Longer Journeys from Quito by Road and Air
Advisory, correct as of October 2026: Ecuador is in a declared internal armed conflict with criminal gangs, and states of emergency move from province to province. Pichincha, the province around Quito, is covered by one until mid-November 2026, and a night curfew applied in Quito in May 2026, so curfews can come back quickly. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces and the Colombian border strip, and Quito sits outside them. Expect police checkpoints, watch for pickpockets and express kidnapping, and move by ride app or registered taxi, especially after dark and for any trip to El Panecillo. Read the FCDO advice and the US State Department advisory before you book.
Choosing by time
Two nights buys the volcano corridor south of the city. Three or four days suit the Quilotoa Loop on foot. A Galápagos trip needs four to eight days and a flight. The Amazon needs a flight plus a lodge. Whatever you choose, spend your first two nights in Quito at about 2,850 m before heading higher, and keep a spare night in the city at the end so a delayed bus or landslide does not cost you a flight. Ecuador has a red alert for the 2026 to 2027 El Niño season, so mountain roads can close with little warning.
Quilotoa Loop, three to four days
The loop links small Andean villages with a canyon trail and ends at Laguna Quilotoa, a green-blue crater lake with a rim near 3,900 m. From Terminal Quitumbe, buses run to Latacunga in about 1.5 to 2 hours for a few dollars, then local buses reach Sigchos, Isinlivi or Chugchilán. Walking stages usually run Sigchos to Isinlivi, Isinlivi to Chugchilán, and Chugchilán to Quilotoa. Distances and times vary by source, so ask your hosts the day before. A community entry fee of about $2 is reported at the lake. There are no ATMs along the way, so bring cash in small bills, and confirm any community hostel by message before you set out.
Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños
Heading south on the Pan-American Highway you pass Cotopaxi and, later, Tungurahua, which has been quiet since 2016. Many travellers split the route into a Cotopaxi night, then continue via Ambato to Baños de Agua Santa at about 1,820 m. Baños has waterfalls along the Ruta de las Cascadas, with Pailón del Diablo reported at about $2 entry, plus zip-lines and hot springs. Check the road and the volcano alert before you drive, and do not climb to the Ribas refuge, near 4,800 m, until you have spent several days at altitude.
Galápagos from Quito
The islands are reached only by flight, from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal. Foreign adults pay a national park fee of US$200, and US$100 for children under 12, collected at the island airports. A US$20 Transit Control Card is bought at the counter before check-in. You also need a return flight, proof of lodging and the required health insurance, and most sites require an authorised naturalist guide. Cruises vary widely, from about US$2,000 and up. If you route through Guayaquil, stay airside in the terminal, as the FCDO advises. Rules change, so confirm them through the Galápagos authorities before booking.
The Amazon, with a warning
Lodge trips in the Yasuní area fly from Quito to Coca, and the best lodges are far pricier than the Cuyabeno area, with one well-known lodge reported at about $2,000 for four nights. Cuyabeno trips fly to Lago Agrio, which lies inside the area the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to, along the Colombian border. Travel only by day, avoid night buses, use a reputable guide, and read the current advice before you consider it. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Where to sleep in Quito
Compare central hotels for the nights bracketing a trip through a Quito stays search .
Read more: Quito day trips , Quito adventure sports and the 7 day Quito itinerary .