10 days in Ecuador Itinerary
Many tend to skip Ecuador whilst traveling through the continent, and we think this can end up being a really big regret.
The perfect gateway between Colombia and Peru, here you’ll visit beautiful cities such as Cuenca and Quito, chill Pacific beach towns as well as impressive jungle landscapes.
Given Ecuador is quite small, you won’t need as much time when traveling here. Although 10 days is still pretty fast, it’s definitely doable if you plan it in advance.
10 Days in Ecuador itinerary
In this guide we’ll explore our customized 10 day itinerary through Ecuador, where you will see the very best highlights of this awesome South American nation.
Quito (Days 1-3)
This easiest way into Ecuador, we’ll first arrive in the high altitude capital of Quito.
Given it’s located up at 2850m (and you may be flying in from much lower altitudes), it’s ideal to use your first day just in the city and not doing anything too strenuous whilst you adjust to the higher altitudes.
This includes visiting gems such as the San Francisco Catholic Church, Independence Square as well as taking the TelefériQo Gondola up to Pichincha Volcano for some stunning city panoramas.
On your second day we recommend heading to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo – which is a small town that lies close to the true Equator line.
Here you can get some awesome pictures, and also even try out some of the alleged experiments that work given the balance of the magnetic poles (you’ll need to Google these and give it a go!).
On your final day we’ll explore Cotopaxi Volcano, which stands at a towering 5897m and is a must when in Ecuador. We suggest heading on this all-inclusive day trip which includes all transport as well as a visit to the stunning Quilotoa Lagoon.
🏁 Quito Itinerary:
- Stop #1: The Historic Center
- Stop #2: TelefériQo
- Stop #3: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
- Stop #4: Cotopaxi Volcano
Baños (Days 4-5)
On our fourth day we can wake up early and take the 4 hour bus heading south to Baños. This town is located within the high Amazon Jungle basin, and thus welcomes us with a pleasant, warmer climate.
We recommend staying at the Selina Hostel, which has a great atmosphere, deals on tours as well as both dorm and private rooms.
On your first day you can jump straight into the action with this adventure tour (which actually leaves from Quito which is really helpful). Here you’ll head to the roaring waterfalls of the Pailón del Diablo, which have some impressive heights and surrounding jungle foliage.
You’ll also visit other destinations too such as the Manos de Dios, as well as the infamous Tree Swing where you’ll fly over the edge of a mountain! You can then depart the tour to stay in Baños after.
Your second day is free to use how you like, which is a good opportunity to rest up and also chill around the town center and also go souvenir-hunting in the market.
If you are desperate to visit the Amazon Jungle whilst in Ecuador, then you can visit the Puyo Jungle with this day tour where you can immerse yourself and see lots of exotic wildlife.
🏁 Baños Itinerary:
- Stop #1: Pailón del Diablo
- Stop #2: Manos del Dios
- Stop #3: Columpio Tree Swing
- Stop #4: Puyo Jungle
Cuenca (Days 6-7)
From Baños we will now head back up into the Andes, and this time to the photo-perfect city of Cuenca.
Known for its incredible architecture, in our opinion it’s one of the most beautiful cities for its architecture in all of South America! (along with Arequipa in Peru as well as Sucre in
Bolivia).
The Historic Center is the place to be, and whilst here we recommend walking around to visit the Best sites at your own pace. These include the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, Parque de Calderón, Las Casas Colgantes as well as the Puente Roto.
If you’re tired or want a break from organizing things at this point, then you can join this guided day tour where your bilingual guide will lead the way, also showing you some novel hidden sites too.
Those who love learning about ancient cultures will be in awe at the number of great museums here, with the Museo Pumapungo (along with its on-site ruins) being one of those must-visits.
During your time in Cuenca you can also go to the Cajas National Park, which is full of dramatic mountain passes, alpine lakes and some great hiking paths.
🏁 Cuenca Itinerary:
- Stop #1: The Historic Center
- Stop #2: Museo Pumapungo
- Stop #3: Cajas National Park
Montañita (Days 8-10)
On our final few days in Ecuador we’ll now head to the Pacific coast for some sun, sea and all-round good vibes. Montañita is the place to be for this, where you’ll first need to change buses in Guayaquil on your way there.
Hitting the beach is an obvious must whilst here, where we can finally relax from all the hiking we’ve done in the last week. Montañita is also a great place to go surfing, where you can rent boards on the beach for cheap (and also have private lessons organized there too).
We won’t lie in saying that the town center is super touristy – however this brings the comfort of lots of restaurants, including those for trying some really tasty fresh Ceviche.
During your time in Montañita you can also visit some of the other gems along the coast which have their own must-see destinations. One of these is Puerto Lopez, where you can head on a tour to the Isla de la Plata (which is home to Penguins, Turtles and all kinds of birds).
Another is Playa los Frailes, which is a picturesque white-sand beach that is a significant upgrade on the one in Montañita. Those after a memorable high-octane adventure can also sign-up for Paragliding here too.
🏁 Montañita Itinerary:
- Stop #1: Go Surfing
- Stop #2: Puerto Lopez
- Stop #3: Playa los Frailes
- Stop #4: Go Paragliding
Things to know before traveling to Ecuador
- Staying Safe – Ecuador tends to have a less-than-stellar reputation when it comes to safety in the bigger cities, and from our experience we can only agree.
- When in Quito (and Guayaquil if you’ll stay here), always leave valuables in your accommodation and be careful when heading out after dark. Places like Cuenca, Baños and Montañita are much safer where you can relax more.
- Prepare for all Climates – Although it’s smaller than most other South American countries, Ecuador can really surprise with its diversity of landscapes. Even on this 10 day itinerary alone we’ll visit freezing Andean peaks, the humid Amazon jungle as well as the hot Pacific Coast. This means you’ll need to pack a range of both thick and thin layers.
- Setting your Budget – Thankfully Ecuador uses US Dollars, which makes counting your budget much easier on a daily basis (and will be easier to work out the real value of what you’re paying for). For backpackers, we recommend budgeting around $20-25 a day in Ecuador (you’ll sleep in a dorm bed, eat local meals etc). Those who want an upgrade can budget for $30-40, where you will stay in private rooms and eat out at nicer restaurants. You can learn more in our guide on budgeting for Ecuador.
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Ecuador 10 Day Itinerary
Thanks for reading our 10 day Ecuador itinerary.
We highly recommend visiting this underrated country, even if you don’t have much time to play with.
You’ll find you can cover quite a lot in a short space of time (following our custom itinerary), where you can see everything from fiery volcanoes and beautiful cities, to swimming with turtles and going surfing along the Pacific Coast.
Now read our Ecuador Backpacking Itinerary for more ideas of what to add to your trip.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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