ECUADOR    8 Days


This itinerary visits Old Town Quito, the Middle of the World Monument, Otavalo Market, Cotacachi, the Napa River valley — a tributary to the Amazon River, the Devil’s Cauldron and Cotopaxi National Park.

Ecuador straddles the equator on South America’s west coast. Its diverse landscape encompasses the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands. In the Andean foothills at an elevation of 2,850m(9300 ft.), Quito the capital, is known for its largely intact Spanish colonial center.

 
 

Tips:

Planning Resources: <Ecuador Travel> <Quito Tourism>

Ecuador Travel Guide: Lonely Planet Ecuador and Moon’s Ecuador.

Sign up for great travel stories and ideas on National Geographic online !

Tour Operators: Gulliver Travel, Metropolitan Touring, Adventure Life Ecuador Tours,

(Galapagos Travel and Surtrek - also offer tours to the Galapagos Islands)

A tour operator is suggested. They will manage the various components of your excursion, such as your accommodation, local transportation, specific tours and guides. They provide a competitive price.

Best time to visit: during the dry season from June - September.

Travel Adapters: Type A and B, the same as in USA and Canada.

 
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DAY 1 

  • Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. We recommend your hotel location be near Old Town.

  • <Itinerary Route>

  • If time permits, stroll around Old Town before dinner.

    • In recent years there has been a increase in petty crime in Quito’s tourist areas.

  • Quito 2,850 m. (9,350 ft) elevation sits at the foothills of the Andes mountains. Altitude sickness symptoms are usually seen over 10,000 feet. However, there are some individuals who can experience altitude sickness at 8,000-9,000 ft. elevation.

 

  • Tips to reduce altitude sickness:

    • Symptoms usually begin within a few hours of arriving at a new elevation. Some people compare the symptoms to those of a hangover. Headaches, fatigue, and nausea are all common when experiencing altitude sickness. 

    • Your body usually adjusts to a new altitude within 24-36 hours, so avoid any strenuous activity on your first day or two. Even very active people are susceptible to altitude sickness, especially during physical activity.

    • Drinking more water than usual is also very important and will help reduce or prevent symptoms.

    • You need at least 4 liters of water every day on a high altitude trek. 

    • We recommend you also avoid salty foods, caffeine, and alcohol. 

    • Drinking alcohol at high altitudes often causes a magnified effect.

    • A medication called Diamox is used by some. What does it do ?

      Diamox is a diuretic and “Side effects” for short term use are basically non existent.

      In summary, this medicine helps you acclimate faster by increasing your breathing rate.

      So for most treks that gain altitude too quickly, people taking a preventive course of Diamox helps. Especially if your trek climbs above 13,000-14,000 ft.

    • Diet also plays a important role. It’s important to eat well at high altitude, but not eat too much.

    • It is suggested NOT to have a diet that’s very high on protein. High protein is harder for your body to break down. A low-salt, wholesome meal may be more beneficial.

    • It is believed that carbohydrate diets can improve energy balance. Eat a high carbohydrate diet before and during the acclimation periods. This can include pastas, breads, fruits, and potato based meals.

  • Altitude sickness can occur anywhere above 8,000 feet (2,500 meters), and several South American countries have regions at high elevation where travelers are at risk. Besides Ecuador, here are the main ones:

    🇵🇪 Peru

    • Cusco (3,399 m / 11,152 ft) – Very common for tourists to feel symptoms here.

    • Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu – Slightly lower but still high enough for AMS.

    • Arequipa (2,335 m / 7,660 ft) – Milder risk.

    • Lake Titicaca / Puno (3,800 m / 12,500 ft) – High risk area.

    🇧🇴 Bolivia

    • La Paz (3,640 m / 11,942 ft) – One of the highest capital cities in the world.

    • Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) – Elevation varies but often near or above 3,600 m.

    • Potosí (over 4,000 m / 13,100 ft) – One of the highest cities on Earth.

    🇨🇱 Chile

    • San Pedro de Atacama (2,400 m / 7,900 ft) – Entry point for high-altitude tours.

    • El Tatio Geysers (~4,300 m / 14,100 ft) – Day trips can cause sudden symptoms.

    • Altiplano and Andes regions – Many parts rise well above 4,000 m.

    🇦🇷 Argentina

    • Salta & Jujuy provinces – High desert regions and mountain passes above 3,000 m.

    • Paso de Jama, Abra del Acay – Known for extreme altitude.

    • Aconcagua – Highest peak in the Americas (6,961 m / 22,838 ft); for mountaineers.

    🇨🇴 Colombia

    Generally lower altitude risk overall, but:

    • Bogotá (2,640 m / 8,660 ft) – Mild symptoms possible in sensitive travelers.

 
 
Quito, capitol of Ecuador

Quito, capital of Ecuador

DAY 2

  • Discover the sights of “ Quito “

    • Quito is known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles.

    • Walk the cobblestone streets and visit :

      • Independence Plaza - also known has Plaza Grande, is the heart of historic Quito and a favorite spot for people watching.

      • Cathedral - is the largest neo-Gothic church in South America.

      • La Compania de Jesus Church - a 17th-century Jesuit church, a few blocks away from Plaza Grande, known for its gold-covered interior. Regarded as the finest church in Quito.

      • Archbishop’s Palace - a 16th century building and the scene of important decisions for public and political life in Ecuador.

      • The Presidential Palace - also known as Carondelet Palace. This is where Ecuador’s president lives and works.

        • The changing of the guards takes place at the palace every Monday at 11 am. The ceremony started at the beginning of the 19th century. Today, the soldiers still wear the same bright blue uniform as they did 200 years ago.

  • Visit the Middle of the World Monument (Equator) before continuing to Otavalo.

    • See where the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

  • Overnight: Otavalo

  • Recommended: Schaji Eco Lodge & Hotel - the hotel is 15 km from the famous Otavalo Indian market and 96 km (60 miles) from Quito.

  • Distance: 

    Quito ---> Otavalo, 2 hrs.

DAY 3 

  • Visit the lively Otavalo Market, one of the largest in South America.

    • Traditional goods such as rugs, cloths, jewelry, leather jackets and much more are sold.

    • On Saturday mornings when the market is at its best and busiest, crowds swarm into the surrounding streets.

  • Next stop is Cotacachi, 10 km north of Otavalo, where excellent leather products are made and sold.

    • It is known as the “Leather capital” of Ecuador. On the main street, Calle 10 de Agusto, there are 100 leather shops.

  • Continue to Papallacta where you can relax at the Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort located in the Andes Mountains. (Elevation, 3170m = 10,400 feet). The weather is usually cool and rainy.

    • The resort sits at the base of lush mountains high in the Andes. There are dozens of pools and hot tubs, with water of varying temperatures. Unlike most natural hot pools, there is little to no sulfur smell around the pools or the resort!

  • Overnight: Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort.

  • Distance: 

    Otavalo ---> Papallacta Spa Resort, 2.5 hrs.

 

DAY 4 

DAY 5  

  • Full day of activities in the Napo River area. The Lodge arranges all your activities.

    • The Napo River region is a lush, biodiverse area located in the Amazon Basin. The river passes through tropical rainforest rich in wildlife and indigenous culture.

  • You have the opportunity to hike thru rain forest and photograph tropical plants, flora and fauna only seen in this part of the world. 

  • Hiking through the jungle and rafting on a balsa log raft.

  • Visit a Butterfly farm. Ecuador is the butterfly capital of the world. 

  • Overnight: LaCasa del Suzio Lodge.

 

 

DAY 6

  • Depart the Napa River region.

  • Today visit one of Ecuador's most powerful and beautiful waterfalls.

  • Another popular activity is canopy, only 15 minutes outside of Banos.

    • A thrilling Zip lining through the gorge is unforgettable.

  • Continue to Banos, a little town with the Tungurahua Volcano nearby.  Time permitting, stroll through Banos, then continue to Cotopaxi Park.

  • Overnight: Cotopaxi area.

  • Distance:

    LaCasa del Suzio ---> Banos, 3 hrs.

    Banos ---> Cotopaxi area, 2.5 hrs.

 

 

  • Pailon del Diablo:

    • Translated into English, Pailon del Diablo means "Devil's Cauldron." A towering waterfall in Ecuador's jungle tumbles down a cliff into a pool, with a series of stone steps that can put you right up close to this violent-but-beautiful scene.

    • The Pailon del Diablo stairway is well-built, but the stone steps are always a little bit slippery from mist the waterfall emits. The top of the stairway is very intimidating because of an optical illusion: The steps are perpetually in the shade, so they often appear to blend together. This makes it seem like you are actually about to go down a rock slide instead of a stairway. <video>

DAY 7

  • If time permits, visit the El Boliche Rose Plantation located nearby in Lasso. Ecuador is one of the world's major producers.

  • Overnight: Quito

  • Distance: 

    Cotopaxi ---> Quito. 2.5 hrs.

 

DAY 8 

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  • 1.Do I need a visa to travel to Ecuador?
    —For stays up to 90 days, you do NOT need a visa to visit Ecuador, however you do need a Passport with at least 6 months validity.

    2. Is tipping customary ?
    —Generally, tipping is not an expectation in Ecuador, however the influence of US culture in many of the nicer restaurants and service industries has made it more common, and a service charge of 10-18 percent might be included in your bill. Otherwise tipping is still appreciated, especially for exemplary service.

    3. What is internet access like in Ecuador ?
    —While Ecuador's modern cities like Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil have very reliable high speed/ wireless internet, once you head into the more remote areas that most of our tours visit, especially in the Andes, Amazon, and Galapagos, you will probably not find accessible internet. 

    4. Can I use my cell phone while in Ecuador ?
    —If you have an unlocked smartphone, you will be able to purchase a pre-paid SIM card from one of the main service providers like Claro, or Movistar, but in many parts of the country you will be well out of range of the towers and you won't get signal anyway.

    5. Do I need power adapters ?
    —Ecuador has the SAME 110v power system as North America, so an adapter/ converter is not necessary.

    6. Can I drink the water in Ecuador?
    —The tap water in Ecuador is not safe to drink, we recommend bottled water, available everywhere.


    7. Are credit cards accepted in Ecuador ? Will I be able to find ATMs ?
    —While credit cards are widely accepted at bigger businesses and restaurants in Ecuador, you'll need to have cash if you plan on purchasing anything from an artisan, street vendor, or smaller business. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.

    —ATM’s are found in every town.

You can search your hotel at booking.com

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Average Cost:

(EXCLUDING AIRFARE)

$$$ USD per person

Budget: $1,300

Moderate: $1,800

Luxury: $2,600 +

 
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🌤️ Climate Guide:

 

Ecuador Gallery

 
 
source:  wikipedia.org, ecuadortravelsite.org
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