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Discover Ecuador

9 days in Quito, Riobamba, Baños, and Tena

Optional 3 day extension

Suspension bridge in front of a rainforest waterfall in ecuador.
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OVERVIEW

Uncover what life is like at the center of the world as you journey through Ecuador

Discover Ecuador's best-loved highlights, from the Andean capital of Quito to the edge of the Amazon. Students stand on the equator at the Intiñan Museum, visit the powerful Devil's Cauldron waterfall, and explore Ecuadorian food culture through hands-on cooking and chocolate-making experiences. In Baños and Tena, moments of adventure meet cultural connection through hikes, dance, and a visit with the Kichwa community. Students return with unforgettable memories and a broader understanding of how geography and culture shape daily life.

Discover Ecuador route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Ecuador

Board your international flight to Quito

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 2: Quito

Take a tour of Quito. With your Tour Director you will see:

  • Independence Plaza

  • Government Palace

Visit the Church of la Compañía de Jesús

Visit the Intiñan Museum and witness the natural forces at work near the equator

Day 3: Quito • Riobamba

Travel to Riobamba

Participate in cultural immersion activities

  • Observe farming, handicrafts, cooking

  • Eat lunch with the community

Day 4: Riobamba • Baños

Travel to Baños

Visit the Devil's Cauldron waterfall

Enjoy an authentic Ecuadorian cooking class

Day 5: Baños

Take a tour of Baños. With your Tour Director you will see:

  • Old Cathedral

  • New Cathedral

Visit an organic chocolate factory

  • Learn about the sourcing of Cacao from Indigenous family producers

  • See how the beans are turned into chocolate

  • Taste some different chocolate samples

Enjoy a hike on one of the many trails through the Baños rainforest

Take a salsa dance lesson

Day 6: Baños • Tena

Travel to Tena

Visit an indigenous Kichwa community

Day 7: Tena

Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion

Participate in a traditional Amazon night

Day 8: Tena • Quito

Travel to Quito

Visit a local market

Day 9: Depart for home

Board your flight home from Quito

What makes this tour special?

Stand on the equator at the Intiñan Museum and feel the shifts in gravity firsthand through immersive activities and demonstrations

Stand on the equator at the Intiñan Museum and feel the shifts in gravity firsthand through immersive activities and demonstrations

Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure through the Amazon Rainforest

Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure through the Amazon Rainforest

Prepare a classic Ecuadorian meal in an immersive, hands-on cooking class

Prepare a classic Ecuadorian meal in an immersive, hands-on cooking class

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

Unlock your lowest price

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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