjoy a moment of relaxation and relaxation in its refreshing waters. After lunch, we’ll head to the town of Quevedo, on the banks of the Quevedo River, a tributary of the Vinces River and later the Guayas River. We’ll learn a little about its culture, one of the most important centers of banana and cocoa production for export in Ecuador. Its people are very warm and cheerful, so we’ll get ready, go to bed early, and rest for the next day.

A delicious dinner will be served with traditional flavors from the coast and the Andes.

The first step will be to cross a stretch of the Daule Peripa Dam by barge. This adds a little something extra to our adventure, making it unique. Here we say goodbye to the asphalt and a great adventure begins.

The road, with some loose stones and surrounded by water, green vegetation, banana and coffee plantations, takes us to the Daule Peripa Dam. To cross it, we’ll have to ride over a floating bridge where we’ll feel like we’re sailing with our two-wheeled companions, like rebels trying to conquer the Pacific Ocean. We’ll have time to take photos and enjoy ourselves while we chat with the locals.

Continuing on our way, and now accustomed to our motorcycles, we’ll travel the longest part of our route, an open road with ups and downs that will make us feel like true conquistadors in search of dorado.

Small country houses where their inhabitants go about their daily chores, interrupted by the roar of our engines, their smiles, and the joy of seeing us.

Positive energy flows as we continue to enjoy the landscapes of red clay, green trees, and winding roads.

The locals often approach us out of curiosity and the warmth in their eyes, which is the best way to start a conversation and create a beautiful connection between two different worlds, creating genuine relationships so that the next time they return, they’ll have more than one friend in the land of a thousand faces.

After dinner, we’ll take a walk through the village.

We head north this time, and our journey takes us to our first stop in the town of Eloy Alfaro, where temperatures range between 25°C and 32°C. It is known for representing the agricultural heart of the province, surrounded by cacao fields, rivers, and rural landscapes.

Here we will take a break after traveling for approximately an hour. Its inhabitants welcome us with open arms and tell us a little about their traditions. Manabita has unique characteristics, reflected in its festivities, which blend religious and pagan traditions, a legacy of European peoples intertwined with the customs of the indigenous people who inhabited this fertile land. Festivals such as San Pedro and San Pablo, and the famous Montubio rodeos, which have their origins in blacksmithing and the taming of cattle and horses on the haciendas, are examples of typical Manabi culture.

Manabí is a prime area for archaeology, where important discoveries have been made that have determined the existence of Ecuador’s earliest cultures. It is a culture forged in the time and space of this territory, an identity that inspires belonging and pride for the true inhabitants of Manabí. It is here that we bid farewell to the asphalt for a moment and begin a wide dirt road that will take us to our next destination.

Along the way, we will observe how cattle, bananas, cocoa, palm trees, and much more are transported. We will arrive at a small but charming town called Convento, in an area of tropical rainforest and Andean-coastal transition, with abundant rivers and hills covered in vegetation.

We will enjoy a refreshing coffee ice cream, which will give us the energy we need for the next stretch, a dirt road that will take us through farms, streams, and unusual hamlets. After approximately two hours, we’ll arrive back at a paved, but little-traveled, road that will take us to what will be our first glimpse of Ecuadorian beaches. We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in Pedernales, near the Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve, with its rainforests, waterfalls, and endemic species.

The best seafood delicacies, a warm climate, and the sound of the sea will accompany us for the next few days. After a final stretch to the hotel, we’ll enjoy the amenities offered by its pools and a delicious dinner.

This day is dedicated to relaxation. We can enjoy one of the best beaches in Ecuador, surfing, bodyboarding, and paddleboarding, kayaking or canoeing, trekking and hiking, or conquer not only the ocean but also the clouds with kitesurfing. You can enjoy the sand and find a little spot to enjoy.

Today we can visit Playa Negra. The oldest inhabitants of this place say that the beach owes its color to the tears of the mother rainforest: when her son was lost at sea, she brought up the sand and painted it at night with her tears so that the sun would not take away his memory. Since then, the dark sand holds the memory of the loved ones claimed by the sea, and it is said that whoever touches it receives calm for their hearts.

A beach of gleaming black sand. We can also visit Playa Portete. It is said that a sailor who escaped a shipwreck swore to protect the coast. His soul took the form of a shadow walking at the water’s edge, and when outsiders greedily try to steal the sand, the waves return the burden to the sea.

The fishermen respect the site: it is the territory of the warrior and the sea. We can enjoy a relaxing stroll along its beach and its tranquility, or take surfing lessons to round out the day.

Today we will travel mainly on paved roads to one of Ecuador’s most iconic places: Mindo. It’s a hidden paradise in the heart of the Andean Chocó, with a protected forest called Nambillo, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, full of crystal-clear rivers and waterfalls, where it seems as if time has stopped and peace has taken over.

Wildlife is abundant, and we’ll be able to observe animals such as the Rock Cock- of-the-Rock, the Brilliant Quetzal, the Emerald Toucan, the Howler Monkey, the Spectacled Bear, the Two toed Sloth, Tree Snakes, and Boas.

We’ll be able to observe an abrupt change in the vegetation while enjoying a delicious, freshly opened coconut. Upon arrival in Mindo, after leaving our belongings at our selected eco-lodge, we’ll be able to go to a restaurant where we’ll enjoy fantastic local cuisine, mainly based on hearts of palm, as well as other typical and international dishes. Everything is at your disposal.

In the afternoon, we can enjoy a relaxing swim in one of the local waterfalls, learn more about the chocolate-making process and its history, and of course, try some varieties of this delicious product, considered by locals to be Ecuador’s true gold, made entirely in the area.

At night, we’ll enjoy a frog concert accompanied by crickets and other animals whose sounds will keep us attentive to the sounds of the birds—the perfect companion for dinner.