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Tours from Quito
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There is no shortage of
tour operators
in Quito, with most of them strung along Amazonas, Juan Leon Mera or the streets just off them. The
standard day-trips
from Quito offered by just about every company include trips to the
Mitad del Mundo
equator monument
; to the indigenous
markets
of Otavalo
, Saquisili
and Zumbahua
; and to
Parque Nacional Cotopaxi
. Many also offer
birding
tours to cloudforest reserves close to the capital, as well as multi-day packages, often based around accommodation in luxurious
haciendas
. On top of this, the larger companies can put together complete
customized packages
for you, including hotel bookings and transfers if you wish. An increasing number of operators are now offering a wide range of adventurous activity-focused tours: options commonly include one-day
white-water rafting
tours down the Toachi and Blanco rivers, west of Quito (grade III-IV rapids);
mountain biking
down nearby volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, having been transported up there in a vehicle; and
hiking
around the sierra or through subtropical cloudforests west of Quito. There are also a number of specialized
climbing
operators guiding climbers up the sierra's main volcanoes, most of whom also rent equipment to solo climbers.
As well as the above, the majority of tour companies in Quito can book trips to the Oriente and Galapagos, but it's usually better to book directly with the service provider - refer to our list of specialist Quito-based
Oriente operators
, and
Galapagos operators
.
It's difficult to generalize about
prices
, as these can vary wildly from one operator to another. They get cheaper the larger your group is: we've quoted prices per person based on two people sharing. Cheapest are the trips to the Mitad del Mundo, which go for aound $20-30 for basic half-day trips. Day-trips to Cotopaxi, indigenous markets and nearby cloudforests range from around $50 to $100 - the difference is partly accounted for by the type of lunch you're given, with some tours including three-course gourmet meals in haciendas, and others simply providing a packed lunch ("
un boxlunch
", as they're known in Ecuador). Biking, rafting and trekking tours are typically $50-70 for a day, while multi-day trips vary in price according to the type of accommodation you're staying in, which can range from camping to comfortable
hosterias
. When comparing prices, always make sure you know exactly
what is included
, particularly equipment, food and accommodation. You may also want to check whether you'll be given an English-speaking
guide
. For multi-day trips, try to meet your guide before signing up to the tour so you can get a feel for whether you're likely to get on with each other - a good, personable guide can make the world of difference to your tour. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Ecuador,
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