Motorcycle trip

Ecuador

The long version, with 9 days of riding and about 1,100 miles: the crater lake of Quilotoa at 12,795 feet, the cheese-making village of Salinas de Guaranda, the Amazon around Macas, the colonial city of Cuenca and the Inca road of the Qhapaq Ñan, then down to the Pacific at Puerto López for a rest day, the Ruta del Spondylus along the coast to Canoa, and the cloud forest of Mindo before Quito. Departures in May, June and October. From $4,690.

Both tours ride mostly on winding paved mountain roads, with a few short dirt sections, at a pace that leaves time for markets, villages and viewpoints. You need a motorcycle license and regular riding practice. Altitude is part of the ride: Quito sits at 9,350 feet and some passes climb much higher, so take it easy the first day.

Both tours start and end in Quito, which has nonstop flights from several US cities, including Miami, Houston and Atlanta. Ecuador does not change its clocks: it is on East Coast time in winter and Central time in summer. The currency is the US dollar, and US citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days.

For another short tour close to home, discover our Colombia motorcycle tours, and all our South America motorcycle tours.