Ecuador itinerary, day by day

From colonial Quito to the waterfalls of Baños, then out to the giant tortoises of the Galápagos and back through Guayaquil: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 3 stops☀️ Best time: June to September

Quito · Photo Cayambe / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Ecuador in 3 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · ≈ 180 km

1Quito

Days 1-2

A capital at 2,850 metres, ringed by volcanoes. Its colonial centre was among the first places UNESCO listed, in 1978, and the equator runs just north of the city.

🎟️ Worth booking

Colonial old town, guidedHalf day · from €15
Churches, cloisters and plazas in one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, with someone to read the gold-leaf interiors for you.
Book on GetYourGuide →
TelefériQo and Mitad del MundoHalf day · from €20
A cable car up the slopes of Pichincha to almost 4,000 metres, then the equator monument north of the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Plaza de la Independencia · La Ronda street · The Basílica del Voto Nacional (from outside) · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Community Hostel (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Gangotena (€180 a night) · Luxury: Casa Gangotena · Suite (€300 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Restaurante Tabla Bella Bar & kitchen ↗ ★ 4.9 · 465 reviews
X LO ALTO RESTAURANTE ↗ ★ 4.9 · 444 reviews
Somos Ecuador Restaurante ↗ ★ 4.8 · 2805 reviews
De La Llama ↗ ★ 4.8 · 1488 reviews · €€
Café San Blas ↗ ★ 4.8 · 478 reviews · €

Photo Tommy Picone / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h30 · 180 km

2Baños

Day 3

A small spa town at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano, and the adventure base of the Andes: waterfalls, hot springs, canyons and the famous swing over the valley.

🎟️ Worth booking

The waterfall road by bikeHalf day · from €15
A mostly downhill ride from Baños along the Pastaza gorge, past a string of waterfalls to the Pailón del Diablo.
Book on GetYourGuide →
The swing at the end of the world (Casa del Árbol)2h · from €5
A swing hung from a tree house on the ridge above Baños, facing Tungurahua on a clear day.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Pailón del Diablo waterfall · The hot springs · The view of Tungurahua volcano · The hiking trails

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostal Chimenea (€18 a night) · Mid-range: Luna Volcán (€90 a night) · Luxury: Samari Spa Resort (€150 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Ofrenda del Inca ↗ ★ 5 · 184 reviews
Epa la arepa ↗ ★ 4.9 · 371 reviews
Ricca Vita di Verdi ↗ ★ 4.9 · 124 reviews
Paraíso Gastro Bar & mirador ↗ ★ 4.9 · 115 reviews
Arepas To Go ↗ ★ 4.8 · 785 reviews · €

Photo K / Pexels

Ecuador in 7 days

3 stops · 18 things to do · bus & flight

1Quito

Days 1-2

A capital at 2,850 metres, ringed by volcanoes. Its colonial centre was among the first places UNESCO listed, in 1978, and the equator runs just north of the city.

🎟️ Worth booking

Colonial old town, guidedHalf day · from €15
Churches, cloisters and plazas in one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, with someone to read the gold-leaf interiors for you.
Book on GetYourGuide →
TelefériQo and Mitad del MundoHalf day · from €20
A cable car up the slopes of Pichincha to almost 4,000 metres, then the equator monument north of the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Plaza de la Independencia · La Ronda street · The Basílica del Voto Nacional (from outside) · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Community Hostel (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Gangotena (€180 a night) · Luxury: Casa Gangotena · Suite (€300 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Tommy Picone / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h30 · 180 km

2Baños

Days 3-4

A small spa town at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano, and the adventure base of the Andes: waterfalls, hot springs, canyons and the famous swing over the valley.

🎟️ Worth booking

The waterfall road by bikeHalf day · from €15
A mostly downhill ride from Baños along the Pastaza gorge, past a string of waterfalls to the Pailón del Diablo.
Book on GetYourGuide →
The swing at the end of the world (Casa del Árbol)2h · from €5
A swing hung from a tree house on the ridge above Baños, facing Tungurahua on a clear day.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Pailón del Diablo waterfall · The hot springs · The view of Tungurahua volcano · The hiking trails

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostal Chimenea (€18 a night) · Mid-range: Luna Volcán (€90 a night) · Luxury: Samari Spa Resort (€150 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo K / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 2h · to the islands

3Galápagos (Santa Cruz)

Days 5-7

The archipelago that helped Darwin think through evolution, with giant tortoises, marine iguanas and sea lions that barely notice people. Santa Cruz is the central island and the easiest base for day boats.

🎟️ Worth booking

Day cruise to Bartolomé or the PlazasFull day · from €120
A boat day to a smaller island: the volcanic summit and Pinnacle Rock of Bartolomé, or the land iguanas and sea lion colony of South Plaza.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoisesHalf day · from €25
The research station and its tortoise breeding programme, and the chance to see giant tortoises up close.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Tortuga Bay beach · The sea lions · The marine iguanas · Snorkelling with sea lions

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Galápagos Native (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Silberstein (€170 a night) · Luxury: Royal Palm Galápagos (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Nazca Esencia Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.9 · 379 reviews
OY ↗ ★ 4.9 · 321 reviews
AYORA Resto Wine ↗ ★ 4.9 · 156 reviews
Agave Studio ↗ ★ 4.8 · 277 reviews
Pinchos del Gato Mera ↗ ★ 4.8 · 204 reviews · €€

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

Ecuador in 14 days

5 stops · 30 things to do · bus & flight

1Quito

Days 1-3

A capital at 2,850 metres, ringed by volcanoes. Its colonial centre was among the first places UNESCO listed, in 1978, and the equator runs just north of the city.

🎟️ Worth booking

Colonial old town, guidedHalf day · from €15
Churches, cloisters and plazas in one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, with someone to read the gold-leaf interiors for you.
Book on GetYourGuide →
TelefériQo and Mitad del MundoHalf day · from €20
A cable car up the slopes of Pichincha to almost 4,000 metres, then the equator monument north of the city.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Plaza de la Independencia · La Ronda street · The Basílica del Voto Nacional (from outside) · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Community Hostel (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Gangotena (€180 a night) · Luxury: Casa Gangotena · Suite (€300 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Tommy Picone / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 3h30 · 180 km

2Baños

Days 4-6

A small spa town at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano, and the adventure base of the Andes: waterfalls, hot springs, canyons and the famous swing over the valley.

🎟️ Worth booking

The waterfall road by bikeHalf day · from €15
A mostly downhill ride from Baños along the Pastaza gorge, past a string of waterfalls to the Pailón del Diablo.
Book on GetYourGuide →
The swing at the end of the world (Casa del Árbol)2h · from €5
A swing hung from a tree house on the ridge above Baños, facing Tungurahua on a clear day.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Pailón del Diablo waterfall · The hot springs · The view of Tungurahua volcano · The hiking trails

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostal Chimenea (€18 a night) · Mid-range: Luna Volcán (€90 a night) · Luxury: Samari Spa Resort (€150 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo K / Pexels

🚌 Bus · 7h · 420 km

3Guayaquil

Days 7-8

Ecuador's largest city and main Pacific port, on the Guayas river. The Malecón 2000 riverside walk leads to the painted houses of Las Peñas, climbing Cerro Santa Ana.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malecón 2000 and Las Peñas, guidedHalf day · from €12
The riverside promenade, then the oldest quarter of the city, climbing the hill in steps and colour.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Iguana Park and the cathedral2h · from €5
Seminario Park, where land iguanas wander between the benches, and the cathedral across the street.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The painted steps of Cerro Santa Ana · The Guayas riverside · The market · Las Peñas quarter

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Dreamkapture Hostel (€18 a night) · Mid-range: Wyndham Guayaquil (€90 a night) · Luxury: Hotel del Parque (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Central 593 - Estación Central ↗ ★ 4.6 · 2233 reviews · €€
Marrecife ↗ ★ 4.6 · 2063 reviews · €€
Lo Nuestro Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.6 · 1719 reviews · €€
Casa Julián ↗ ★ 4.6 · 1488 reviews · €€€
Mercado del Río ↗ ★ 4.6 · 1401 reviews · €€

Photo Alejandro Robles Duque / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 1h30 · to the islands

4Galápagos (Santa Cruz)

Days 9-13

🎟️ Worth booking

Day cruise to Bartolomé or the PlazasFull day · from €120
A boat day to a smaller island: the volcanic summit and Pinnacle Rock of Bartolomé, or the land iguanas and sea lion colony of South Plaza.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoisesHalf day · from €25
The research station and its tortoise breeding programme, and the chance to see giant tortoises up close.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Tortuga Bay beach · The sea lions · The marine iguanas · Snorkelling with sea lions

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Galápagos Native (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Silberstein (€170 a night) · Luxury: Royal Palm Galápagos (€450 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Diego F. Parra / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 1h30 · return

5Guayaquil

Day 14 · return

Ecuador's largest city and main Pacific port, on the Guayas river. The Malecón 2000 riverside walk leads to the painted houses of Las Peñas, climbing Cerro Santa Ana.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malecón 2000 and Las Peñas, guidedHalf day · from €12
The riverside promenade, then the oldest quarter of the city, climbing the hill in steps and colour.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Iguana Park and the cathedral2h · from €5
Seminario Park, where land iguanas wander between the benches, and the cathedral across the street.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The painted steps of Cerro Santa Ana · The Guayas riverside · The market · Las Peñas quarter

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Dreamkapture Hostel (€18 a night) · Mid-range: Wyndham Guayaquil (€90 a night) · Luxury: Hotel del Parque (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Alejandro Robles Duque / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Take this itinerary with you

The free printable Ecuador guide: map, stops day by day, hotels by budget. Works offline.

📥 Get the free guide

Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Ceviche: Ecuador's version is usually prawns in a citrus and tomato juice, served with popcorn or plantain crisps on the side.
Encebollado: a fish soup of tuna, cassava and pickled onion, eaten in the morning and said to cure a hangover.
Llapingachos: fried potato and cheese patties, often with a fried egg and peanut sauce.
Hornado: whole roast pork carved at Andean market stalls.
Chocolate and fruit: fine cacao grown in the country, and juices from fruits you may not have seen before.

⚠️ What to avoid

Quito sits at 2,850 metres: take the first day slowly, drink water and go easy on alcohol.
Drink bottled water and favour food that is cooked and served hot.
Galápagos park rules are strict: keep your distance from animals, never feed them, and visit park sites only with a licensed guide.
Take official taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than hailing cars in the street, especially at night.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Ecuador guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Ecuador, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

Similar itineraries

Argentina itinerary→Chile itinerary→Canada itinerary→Bolivia itinerary→Norway itinerary→New Zealand itinerary→