Two-Week Ecuador Itinerary: Highlights, Tips & What I’d Do Differently

This two-week Ecuador itinerary kicked off my eight weeks of backpacking in South America. Quito is where I started my backward “J” trek through the continent.

After loads of research and conversations with people who had explored this region, I decided to give myself time to explore while keeping my two-week Ecuador itinerary a little “looser.” The only thing I had booked was my first three nights in Quito.

As someone who would identify as relatively Type A, this was a trés new approach to travel for me. In the end, I’m so glad I left myself open to everything I experienced in Ecuador (minus the food poisoning, it would have been lovely to have omitted that from the trip).

3 Nights in Quito

I had always planned for two days in Quito, but because my flight landed around 8:00 PM that first night, it was more of a throwaway evening, so I ended up booking three nights in advance. 

Here’s how I kicked off my two-week Ecuador itinerary:

Noteworthy Stays, Sights & Activities:

• I stayed at The Secret Garden Hostel in Quito. I’m 100% not a party gal, but this passed the vibe check. They had filtered water fountains throughout, kept to “quiet” hours, were centrally (enough) located, cleaned regularly, and offered solid amenities to guests (free walking tours, breakfast options (paid), excursions (paid)). 
• The free walking tour offered by my hostel was the perfect kickoff to my start in the city. I would highly recommend taking advantage of those types of free offerings, as you likely will have a local guide showing you the routes to some areas you want to go back and visit on your own. They also provide loads of relevant history and insights into the culture of the area. Additionally, these are a great way to meet new people that you can hang out with later.
• The Museo Camilo Egas was a really interesting stop on the walking tour that I would recommend for a quick visit. It’s located in a historic house and is free to visit – though you should leave a donation – and features art by Camilo Egas. You will learn a lot about the different traditions and tribes all around the country through the paintings. Take note of the floor as you walk in… if you think those look like bones, you’d be right. 
• Old Quito was my favorite part of the city. You could see the history within the architecture (and do a lot of people-watching) while strolling about to the various shops and restaurants. Independence Square and Plaza de San Francisco were two highlights of the area. 
• Take a morning and grab a cab up to the Columpio del Teleférico. You’ll buy a ticket for the cable car and ride up to a vast overlook of the city and the surrounding landscape. There are a variety of paths and varying viewpoints to take in, as well as some hiking trails if you’re up for it. The paths are slightly eroded in parts, so bring good walking shoes.

2 Nights in Cotopaxi

These few nights, sans any cell service for all, vie for first place across my entire South American journey. This was also validation to me for keeping an open schedule, as this was an entirely unplanned stop in my two-week Ecuador itinerary.

I found out about this excursion through word of mouth at the hostel in Quito!

Noteworthy Stays, Sights & Activities:

• Working through my hostel in Quito, they did excursions out to their sister location, The Secret Garden Hostel Cotopaxi. I did the two nights, but you could stay for longer if desired. The food was honestly the best I had in Ecuador (and most of South America), the location was gorgeous, and the price included your bed, food (including afternoon snacks!), a few excursions, plus, depending on where you were going, transport to your next destination. There was no cell service or wifi for anyone, which was great since it forced everyone to connect. As a game lover, we played a ton of cards and board games in addition to having peaceful moments around the site (lots of chairs, hammocks, etc.). Most importantly, there were LLAMAS! They provided banana peels for you to feed them with, too. 
• We went on a waterfall hike, which was cool looking, but to be honest, it was a lot harder than I expected. You do have to walk across the river, which my torn-up knees did not appreciate – and descend/climb steep “steps” (as well as use a rope to scale sideways on a rock wall to get to the second fall). Though I am glad I did it, I definitely don’t need to repeat it.
• I loved the hike up to the base camp of the Cotopaxi Volcano. Even though the altitude is a killer and you basically work hard to put one foot in front of the other. Once you get to the top, you can warm up with a hot chocolate at the base camp and sign your name on your designated country flag. The way down is faster (assuming you take the sandy direct shot down) and offers a really pretty view. Now you can say you hiked an active volcano! One of my favorite parts of this two-week Ecuador itinerary!

2 Nights in Latacunga

A lot of people do the Quilotoa Loop hike, which takes days, and you hike to different stays each night. Yeah, I didn’t do that as part of my two-week Ecuador itinerary – though it does sound cool.

Quilotoa Lake is a beautiful caldera with stunning water. You can hike around the rim and even go down to the lagoon for a boat ride. 

Noteworthy Stays, Sights & Activities:

• I stayed in Latacunga for these few nights on my two-week Ecuador itinerary, since it was the closest option I could find to the lake with a decent night’s stay. It has a much more authentic, local vibe to it compared to my experience in Quito. 
• Quilotoa Lake, though slightly clouded when I saw it, was a beauty. It gave me Crater Lake vibes (for anyone who’s been to Oregon). There are a few paths leading up to overlooks of the lagoon, as well as a path down, though you do have to pay to go down. I followed the trail a little way around the lake. It’s quite eroded, so be careful. Captured some beautiful shots of not only the lake but the vegetation and the town surrounding it.

4 Nights in Baños

From Latacunga, I grabbed the bus to Baños for stop four in my two-week Ecuador itinerary. Getting that ticket felt like an adventure in and of itself. It was a couple of hours’ ride to the bus terminal right in town, and then I walked the few blocks toward my hostel. 

Noteworthy Stays, Sights & Activities:

• Though nothing noteworthy, I stayed at Hostal Princesa Maria during my time in Baños. The family who runs it was really kind and helpful, and the location was accessible to a lot of activities and bus lines.
• I used GeoTours for an afternoon of ziplining, and it was so fun. I won’t lie to you, my legs did feel like jello for some parts, and there were a couple of climbs up to a few starting lines. Overall, a really fun excursion (and really cheap).
• La Casa Del Arbol offers a pretty vista of Banos and an easy morning activity. I’m not going to sit here and pimp it out as remarkable, but it was a good time, and I love a swing plus a garden. All the flowers were a dream. They also have a random zip line – that looks like something your engineer uncle would build – that was a fun hit before heading out.
• The Cascada El Pailon (del Diablo) was a force of a waterfall to see up close. Be sure to wear your waterproof/resistant clothing before heading off, as the spray is far-reaching. You do have to work your way down (and up) to the falls from where the bus drops you, but it’s an easy hike, just a little muddy.

1 Night in Quito

I pounded basically all the bowel-seizing meds I had on me and grabbed the bus back to Quito. It’s a few hours and virtually no stops, so prepare yourself ahead of time for no bathroom or food breaks. From there, I grabbed a cab to my hostel for a night before catching my flight to Peru the next morning! The end of my two-week Ecuador itinerary.

Overall, Ecuador was an adventure and a good starting point for my trip. For backpacking, if I could go back, I would have spent a little less time in this country and opted for more in Peru and Argentina, but alas, all was grand.