Ecuador Highlights: Andes, Amazon & Galapagos
A two-week journey connecting Quito, Cotopaxi, Baños, the Yasuní rainforest, and two islands in the Galapagos.
The ultimate itinerary for travelers who want to experience the highlands, the rainforest, and the archipelago all in one trip. Quito serves as the central hub, requiring an overnight stay between each leg of the journey. The first part features volcanoes and waterfalls, the middle section is spent at a rainforest lodge, and the final part explores Santa Cruz and Isabela islands on land. With multiple domestic flights involved, it is essential to leave buffers for potential delays. This route skips Cuenca, Quilotoa, and San Cristóbal, making it ideal for first-time visitors with a generous vacation window.
Flooding occurred in Santa Cruz in early November 2026; confirm Galapagos flight status before departure.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Quito Old Town
Quito（Historic Center of Quito、Plaza Grande & Metropolitan Cathedral、Church of the Society of Jesus (La Compañía)）
Travel from the airport to the Old Town (~1 hour). Spend the afternoon walking around the plazas and churches. Take a taxi at night.
Quito is at an altitude of about 2,850 meters. Eat light and drink plenty of water on your first day.
Stay: Quito Old Town
Day 2 · Telefériqo & Equator Line
Quito（TelefériQo、Ciudad Mitad del Mundo、Intiñan Solar Museum）
Take a taxi to the Telefériqo cable car station in the morning (~20 minutes), then head north to the Equator Line in the afternoon (~1 hour).
Stay: Quito Old Town
Day 3 · Cotopaxi to Baños
Quito（Cotopaxi National Park） → Baños de Agua Santa（Baños Town Center）
Drive from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park (~2 hours), and head south to Baños after your visit (~2.5 hours).
Stay: Town Center
Day 4 · Full Day on the Route of the Waterfalls
Baños de Agua Santa（Ruta de las Cascadas、Manto de la Novia、Pailón del Diablo）
Rent a bicycle or charter a car to travel 18 km east to the Pailón del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) waterfall, returning to town in the evening.
Stay: Town Center
Day 5 · Swing Viewpoint & Return to Quito
Baños de Agua Santa（Casa del Árbol (Swing at the End of the World)） → Quito（La Ronda）
Go up the mountain in the morning (~40 minutes). Take a chartered car or bus back to Quito in the afternoon (~3.5–4 hours).
Since your flight tomorrow is in the morning, pack light and leave your main luggage behind before heading to the rainforest.
Stay: Quito Old Town
Day 6 · Fly to Coca & Enter the Rainforest
Yasuní National Park (Coca)（Napo River）
Fly from Quito to Coca (~35 minutes), travel downstream by motorized boat (~2.5 hours), and transfer to a paddle canoe.
Stay: Añangu Lodges
Day 7 · Clay Licks & Kichwa Community
Yasuní National Park (Coca)（Añangu Parrot Clay Licks、Añangu Kichwa Community）
Take a boat to the clay licks in the early morning (~1.5 hours), visit the community at midday, and return to the lodge in the afternoon.
Stay: Añangu Lodges
Day 8 · Canopy Tower & Night Walk
Yasuní National Park (Coca)（Napo Wildlife Center Canopy Tower、Yasuní National Park）
Walk up the canopy tower in the early morning, paddle a canoe in the afternoon, and join a guided night walk.
Stay: Añangu Lodges
Day 9 · Exit the Rainforest & Fly to Quito
Quito（El Panecillo & Virgin of Quito）
Travel by boat back to Coca in the early morning (~3 hours), and fly back to Quito in the afternoon (~35 minutes).
You must spend this night in Quito to avoid missing your flight to the Galapagos tomorrow.
Stay: Quito Old Town
Day 10 · Fly to Santa Cruz Island
Galápagos Islands (Santa Cruz)（Charles Darwin Research Station）
Fly from Quito to Baltra (~2.5–3 hours). Cross the canal and take a bus/taxi to Puerto Ayora (~1 hour).
The flight only makes a brief stop in Guayaquil; do not exit the airport.
Stay: Puerto Ayora Waterfront
Day 11 · Highland Tortoises & Tortuga Bay
Galápagos Islands (Santa Cruz)（El Chato Tortoise Reserve、Tortuga Bay）
Charter a car to the highlands in the morning (~30 minutes), and walk to Tortuga Bay in the afternoon (~45 minutes).
Highland roads were restricted after the floods; confirm accessibility beforehand.
Stay: Puerto Ayora Waterfront
Day 12 · Speedboat to Isabela Island
Isabela Island, Galápagos（Poza de los Flamencos、Concha de Perla）
Take an early morning speedboat to Puerto Villamil (~2–2.5 hours). Walk around the lagoons in the afternoon.
Stay: Puerto Villamil Beachfront
Day 13 · Islet Shark Watching & Beach Time
Isabela Island, Galápagos（Las Tintoreras、Puerto Villamil Beach）
Join a group tour to the nearby islets in the morning (~3 hours). Walk or relax in the afternoon, staying close to town.
Stay: Puerto Villamil Beachfront
Day 14 · Speedboat & Flight Back to Quito
Galápagos Islands (Santa Cruz)（Las Grietas）
Take an early morning speedboat back to Puerto Ayora (~2 hours), drive to Baltra, and fly back to Quito.
If time is tight, skip Las Grietas and prioritize catching your flight.