Active Ecuador tour 8 days

I had the best time on the Active Ecuador 8 day trip! I traveled solo and happened to be the only one signed up for the trip. Activexpedition will still run a trip even for one person! What an unbelievable week! Pre-trip: Communication was great, and the sales team was quick to respond to any questions. The company provided a detailed itinerary with a packing list. The actual trip was very well organized, and they pivoted quickly if anything came up. For example, some rains washed out some spots on certain roads and the guide (more on him below) diligently checked with other friends and colleagues and unofficial reports on road conditions to make sure it didn’t delay us or require a detour. They picked great and unique places to stay. Each one was very comfortable and enjoyable! It was also easy to send out for laundry service in Banos (about midway), so you can pack lighter (and only a few dollars per kg to have it done). Guide: Daniel was a phenomenal guide. He was professional, knowledgeable, and funny. He went out of his way to make sure I had the best experience. I felt extremely safe with him the whole time. He built in many special little details and went above and beyond. For example, I went during Halloween/the Day of the Dead, and Daniel arranged a traditional bread decorating and Colada experience for me. Activities: It is really hard to pick out what I liked most. I had so much fun doing everything. There is flexibility in many of the activities. For example, I am not a strong cyclist, so at my request, we started at the top of the mountain and skipped the initial uphill part (there is a safety car behind you the whole time). I am also an adrenaline junkie, so Daniel took me to one of the extreme swings in Banos. During caving, he gave me the option between regular cave and crazy cave, and the crazy one was incredible! Each night, he would brief me in detail on the exact schedule for the next day, including the timeline and what to wear/pack. He also built in more activities that weren’t on the itinerary, such as visiting a monkey island, where you saw different types of monkeys up close. Difficulty/Fitnesss: I was not in the best shape (desk job, “walking the dog” shape), and it wasn’t an issue. Physical activities were a fun challenge, but only 2-3 hrs a day, and doesn’t require peak physical fitness. So don’t let that stop you! And as mentioned above, they can tailor them to your comfort level. I have some prior knee injuries and wear a soft brace, and I didn’t have trouble with anything (Daniel would tell me which ones he recommended the brace for). I also get motion sickness, and Daniel would let me know which days involved taking windy roads so I could take Dramamine to prep. Food/drink: Ecuador has delicious food, and Daniel will make sure you get the opportunity to try different local foods and beverages. For example, he showed me around Banos and stopped at a local candy maker and pointed out different types of local candy. There’s fresh fruit juice at just about every meal. During one drive, Daniel randomly stopped at this unmarked house, and it turned out to be a small moonshine distillery where Daniel showed you how they made their fruit moonshine and you could buy a bottle (delicious). Final thoughts: I have traveled to over 20 countries (some with tours, some self-planned), and I would rank this as my favorite (or tied for my favorite). Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I’ll definitely be looking into their other trips in the future. Thanks so much Daniel and Activexpedition!

Amazing trip! I can’t say enough wonderful things about the trip and about our guide. From hiking to rafting to biking to wildlife watching, every day was a new adventure. Travel and accommodations were great, and we felt perfectly safe no matter where we were.

Great people, great scenery and great food! Every day had gorgeous views, was action packed, and I can’t pick a favorite activity! Our guide went above and beyond to show us extra things that were specific to our interests, like a side trip to some lagoons for wildlife and swimming, extra bird excursions, and even arranged for us to eat Guinea pig and grubs!! Can’t wait to go back!