RoutesSouth America
Three Weeks in Ecuador and the Galapagos
Andean markets and crater lakes, then a land-based week in the Galapagos.
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Dotted path is schematic (great-circle-ish arcs between stops), not a transport route.
Stop by stop
Click a stop (or its pin on the map) for costs, country facts and what to do there.
1Quito ECWalk the colonial centre and ride the TeleferiQo up Pichincha.3 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Quito or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
bus to Otavalo · about 2.5 hours
2Otavalo ECBrowse the Saturday market and walk around the Cuicocha crater lake.2 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Otavalo or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
bus via Quito to Latacunga, then bus to Quilotoa · about 6.0 hours
3Quilotoa ECWalk the crater rim and hike between villages on the Quilotoa loop.2 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Quilotoa or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
bus to Latacunga, then bus to Banos · about 4.5 hours
4Banos ECSoak in the thermal baths, cycle the waterfall route and visit the Casa del Arbol swing.3 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Banos or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
bus via Riobamba to Cuenca · about 8.0 hours
5Cuenca ECExplore the colonial centre and day-trip to Cajas National Park.3 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Cuenca or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
bus to Guayaquil, then flight to Baltra and transfer to Puerto Ayora · about 9.0 hours
6Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz ECSee the Darwin Station, highland tortoises and Tortuga Bay, with a day boat tour.3 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
public speedboat to Isabela · about 2.5 hours
7Puerto Villamil, Isabela ECHike to the Sierra Negra caldera and snorkel the lava tunnels.3 nights
We do not hold a full destination profile for Puerto Villamil, Isabela or its country yet, so there are no cost, climate or visa figures for this stop; the route notes describe what it involves.
Quito and the northern highlands
Quito's colonial centre is one of the best preserved in Latin America, and the TeleferiQo cable car climbs the slopes of Pichincha for views over the city. At around 2,850 m, the capital is also where the body begins adjusting to altitude. A bus north reaches Otavalo, whose market is largest on Saturdays, with textiles, produce and crafts from the surrounding Kichwa communities, and nearby walks circle the Cuicocha crater lake.
Quilotoa, Banos and Cuenca
Heading south, the Quilotoa loop links small Andean villages around a turquoise crater lake, and many walkers spend a day or two hiking between village hostels along the canyon. Banos sits in a green valley beneath Tungurahua volcano and is known for thermal baths, the cliff-edge swing at the Casa del Arbol and the cycle route down past waterfalls toward the Amazon basin. A long bus ride ends in Cuenca, a calm colonial city of churches and riverside walks, with Cajas National Park an hour away.
The Galapagos, land based
From Guayaquil, flights reach Baltra for Santa Cruz island, where Puerto Ayora has the Charles Darwin Research Station, giant tortoises in the highlands and the beach at Tortuga Bay. Speedboats run on to Isabela, the largest island, where Puerto Villamil offers lava tunnels, flamingo lagoons and the hike to the Sierra Negra caldera. Island-hopping by public boat and day tour gives a lower-cost alternative to a liveaboard cruise, though it reaches fewer of the outer islands. Strict park rules govern where visitors may walk and how close they may approach wildlife.
Practical notes
Visas: Most Western passports enter Ecuador visa-free for tourism; the Galapagos also requires a transit control card and a national park entrance fee paid on arrival, which rose sharply in 2024, so check the official park site for the current amount. Transport: Buses throughout the Andes, a flight from Guayaquil to Baltra, and public speedboats between Santa Cruz and Isabela that can be rough. Weather: June to September is the drier season in the highlands; in the Galapagos, December to May brings warmer water and calmer seas, while June to November is cooler with richer marine life. Budget: Ecuador uses the US dollar; the mid figure assumes private rooms on the mainland, mid-range hotels in the islands, the Galapagos flight and fees, and several day tours. Safety: Crime has risen in parts of Ecuador, especially Guayaquil and some coastal provinces, so current official advisories are essential reading; the highland towns and the Galapagos are generally calmer.