How many days do you need in Quito & Puerto Ayora?
- Most travelers spend 7-9 days in Quito and Puerto Ayora combined
- Visiting Quito and Puerto Ayora in 5 or 6 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 10 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Isla San Cristóbal and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
How Many Days to Spend In Ecuador
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Recommended Itineraries for Quito & Puerto Ayora
Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Free Day | Quito |
| Day 2 | Visit Otavalo Market, Cooking Class | Quito |
| Day 3 | Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park | Quito |
| Day 4 | Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument | Quito |
| Day 5 | Fly to the Galápagos, Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz, Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 6 | Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay, Afternoon Bay Tour of Isla Santa Cruz | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 7 | Experience the Pristine Beauty of the Galápagos Islands | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 8 | Leisure Day, Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart Ecuador |
Explore Ecuador's diverse beauty during this eight-day adventure from mountains to islands. Start among the Andes in Quito, where you'll learn about its traditional food and colonial Old Town. Head into nature to hike in Cotopaxi National Park and see its active volcano, then hop over to the Galápagos Islands. Get up close to the giant tortoises on Isla Santa Cruz, spot rare marine life as you kayak along Tortuga Bay, and then spend some downtime swimming, snorkeling, or just lazing on the beach. Read more
Extended Itineraries
1-Week Itinerary Including Isla San Cristóbal
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Free Day | Quito |
| Day 2 | Fly to the Galápagos, Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz, Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 3 | Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 4 | Discover an Uninhabited Island | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 5 | Speedboat to San Cristobal Island, Visit an Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 6 | Embrace Nature: Discovering Wildlife on Española Island | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 7 | Fly to Quito, Depart Ecuador |
This week-long itinerary in the Galápagos is filled with wildlife and outdoor activities, like hiking around an island populated by blue-footed boobies and diving beneath the surface of the ocean to swim with sea lions and pufferfish. You'll explore Isla Santa Cruz and Isla San Cristóbal, as well as a pair of uninhabited islands, enjoying boat tours, a snorkeling excursion, and guided nature hikes along the way. Read more
10-Day Itinerary Including Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Free Time | Quito |
| Day 2 | Tour of Historic Quito, Panecillo Hill & Middle of the World | Quito |
| Day 3 | Transfer to the Cuyabeno Reserve, Canoe to Jungle Lodge | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve |
| Day 4 | Wildlife in the Amazon: Sloths, Dolphins & More | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve |
| Day 5 | Meet an Indigenous Community, Visit Laguna Grande & Igapó | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve |
| Day 6 | Return to Quito | Quito |
| Day 7 | Fly to the Galápagos, Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz, Visit the Charles Darwin Station | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 8 | Explore Isla Santa Cruz, Kayaking in Tortuga Bay | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island | Puerto Ayora |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart Ecuador |
Ecuador is one of the world's hotspots for ecological diversity, so it makes sense to spend this 10-day trip exploring nature as much as possible. Start in Quito to see the UNESCO heritage city center, then head to the rainforest for three days at an ecolodge, where you'll spot macaws, pink river dolphins, and howler monkeys. Round out your trip with a flight to the Galápagos, where giant tortoises, white-sand beaches, and uninhabited islands await. Read more
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