Biking Dutchman company logo Biking Dutchman Ecuador MTB Tours

Small groups, unforgettable overnights

Two-Day Mountain Bike Tours

Four overnight rides that pair Ecuador's greatest descents with cozy inns, crater lakes and hot springs. Around 50 km of biking per day — with the jeep always there if you want more or less.

Tour 1

Cotopaxi – Quilotoa

ModerateAltitudes: 4,500–2,800 m

Day 1: Similar to the one-day Cotopaxi tour, then a drive westwards over the widest páramo stretch of the country to our night's retreat — a cozy inn on the rim of the active volcano Quilotoa.

Day 2: An early hike down to the deep jade-coloured crater lake, then cycle towards Zumbahua and bike along the "Grand Canyon" of Ecuador — an amazing downhill ride to Pujilí. Altitudes: 4,500–2,800 m (15,000–9,300 ft).

Cyclists above the jade crater lake of Quilotoa volcano, Ecuador
The jade crater lake of Quilotoa
Llamas on the high páramo slopes of Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain
Vicuñas and llamas, the only inhabitants up here
Tour 2

Cotopaxi – Chimborazo

ModerateAltitudes: 5,000–2,800 m

Day 1: Similar to the one-day Cotopaxi tour, then a drive south on the Pan-American Highway to overnight on the slopes of Chimborazo.

Day 2: Drive to Chimborazo (6,310 m), the highest mountain in Ecuador. Arriving at the first refuge, we ascend on foot to the second refuge at 5,000 m, then set off on an amazing bike ride through páramo landscape where vicuñas are the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches. Altitudes: 5,000–2,800 m (16,700–9,400 ft).

Tour 3

Otavalo

ModerateAltitudes: 3,500–2,300 m

Day 1: Drive to Otavalo, famous throughout South America for its Indian market. After stocking up on goodies we start our bike journey around Lake San Pablo, arriving at the sacred Peguche waterfalls for a packed lunch. In the afternoon we drive to the impressive volcanic Cuicocha Lake, stop at Cotacachi — famous for its leather goods — and enjoy a long bike ride through quaint villages back to Otavalo. Overnight in hotel. A perfect opportunity to get used to your bike. Altitudes: 3,500–2,600 m (11,700–8,700 ft).

Day 2: A downhill bike ride to Ibarra, the provincial capital with its colonial atmosphere and railroad line, and a visit to the wood-carving market in San Antonio. We drive up the eastern slope of Imbabura volcano for a stunning ride to the indigenous town of San Pablo del Lago, then return to Quito by jeep. Altitudes: 3,500–2,300 m (11,700–7,700 ft).

Bikers riding along Lake San Pablo beneath Imbabura volcano, Ecuador
Riding around Lake San Pablo
Mountain biker on a rainforest road near Baeza on the Amazon slope of the Andes
Rainforest roads east of the Andes
Tour 4

Papallacta – San Rafael Waterfalls

ModerateHot springs included

Day 1: Ascend by jeep to the high pass "Paso de la Virgen" at 4,200 m (13,300 ft). From here the descent begins by mountain bike — all the way down to the small town of Baeza, with lunch in the wilderness. The afternoon ride takes us through tropical rainforest to the San Rafael Falls, the highest waterfall in Ecuador, and we end the day with an amazing trek to the falls. Back in Baeza a fortifying dinner is served while you relax to the sounds of the rainforest. Overnight in hotel (L, D).

Day 2: After breakfast we depart by mountain bike for a three-hour ride, then store the bikes on the jeep's roof and drive back up to the Papallacta hot springs for a soothing swim in the natural thermal pools and lunch. We drive over the Papallacta pass at 4,200 m and remount our iron horses for the two-thousand-metre "whiz" downward to the Tumbaco valley — views of Antisana volcano will bedazzle you! Jeep to Quito (B, L).

Practical Information

Tour price includes

  • Meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
  • Accommodation on overnight stops
  • 21-speed mountain bikes
  • All transportation, including the 4x4 support jeep
  • Veteran bilingual guides

Good to know

  • Not included: national-park entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi US$ 10 p/p, San Rafael US$ 5 p/p), swimming pools and contributions to indigenous hosts.
  • Departure time: 07h00 in the morning.
  • Distance: approximately 50 km per day on the bike (5–6 hours) plus about 4 hours in the jeep — you can always choose to bike more!
  • Departure days: every day, with two or more clients.
We had an excellent bike trip. We did the San Rafael overnight trip. Had great downhills, a little uphill work too. Beautiful scenery, excellent host and driver. And food, muy rico.
Tom Brief San Rafael overnight tour

Overnight in the Andes

Two days, one unforgettable night — crater rims, 5,000 m volcanoes or rainforest waterfalls. Which one will you ride?

Reserve your two-day tour See the 5-day trip