10 Days in Ecuador - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Mainland Ecuador for Families: Andes to the Amazon

This highlights itinerary offers a balance of history, culture, adventure, wildlife, and relaxation, so it's well-suited to families that enjoy variety and want to keep a steady pace during their trip. You'll learn to cook Ecuadorian food in Quito, take a horseback ride in Cotopaxi National Park, spot wildlife in the Amazon, and have two chances to soak in hot springs—in Baños and Papallacta.

Introduce your family to Ecuador's history and culture on a city tour of Quito that includes Plaza Grande. Then let your little chefs cook their hearts out in a culinary class with a local chef. Next, the kids can play cowboys on a horseback ride in Cotopaxi National Park. Continue to Laguna Quilotoa, a blue-green volcanic crater lake, for some hiking and kayaking before traveling to Baños, where you can relax in the hot springs or invite the kids to take a ride on the famous "Swing at the End of the World."

On Day 10, enjoy a scenic drive and family photos along the Ruta de las Cascadas (Waterfall Route) before taking a canoe ride to Itamandi EcoLodge, where you'll experience the Amazon. Your animal-loving kids will be thrilled to spot nocturnal wildlife on a guided night hike, see squirrel monkeys at Anaconda Island, and visit toucans, macaws, and more at AmaZOOnico Wildlife Sanctuary. Transfer to Termas de Papallacta for a relaxing family day at the hot springs, then share your favorite memories over one last Ecuadorian dinner before returning to Quito for departure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Easy Ecuador for Families: Quito & Surroundings

Using Quito as a home base, this relaxed-paced itinerary is suitable for families with children six years and older. There's plenty to experience in the capital city and surroundings—including an Ecuadorian cooking class, a bicycle tour of the city, hiking and bird-watching in Mindo Cloud Forest, and a horseback ride in Cotopaxi National Park. Art enthusiasts in the family will particularly enjoy visiting the Temple of the Sun Museum on the equatorial line and the woodcarving shops of San Antonio de Ibarra.

Start at Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World), where you can capture a photo of the kids standing in both hemispheres. Visit the Intiñan Museum next door and try fun activities like walking the equatorial line with your eyes closed. Artsy kids will enjoy seeing painter and sculptor Ortega Maila's work at the Temple of the Sun Museum. Experience the life of a chagra (Ecuadorian cowboy) on a horseback ride through the grasslands of Cotopaxi National Park, followed by lunch at a traditional hacienda. Take a guided walk through the historic center of Quito, then prepare dinner together in an Ecuadorian cooking class. 

If your kids love reptiles, they'll be delighted to visit Quito Vivarium, home to almost 40 species of amphibians and reptiles. Spend a day hiking and bird-watching in Mindo Cloud Forest, then trek the crater rim of Laguna Quilotoa before returning to Quito for a family bicycle tour. Ride the TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha volcano for views and family photos, then sample sweets at a local chocolatier. Spend your final day visiting the woodcarving shops of San Antonio de Ibarra, where the kids can see artisans at work and choose their own keepsakes before departure. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Ecuador's Pacific Coast for Families: Culture, Nature & Beaches

Families interested in beach and coastal activities, including snorkeling in Manta Bay and sailing to Isla de la Plata, will appreciate the opportunities to get out on—and in—the water on this Pacific coast itinerary. This is also an excellent option for families keen on seeing wildlife, from sea turtles at Playa San Lorenzo to howler monkeys at the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, whales in Manta Bay, and blue-footed boobies at Isla de la Plata. 

Get to know the colorful port city of Guayaquil on a guided city tour with views from La Torre Morisca and a stop at Seminario Park, where the kids can see the iconic iguanas. Continue to Manta with a beach break at Playa Ayampe en route. The animal enthusiasts in the family will be delighted to spot sea turtles at Playa San Lorenzo, visit howler monkeys and 200 species of birds at the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, and go snorkeling and whale watching in Manta Bay. Then it's on to Puerto López, a fishing village and gateway to Machalilla National Park.

Sail to Isla de la Plata and ignite young imaginations with the tale of Sir Francis Drake's buried treasure, then invite them to watch for the natural treasures here: sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Visit the fish market and let the kids choose some fresh catch (a local restaurant can cook it for you) before taking a boat to Isla Salango for snorkeling. Pack a picnic for a family beach day at Playa Los Frailes, where you can swim, snorkel, or relax on the sand, then visit Agua Blanca and encourage the kids to learn about Manteña culture from the local people before one last seafood dinner. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Family Adventure in Ecuador: Quito, Baños & the Galápagos Islands

Cover a lot of ground on this adventure as you and the family explore the cultural highlights of mainland Ecuador's capital and Baños and encounter wildlife in the Galápagos Islands. You'll tour the historic heart of Quito and cook Ecuadorian food, hike to Pailón del Diablo waterfalls, swim with sea lions at Isla Lobos, and go bird-watching near Los Gemelos. 

Immerse the kids in Quito's history on a guided tour that includes Plaza Grande, then invite your budding chefs to prepare Ecuadorian cuisine with a local expert-led cooking class. Impress kids of all ages with the 262-foot (80 m) Pailón del Diablo waterfall before snapping fun photos of them on the famous Swing at the End of the World in Baños. Meet alpacas at Laguna Quiloto, then let the kids choose a keepsake when you stop at local markets en route back to Quito. Fly to Isla San Cristóbal on Day 5 and start your Galápagos Islands adventure with a hike at Las Tijeretas.

Visit La Lobería beach, where the kids can observe sea lions and marine iguanas before setting sail to Isla Lobos to swim with sea lions. Take a speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz and check out baby tortoises at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, then enjoy a kayaking excursion at Tortuga Bay. Your little marine biologists will be thrilled to see whitetip reef sharks at Shark Channel and sea turtles at Canal del Amor. Take a hike near Los Gemelos, known as the "twin craters" and an excellent spot for young birders and geologists. Fit in some souvenir shopping in Puerto Ayora before departure. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Ecuador Family Wildlife Adventure: Amazon Rainforest & Galápagos Islands

See another side of Ecuador beyond Quito and the Galápagos Islands with this wildlife-forward itinerary that includes the Amazon, an excellent option for families visiting for the first time. With hikes and cultural activities in Yasuní National Park followed by snorkeling and wildlife encounters at Isla San Cristóbal and Isla Santa Cruz, it's well suited to outdoorsy families. Families with little ones will especially appreciate that most activities can be adjusted to a range of ages.

Take the TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha volcano for a view of Quito, then head for Plaza Foch to refuel with kid-friendly favorites like empanadas and llapingachos (fried potato pancakes) and Ecuadorian chocolate. Fly to El Coca the next day and transfer to Yasuní National Park, where you'll immerse the kids in Amazonian nature and culture with a hike through the rainforest, a kayak along the Río Napo, and a visit to a Kichwa community. Participate in a traditional wayusa ritual before returning to Quito to catch another flight to the Galápagos Islands. 

Give the kids a camera to capture wildlife on Isla San Cristóbal, such as frigatebirds at Las Tijeretas and sea lions and marine iguanas at La Lobería. Enjoy a family beach day at Playa Carola or Playa Mann, then observe the Nazca and red- and blue-footed boobies at Punta Pitt. Take a speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz on Day 7 and head to the highlands to observe giant tortoises in the wild. Next up, a hike on an uninhabited island will surely be a highlight for your little explorers. Cap off your trip with views and a family photo at Cerro Mesa Reserve, then go for one last swim, snorkel, or kayak adventure at Garrapatero Beach. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Ecuador Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Ecuador? Check out these other 10-day Ecuador itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.