Multi-Day Trips from Quito
Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Ecuador has declared an internal armed conflict against criminal gangs, and rolling states of emergency apply in several provinces. Pichincha, which includes Quito, is under one until mid-November 2026. Quito had a night curfew in May 2026, and curfews can return at short notice. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces and the strip along the Colombian border; Quito lies outside those areas. Street crime and express kidnappings are real risks, so use registered taxis or ride apps, especially at night and for El Panecillo. Read the FCDO advice for Ecuador and check travel.state.gov before you book.
Quito works well as a hub for trips of two to five days. The routes below start by bus or flight from the capital. Spend two or three days in Quito first, because the highlands sit at 3,000 m and higher. Ecuador’s authorities have issued a red alert for the 2026-27 El Niño season, so check road conditions for landslides before any journey by road. The currency is the US dollar, and rural areas have few cash machines, so bring small notes.
The Quilotoa Loop
The Quilotoa Loop links Andean villages and a crater lake over three or four days. Take a bus from Terminal Quitumbe to Latacunga, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and costs a few dollars, then local buses to Sigchos, Isinlivi or Chugchilán. Walkers usually go village to village, typically Sigchos to Isinlivi, then to Chugchilán, then to Quilotoa, through steep canyon country. Ask your lodge for current distances and trail conditions, since they vary with rain. Laguna Quilotoa is a green-blue caldera lake with the rim at about 3,900 m. A community entry fee of about $2 is reported. There are no cash machines on the route, so bring cash from Latacunga or Quito. Weather turns quickly at this altitude, so carry a waterproof layer and warm clothes.
Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños
The Pan-American Highway south of Quito runs between a line of volcanoes that Alexander von Humboldt surveyed in 1802. A two or three day trip can start with a day in Cotopaxi National Park, followed by an onward run through Ambato to Baños de Agua Santa at about 1,820 m. Baños is a gateway to the Amazon and is known for its waterfalls, hot springs and canyon activities. The Ruta de las Cascadas to Pailón del Diablo charges about $2 at the entrance, and Volcán Tungurahua has been quiet since 2016. Check the volcano bulletin from the Instituto Geofísico before visiting Cotopaxi, and read the Cotopaxi refuge details on the day trips page .
Galápagos from Quito
The islands are reached only by air, from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal. Foreign adults pay a park entry fee of $200 at the island airports, and children under 12 pay $100. A Transit Control Card of $20 is bought at the counter before check-in. You also need a return flight, proof of accommodation and health insurance, and most sites require an authorised naturalist guide. Visitors may stay at most 60 days a year. Cruise prices vary widely, so expect to pay from about $2,000. If your flight connects through Guayaquil, stay airside, as the UK FCDO advises.
Amazon lodges
Rainforest stays use lodges reached by flights from Quito. Yasuní lodges are served via Coca and cost far more than Cuyabeno packages, which run roughly $300 to $400 for four days. Cuyabeno is usually reached through Lago Agrio, and Lago Agrio lies inside the border strip where the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel. If you consider that route, read the current advice first, travel by day with a reputable operator and avoid night buses. Wildlife is never guaranteed, whatever the brochure says.
Where to stay around the trips
Plan a night in Quito before and after any long loop, so you are not rushing for a flight or bus. A search such as Quito places to stay lists rooms near the bus terminals and the airport transfer routes.
Read more: Quito day trips , Quito adventure tours and the 6 day Quito itinerary .