How many days do you need in Quito, Otavalo & Cotopaxi?
- Most travelers spend 6-7 days in Quito, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi combined
- Visiting Quito, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi in 4 or 5 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 8 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
How Many Days to Spend In Ecuador
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Recommended Itineraries for Quito, Otavalo & Cotopaxi
Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Explore at Your Own Pace | Quito |
| Day 2 | Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class, Visit the Middle of the World Monument | Quito |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Otavalo, Visit the Otavalo Market | Otavalo |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Quito, Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest | Quito |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Cotopaxi, Explore Cotopaxi National Park on Horseback | Cotopaxi |
| Day 6 | Visit Quilotoa Lagoon, Transfer to Quito, Depart |
Offering a mix of culture, nature, and adventure, this six-day journey around Ecuador takes you from the busy streets of Quito to the snowcapped peaks of Cotopaxi National Park. Stand on the line of the equator and learn to cook Ecuadorian dishes, then venture into the Mindo Cloud Forest for a memorable hike. Spend the last full day of the trip on a horseback excursion around the volcanoes and lagoons. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Free Day | Quito |
| Day 2 | Explore the Quito Historic Center, Panecillo Hill & Middle of the World | Quito |
| Day 3 | Mindo Cloud Forest, Transfer to Otavalo | Otavalo |
| Day 4 | Cuicocha Lagoon Hike, Visit Otavalo Market | Quito |
| Day 5 | Hike, Horseback & Hacienda Adventure in Cotopaxi National Park | Cotopaxi |
| Day 6 | Visit Zumbahua Market, Quilotoa Lagoon Hike, Transfer to Quito | Quito |
| Day 7 | Sightseeing, Depart Quito |
Use Ecuador's capital as your base for this adventure-packed, weeklong trip. Explore Quito's colonial past and visit the equator line before you head to the lush Mindo Cloud Forest to see its incredible diversity of wildlife and browse local markets for handmade art and handicrafts. No trip to Ecuador would be complete without a visit to one of the country's volcanoes, and you'll get to hike two: Quilotoa and Cotopaxi. Read more
How to travel between Quito, Otavalo & Cotopaxi
From Quito, the volcano-crested Cotopaxi National Park makes a spectacular day trip or weekend trip, with the park highlight being the picture-perfect peak of Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador's second-highest peak. With hiking and biking trails, a visitor center, two volcanoes, and plenty of recreation facilities amid gorgeous Andean scenery, Cotopaxi is understandably popular. It's also easy to access from Quito via a number of means, including private transfer, bus, or train. Read more
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