Ecuador Ultimate Ecuador

Fly into Quito (7 days) and ease into life in Ecuador. Visit Mitad del Mundo one day and hike Volcán Pichincha another. Take a bus just north to Mindo (7 days), where ecotourism and outdoor adventures abound. Visit the surrounding protected forests: first head to Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, the next day wander over to the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, the following day visit Reserva Maquipucuna, and the day after that go over to Reserva Los Cedros. Spend a day or more at any one. Make sure to save at least one day to explore the Cochasquí Archaeological Park, including its 15 truncated pyramids. Then relocate to Otavalo (3 days), a town with great markets that is also a good base for exploring the surrounding area. One day, visit Lagunas de Mojandas and Fuya Fuya. Another, explore Las Cascadas de Peguche. Then head to Cotacachi (4 days), the leatherwork capital of Ecuador that will also serve as a good base from which to hike Volcán Cotacachi. Next, head to the Intag Cloud Forest and walk on clouds. Next on the list must be Ibarra (3 days), which may be used as a base from which to hike Volcán Imbabura, to take many other daytrips, or for a pleasant visit before heading southward again. Before stressing the body too much more, soak in the hot spring baths in Papallacta (2 days). Then move on to Baeza, leave your luggage, and daytrip to the San Rafael Falls. Return to the Andes to Machachi and Aloasí (4 days)— either town is a good base to hike Volcán Rumiñahui and to visit Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, where serious hikers will find Volcán Cotopaxi pleasantly challenging. Then, why not bag The Ilinizas? Spend less than a week traveling around the northern half of the Latacunga Loop (5 days), beginning at Chugchilán (2 days); then hike over to Isinliví (1 day), ending at Saquisilí (1 days), for its Saturday market. Ambato (2 days) is the best next stop before going wild in Baños (7 days), where every night hot-spring baths will rejuvenate weary bodies. Just a daytrip away is Río Verde (1 day), a town with over 20 waterfalls. Travel over to Riobamba (4 days), a good starting point for climbing at least part of Volcán Chimborazo. Continue on to Cuenca (4 days), and then to Loja (2 days), on the way to Vilcabamba (2 days), where locals believe they drink from a fountain of youth. Drive northward to Guayaquil (4 days), the largest city in Ecuador. Then fly to the Galápagos (7 days) for a cruise around the archipelago. Fly back and go straight to Montañita (5 days), surfers’ heaven. Travel up the coast a little way to Hostería and Pueblo Ecológico Alandaluz (4 days). From here, beach hop up the coast to Bahía de Caráquez (3 days), Canoa (2 days), and Mompiche (2 days), ending at Atacames (3 days) for some hardy partying before heading home.