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What to book before you travel to Ecuador?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length
WeekendOne weekTwo weeks

6 activities to book · about €200 per person

Quito

Days 1-2
Days 1-2Colonial old town, guidedHalf dayChurches, cloisters and plazas in one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, with someone to read the gold-leaf interiors for you.€15Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 1-2TelefériQo and Mitad del MundoHalf dayA cable car up the slopes of Pichincha to almost 4,000 metres, then the equator monument north of the city.€20Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Plaza de la Independencia · La Ronda street · The Basílica del Voto Nacional (from outside) · The craft market

All activities in Quito on GetYourGuide

Baños

Days 3-4
Days 3-4The waterfall road by bikeHalf dayA mostly downhill ride from Baños along the Pastaza gorge, past a string of waterfalls to the Pailón del Diablo.€15Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 3-4The swing at the end of the world (Casa del Árbol)2hA swing hung from a tree house on the ridge above Baños, facing Tungurahua on a clear day.€5Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Pailón del Diablo waterfall · The hot springs · The view of Tungurahua volcano · The hiking trails

All activities in Baños on GetYourGuide

Galápagos (Santa Cruz)

Days 5-7
Days 5-7Day cruise to Bartolomé or the PlazasFull dayA 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.€120Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 5-7Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoisesHalf dayThe research station and its tortoise breeding programme, and the chance to see giant tortoises up close.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Tortuga Bay beach · The sea lions · The marine iguanas · Snorkelling with sea lions

All activities in Galápagos (Santa Cruz) on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Ecuador cost?

€200 per person if you do them all, across 6 bookings. The most expensive is "Day cruise to Bartolomé or the Plazas" at €120, the cheapest "The swing at the end of the world (Casa del Árbol)" at €5. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Ecuador without booking anything?

12 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with Plaza de la Independencia, La Ronda street, The Basílica del Voto Nacional (from outside), The craft market. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Quito, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 2h for the shortest to Full day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Ecuador guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Ecuador, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→