4 of 5 dagen Quito naar Cuenca en Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Chimborazo

Edison is a phenomenal tour guide who took my wife and me on an unforgettable four-day journey in Ecuador. He exceeded our expectations by taking us to the most culturally and historically significant sites in Ecuador and explaining each location with an impressive encyclopedic knowledge. In addition to taking us to the best breathtaking sites, he was always attentive to our needs and treated us with the utmost level of professionalism, respect and kindness. He also helped us take photos, gave us valuable advice that significantly improved our travel experience and always made sure we were safe in Ecuador. If you're looking for a punctual, highly knowledgeable, and empathetic tour guide who is passionate about teaching others about his beautiful country, we would highly recommend Edison!

Excellent guidance from Diego during the whole trip. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about ecuadorian culture and history. We spent a great time learning and visiting Ecuador :)

My husband and I highly recommend the 5 day Magical tour with Edison Juca/Polylepsis tours. Edison is very passionate and knowledgeable of the history, culture and cuisines of Ecuador. He is even an avid birdwatcher, he pointed out so many different species of hummingbirds and birds in Mindo, the birdwatching capital of the world. In Mindo we also visited a butterfly sanctuary and enjoyed a cacao facial and tour at Yumbo. Edison and my husband planned our days perfectly, we agreed to start early and end late to maximize our experiences. Edison was flexible and provided a unique and customized experience. Edison always timed our activities in a way that maximized the best view possible at Cotopaxi summit, where we were greeted by an Andean fox. We were lucky to have a clear view of the Chimborazo, the closest peak to the sun. We set off to Baños, we stayed in a local lodge, upon arrival we booked massages and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We visited the mighty and impressive Pailon del Diablo and the twin waterfalls. We enjoyed our visit to the world famous La Casa del Arbol, the swing there overlooks a volcano. Edison is a photographer also, he was happy taking our photos and providing tips. We also visited and hiked through the Parque National Cajas, Waterproof shoes and clothing are a must, we were always well prepared for changes in weather. Lastly,we visited the beautiful city of Cuenca, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our first evening we dined at the Jardín Restaurant at the Victoria Hotel, the food, atmosphere and service were phenomenal. We did walking tours during the day and in the evening. We dined at the magnificent, French inspired Masion Matilde, a special treat and ambience. A one of a kind and perhaps one of our favorite trips!!

We wanted to work our way from Quito to Cuenca visiting sights along the way and this tour ticked all the boxes. Visiting the volcanoes Cotopaxi and Chimborazo was a high point, especially the climb at Chimborazo to the second refuge hut at 5040m. The Cajas national park outside Cuenca was completely different scenery, and a peaceful time in nature. Our guide Flavio had a wealth of information about the history, culture, flora and fauna of the Andes, and we enjoyed the many experiences he shared with us. Our driver José was careful and helpful, we knew we were in good hands despite some rough roads! Loved this tour, it packs a lot in but also allows some peaceful breaks along the way.

Polylepis and our guide Sebastian offered us a perfect tour of Ecuador! It was everything I had hoped for when I booked the tour, and my wife now thinks I am incredibly smart for finding them. We saw a very diverse selection of activities and sites. Sebastian was so knowledgeable and a wonderful ambassador for his country and culture. I also appreciated the support we received from Edison and Polylepis when we had a small issue with one of the booked hotels. It is relatively easy to deliver good customer service, but it is a hallmark of great customer service when inevitable issues are quickly resolved. We are grateful to Polylepis and Sebastian for their guidance and insight.

WOW!! We had an amazing experience with Polyepis tours. We booked this trip as a post trip to a Galapagos cruise. The itinerary covered all of the highlights of the area and more and the hotels were amazing. Edison collaborated with us to work out an itinerary to meet all of our needs. Our tour guide, Cristian and driver, Jose were amazing. Cristian's knowledge of Ecuador and its history and people was amazing. Jose navigation of the Country and service to us as customers was first class. We loved every city we saw and it was great how Cristian would cater the day to our needs and desires. The rich history of the Country and the people showed through the architect and the countryside and the art. We loved the enthusiasm and love for the Country that Cristian has which showed through his knowledge and quaint stops he made to show us the individual skills and craftmanship of the people we highly recommend using Polyepis tours and Cristian and Jose

I took the 5-day tour from Quito to Cuenca. I was the only passenger, so it was a private tour. My guide and driver, Diego, spoke perfect English. Moreover, he was a great driver, very polite, and extremely knowledgeable--a veritable walking encyclopedia. For example, when we were in the Andes, every few meters there was some plant or geological formation that he would describe in the indigenous Quechua genesis, the Latin name, the Spanish history, and the current uses including traditional medicine. In Cuenca, which I discovered as one of the great cities of the world, he did the same for all cultural artifacts and places. I'm thinking of going back to Cuenca next year. Two caveats: the Andes are VERY HIGH, so it's not for the light-headed although I wouldn't recommend high-altitude pills because of their side effects. I also recommend paying some extra for accommodations. The least expensive option is quite Spartan.

This is an active trip along the Ecuadorian Andes avenue of volcanoes. Visit Cotopaxi national park and Laguna Quilota. This is a steep climb down into the inactive volcano, but you can hire a mule to ascend. Visit Banos,famous for it's waterfalls and Swing at the End of the world. Climb to 5000m at Chimborazo. Visit Ingapara archeological complex, a large Canari and Inca ruin. I had an extra day,so we had an extended city tour to also see a couple of museums, including Museo Pumapungo and the old cathedral, and then a longer day hiking in Cajas National Park. So many highlights. You do need to be fit to get the most from the activities at high altitude. The guide, Ed, was very accommodating and helpful to fill in my extra day. He was very informative throughout the tour. A great tour guide for a solo traveller. I had some issues with my Latam Airlines booking, and all communication was in Spanish. Ed helped to communicate with the airline to enable me to be sure this was sorted. Great appreciated.

This is an active trip along the Ecuadorian Andes avenue of volcanoes. Visit Cotopaxi nationaal park, and Laguna Quilota. This is a steep climb down into the inactive volcano, but you can hire a mule to ascend. Visit Banos, famous for it's waterfalls and Swing at the End of the world. Climb to 5000m at Chimborazo. Visit Ingapara archeological complex, a large Canari and Inca ruin. I had an extra day, so we had an extended city tour to also see a couple of museums, including Museo Pumapungo and the old cathedral, and then a longer day hiking in Cajas National Park. So many hightlights. You do need to be fit to get the most from the activities at high altitude. The guide, Ed, was very accommodating and helpful to fill my extra day. I had some issues with my Latam Airline booking, and all communication was in Spanish. Ed helped communicate with the airline to enable me to be sure that this was sorted.

This 4 day journey from Quito to Cuenca was absolutely exceptional and far exceeded all my expectations. The itinerary was thoughtfully designed to showcase the very best of Ecuador in a relatively short time, without ever feeling negatively rushed. The drive itself was an experience. Throughout the journey, breathtaking Andean landscapes unfolded before us, with spectacular views of iconic volcanoes appearing one after another in this order: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Los Ilinizas, Rumiñahui, and El Altar. Every transfer offered new panoramas and highlighted the raw beauty and immense scale of Ecuador’s landscape. Each stop along the route was unforgettable. Cotopaxi was powerful and majestic, while Laguna Quilotoa was simply unreal — such a stunning crater lake can, in my opinion, only be compared to places like Iceland or Laguna de los Tres in Patagonia. Baños was vibrant and full of energy, and getting extremely close to the mighty Pailón del Diablo waterfall was an intense and emotional experience. One of the absolute highlights of the trip was driving up to approximately 4,800 meters above sea level, followed by a hike up to 5,000 meters. Being so close to Chimborazo, feeling the cold, the wind, and its overwhelming presence, was truly humbling and deeply powerful. The logistics, pacing, and overall organization were excellent. Despite covering so much ground, everything ran smoothly and felt well thought out. I would wholeheartedly recommend this route to anyone looking for an intense, authentic, and unforgettable experience in Ecuador. It was a challenging, beautiful, and deeply rewarding journey that I will remember for a very long time.