ECUADOR BASECAMP ADVENTURE | WITH YOUR FAMILY
Volcanoes, crater lakes and jungle
The story of
this expedition
Fourteen days in Ecuador with your family, or together with friends and their families: hiking among the volcanoes of the Andes, on horseback with the herders, a night in a tent and a day in the jungle. Children and parents experience a real expedition together, at a pace that suits you. The days are full of adventure; the evenings are adventurous too, but with comfort: you sleep in old haciendas and lodges, and the luggage travels with you.
You start in Quito, at 2,800 metres, and from there you go higher step by step. Every day you hike for a few hours with only a day pack: through the forest to a waterfall, across the páramo to an old hacienda, and one day on horseback with the chagras, the herders of the Andes. One night we set up camp together in the wilderness and you sleep in a tent, high in the páramo.
Then you continue past the Saturday market of Zumbahua, through the Toachi canyon and around the crater lake of Quilotoa. Higher up in the páramo vicuñas graze and hot springs are waiting. In Baños you see the waterfalls of the Pastaza and the Pailón del Diablo, and on the last full day you follow the river into the Amazon basin. We fine tune the programme together with your family and according to the weather.
Across the páramo
on foot and on horsebackAfter a day in Quito, at 2,800 metres, we head into the mountains. You hike through the forest to the Condor Machay waterfall and the next day through cloud forest and páramo, the open grassland of the Andes, to an old hacienda at 3,500 metres. We go up gradually, so everyone has time to get used to the altitude. You only carry a day pack; the luggage travels by 4x4. On the fifth day you ride with the chagras, the herders of the Andes.
A night in the wilderness
a tent in the páramoOn the sixth day we head deeper into the wilderness of the Andes. We choose the right spot on the ground. Together we set up camp: the children help with the tents, fetch water and help cook. At night it is quiet and cold, sometimes below freezing, and under a clear sky you see more stars than at home. The next day a lodge with comfort and an easy walk are waiting.
Crater lakes and waterfalls
and a day in the jungleAfter the Saturday market in Zumbahua you hike through the Toachi canyon to the village of Chugchilán, and the next day around the crater lake of Quilotoa, at 3,800 metres. Then you go higher into the páramo, where vicuñas graze, with a hike on the flanks of a volcano and a soak in hot springs. In Baños you follow the waterfalls of the Pastaza down to the Pailón del Diablo, and whoever dares crosses the canyon on a zipline. On the last full day you follow the Pastaza into the Amazon basin, for a hike in the rainforest.
What makes this
expedition unique?
On horseback with the chagras
A day riding with the herders of the Andes, across the open páramo.
A night in the páramo
Setting up camp together and sleeping in a tent, in the wilderness of the Andes.
The Quilotoa crater lake
Hiking along the rim of a crater lake at 3,800 metres.
A day in the jungle
Along the Pastaza into the Amazon basin, for a hike in the rainforest.
In Ecuador you drive from warm rainforest to above 3,500 metres in a few hours, and your body needs time to adjust. So we start low, walk calmly the first days and drink a lot, even when you are not thirsty. On the páramo it can be sunny by day and freezing at night. A hat and gloves always come along, even in July.Koen De LeeuwFounder and expedition leader, known from De Expeditie on PlayParacommando · Wilderness First Responder Meet Koen
De Expeditie
De Tijd
Humo
Play MediaHow we
work
Self-sufficient,
never alone
There is no fixed base camp: we move from hacienda to lodge, through the Andes and all the way to the jungle. You hike with a day pack, the luggage travels by 4x4, and the evenings are adventurous, but with comfort.
One night you sleep in a tent in the wilderness. Together with your children you learn to set up camp and cook outdoors, guided by experienced X Guides.
Safety and
guidance
Safety is our top priority. At least one X Guide from Element X always comes along. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
We build up the altitude gradually, check every day how everyone feels and adjust the programme where needed. We work with satellite communication, an evacuation plan and local support in Ecuador.
Before
you go
Beforehand you receive an online briefing and a packing list, and you pass on your medical details and dietary requirements. On site we start with introductions and a safety briefing.
Everything
at a glance
Every Basecamp Adventure is tailored to your family: the dates, the programme and the price. We arrange the flights together with you.
- Departure
- 10/07 to 23/07/2027 08/07 to 21/07/2028
- Tailor made
- Other dates are possible too, fully tailored to your family.
- Duration
- 14 days, 13 nights, in July
- Level
- Explore2/5Basecamp Adventure, for families
- Group
- One or more families
- Price
- On requestTailored to your family
Included
- At least one X Guide from Element X, together with local crew
- All overnight stays: haciendas and lodges with comfort, and one night in a tent in the wilderness
- All meals during the expedition
- Local transport by 4x4, including your luggage
- Camping gear and sleep setup for the night in the wilderness
- All local tips
- All activities
Not included
- Flights to Quito
- Transport to and from the airport in Belgium
- Personal clothing (top, bottom, shoes)
- Insurance (cancellation and assistance)
Frequently asked questions
See all questionsWhat is a Basecamp Adventure?
An adventure at Explore level, made for families. During the day you experience a real expedition together; the evenings are adventurous but come with comfort. Unlike our standard expeditions there is no long preparation programme: you receive a briefing and a packing list, and we tailor everything to your family.
From what age can children come along?
We look at that together in a conversation. You hike for a few hours every day at altitude, and together we choose the distances and the pace that suit your family.
When do you leave?
We plan two departures in July, when the schools are closed: 10 to 23 July 2027 and 8 to 21 July 2028, each fourteen days and thirteen nights. July falls in the dry season of the Andes. Other dates are possible too: we tailor it completely to your family.
Where do we sleep?
There is no fixed base camp. You sleep in Quito, in old haciendas and lodges in the mountains and in Baños. One night you sleep in a tent in the páramo, in the wilderness of the Andes; we choose the right spot on the ground. The evenings are always adventurous, but taken care of with comfort.
What about the altitude?
Quito lies at about 2,800 metres. The hikes go from 3,000 metres at the Condor Machay waterfall to 3,800 metres around the Quilotoa crater lake, and sometimes a little higher on the flanks of a volcano. We build up the altitude gradually and check every day how everyone feels. Headaches or shortness of breath can occur at altitude; discuss it with your GP beforehand as well.
How safe is it for children?
Safety is our top priority. At least one X Guide from Element X always comes along, with a Wilderness First Responder certificate. We build up the altitude gradually, choose hikes that suit your family and work with satellite communication and an evacuation plan.
How do we get to Ecuador?
You fly to Quito. From there all transport is arranged by 4x4, including your luggage: you only hike with a day pack. We arrange the flights together with you.
What is the weather like in Ecuador in July?
July falls in the dry season of the Andes. In the sun the days are pleasant, but high in the páramo it can be windy and the nights are cold, sometimes below freezing. In Baños and in the jungle it is warmer and more humid. You receive a packing list with layers.
What does the Ecuador Basecamp Adventure cost?
The price depends on the number of participants and your wishes. After a first conversation you receive a tailored proposal for your family, with all activities included.
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