Ecuador Best Travel Itinerary
Ecuador’s compact size and excellent infrastructure means you can pack in many sights and experiences in a week’s holiday, from the Amazon to Galapagos and snow-capped mountains.
Our travel expert’s travel guide includes top tips and four outline itineraries to help you plan a fantastic trip of spectacular variety.
Introduction to the highlights
Ecuador has four distinct zones to visit – and you can mix and match them to your interest.
Most famous is Ecuador’s Valley of the Volcanoes, from the beautiful, snow-capped cone of Cotopaxi, the emerald waters of Quilotoa and the enormous Chimborazo, in areas of outstanding views and landscapes.
Among these zones exist a rich variety of cultures to experience, with colourful markets at Otavalo or Pujili, Inca ruins of Ingapirca and the dramatic Devil’s Nose train ride. Don’t forget colonial Cuenca or lush Baños, replete with cayons and waterfalls.
The Amazon and cloud forest are teeming with wildlife, with quality eco-lodges run by indigenous communities to protect these verdant areas; jaguar, monkeys, birds and more awaits.
Of course, you cannot mention Ecuador without thinking of the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands, with its pristine environment, tame and spectacular wildlife on land and in sea, plus amazing cruises and hotels.
The Pacific Coast offers gorgeous Pacific beaches, excellent for surfing, whale watching or just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine, married with excellent seafood and a relaxed vibe.
Get busy
In all these areas you may find yourself biking, rafting or zip-lining among areas of incredible beauty, or perhaps hiking through rugged terrains or simply enjoying a coffee or an ice cream in a plaza.
Ecuador has it all, and it’s waiting for you to explore.
Below are some example itineraries to get you started – note that public buses in Ecuador do not always stick to schedules and so you may need to consider a guided tour to make the logistics fit in.
Mainland highlights
Day 1 Quito City Tour and Equator Monument
Day 2 Indigenous Market Pujili – Quilotoa Crater Lake Hike
Day 3 Cotapaxi National Park – Rose Plantation visit
Day 4 Cloud forest – Devils Cauldron waterfall – Chimborazo volcano visit
Day 5 Devil Nose Train ride – Ingapirca – Cuenca
Day 6 Cuenca City Tour – Panama hats
Day 7 Cajas National park – Guayaquil
Day 8 Ends
NOTES: The ‘see-it-all’ from Quito and then down the Valley of the Volcanoes, taking in as much as possible and ending on th coast. We offer this as part of our Ecuador Highlights package.
Mountains and Galapagos
Day 1 Quito City Tour and Equator Monument
Day 2 Indigenous Market Pujili – Quilotoa Crater Lake Hike
Day 3 Cotapaxi National Park – airport hotel
Day 4 Fly to Baltra (Galapagos), visit the Highlands and Charles Darwin Research Centre, hotel
Day 5 Bay tour, ferry to Isabela hotel
Day 6 Sierra Negra hike, afternoon Tintoreras
Day 7 Tuneles of Cabo Rosa, Wall of Tears and Breeding Centre
Day 8 Ferry to Santa Cruz and fly back to Ecuador
NOTES: All volcano, but a greater contrast you will not find – snow-capped vs those surrounded by sun, sea and amazing wildlife.
After seeing the highlands of mainland Ecuador, fly to Galapagos and explore TWO islands (can be kept to one), including the magnificent Isabela.
The hotel-based trip can easily be replaced by a 5-day cruise, too.
Amazon and the Mountains
Day 1 Transfer from Quito to visit equator line, Cusin to Peguche walk, hacienda
Day 2 Cuicocha crater lake walk, Cotacachi & Otavalo market, hacienda
Day 3 Papallacta lakes walk, Papallacta hot springs, lodge
Day 4 Cotopaxi National Park – Limpiopunga walk – airport hotel
Day 5 Fly to Amazon, 4-day lodge-based trip
Days 6-7 Explore Amazon, hikes, canoe trips
Day 8 Fly back to Quito early morning.
NOTES: I’ve included the north of Ecuador here with its beautiful volcanoes, lakes and markets, plus a soak in some volcanic hot waters. This can easily be interchanged with the Cotopaxi itinerary.
Amazon, which can be seen in 3 days, can easily be swapped for the lush cloud forest, such as Santa Lucia, which is better for those who wish to hike more.
Wildlife to the max
Day 1 Fly to Amazon, 4-day lodge-based trip
Days 2-3 Explore Amazon, hikes, canoe trips
Day 4 Fly back to Quito early morning, PM city tour
Day 5 Fly to Baltra (Galapagos), visit the Highlands and Charles Darwin Research Centre, hotel
Day 6 Day trip to Bartolome, hotel
Day 7 Day trip to Santa Fe, hotel
Day 8 Fly back to Ecaudor
NOTES: Starting in the Amazon where the wildlife is a little shy – this can also be a 3-day trip OR cloud forest, too.
Then finish off with the wildlife-fest that is Galapagos – again you can change this for a short cruise or perhaps head to San Cristobal and stay in hotels there.
