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Finest thermal springs of Ecuador with/without trek to the surrounding Tropical Cloud Forest/Páramo

Papallacta Lake

Papallacta River inside Tropical Cloud Forest

Papallacta valley is surrounded by high mountains

Pastures and Tropical Cloud Forest

Orchids everywhere

small and hugh ones

Just outside of the forest

Bromelias

Angel's Trumpet

Fuchsias of different kinds

Termas de Papallacta

Each pool has a different temperature

Our comfortable 4×4 car

Finest thermal springs of Ecuador with/without trek to the surrounding Tropical Cloud Forest/Páramo

Car Tour (driving guide)

Joined 2024

José R.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Quito

English, German (Native), Spanish (Native)

9 hours

Private tour (only you and José R.)

Up to 3 people

Ready to enjoy the unique nature of mountains and to relax outside the buzzing city of Quito. The Andes are a "young" mountain range and there's still a lot of energy inside the earth. Thermal springs are a result of maintaining activity. Not far from the city center of Quito/its airport we can find the finest thermal springs of Ecuador!

If you want, we can combine the relax with a short or extended trek into the surrounding pristine nature. Tropical Cloud Forest and the unique Páramo await you!

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

08:00 AM

Meeting Point

Your hotel, the bus station, or airport

- I will meet and greet you in English, German or Spanish and pick you up.

08:30 AM

Valley of Tumbaco

Quito is surrounded by valleys. We cross the eastern Valley of Tumbaco a mostly residential area at 2500m above sea level. The airport of Quito is situated there too.

09:00 AM

Papallacta Pass, watershed of South America

From the Valley of Tumbaco we "climb up" (by car) to the Papallacta Pass at 4100m. Polilepis Forest and the wet grass land of Páramo dominate the impressive mountain scenery. We can stop everywhere to enjoy the landscape/to take pictures. Flowers grow directly on the shore of the road. From the saddle of Papallacta sometimes (depending on the weather) we can spot the mighty summit of the glacier capped Antisana (5758m).

09:20 AM

Papallacta Lake and lava flow

On the way down in direction to the village of Papallacta we continue enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery. On the right side of the road there's the Antisana National Park, on the left side stretches the National Park of Cayambe Coca. Our road bypasses the Papallacta Lake, a result of the last ice age glaciation. Behind the lake we cross an impressive lava flow from Antisana. It's last eruption was in the 19th century.

09:30 AM

Thermal springs, Tropical Cloud Forest and Páramo vegetation

We arrived on our final destination!

Just outside of the village of Papallacta in 3300m high up in the Andes we find the finest thermal springs and pools of Ecuador nestled between high mountains covered every time by lush green vegetation.

You decide if we first relax inside of the many pools, each of them with different water temperature and just enjoy the picturesque landscape or if you would like to get first an authentic impression of Tropical Cloud Forest. On the shores of Papallacta River on a maintained trail we can discover the beautiful vegetation, including many orchids. Llamas are greasing close by and hummingbirds are dancing from flower to flower.

If you are well acclimatized and prepared for more activity you may enjoy the unique Páramo vegetation higher up in the same valley during the second trek. A waterfall and different lakes are the best compensation for your efforts. Sometimes we already spotted a Speckled Bear or Mountain Tapir there, as we are inside of Cayambe Coca National Park.

There are restaurants and spa facilities like massage available.

03:30 PM

Return to Quito or to its airport

Whenever you want we return to your hotel, to the airport of Quito or wherever you want to be dropped off.

Again we enjoy the picturesque landscape on the way, for sure with a different glimpse, because normally weather is changing during the day.

After an exciting day inside of the nature of high Andes we say goodbye.

Ending Point

Quito, wherever you want to be dropped off

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

- my guide fee

- all costs related to private transportation (4×4 jeep)

- gasoline and toll fees

- pick up to drop off

What‘s not included

- food and drinks

- entrance fee for thermal springs ($ 9 - 15 per adult person, children and senior get discount)

- tips

Tour Important Information

- Please consider the altitude.

- For the trek please bring good shoes.

- Temperature at destination will be 8-13°C at noon.

- Even if the weather is bad you will enjoy the thermal springs because the water is really hot, so that outside air temperature doesn't matter

- Please bring towel and swimwear along.

- Treks are not difficult but steep (steps) and may be in some parts muddy (after rainfall).

- Children will enjoy all parts of this daytrip.

- Binoculars and good camera are useful.

- this trip you perfectly can do coming from the airport of Quito or on your last day before departure as airport is situated half way to the thermal springs

- you can book it shorter than 9 hours and you will enjoy program in the same way

Important message from the supplier

I can welcome you everytime around the whole year, if not someone was quicker than you.

I can guide you everywhere in Ecuador if you pay the transportation costs to the meeting point (for me only or for me and the car if needed for the tour).

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2024

José R.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide José R.

Hello I'm José. Welcome to Ecuador! Would you like to discover my country with a driver/guide (4×4 vehicle). I studied Tourism at universities of different countries in Europe and South America and have more than 25 years of experience in guiding visitors. We can climb together the glacier capped mountains of the Andes, discover the secrets of the tropical rainforest in the Amazon, stroll around in Spanish styled colonial cities, we can visit active volcanoes, trek around crater lakes, interact with indigenous families and immerse to their culture and traditions, relax on sandy beaches or dive with turtles and colorful reef fishes. The opportunities are endless!

Due to my activity in tourism I already travelled to more than 50 countries in all 7 continents of the world and this enables me to compare plants or animals we likely will see in Ecuador with them in other parts of the world.

The mentality of visitors from Asia is different from the mentality of European guests, North Americans expect other things than travelers from Latin America.

If you contact me, I'm sure we will meet just YOUR INTERESTS AND EXPECTATIONS of your holidays in Ecuador!

I provide you with a customized itinerary, just for your interests!

Ecuador is one of the smallest, but the most diverse country of South America and your starting point Quito, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most beautiful capital of Latin America.

And the best: All our highlights you can enjoy in driving distance!

Why are you waiting? Contact me!