Ecuador Beaches, Amazon & Highlands — Self-Launched

Land at Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO). A registered taxi to the Centro Histórico or La Mariscal should cost $8–10 (£6–8) and takes 35–45 minutes. Settle into a hostel, acclimatise to the 2,850m altitude (take it easy on day one), and take an evening stroll through the illuminated Plaza Grande. Sort a local SIM (Claro or Movistar, ~£8 for data) and pick up a Tipti or Cabify app for rides.

🚌Airport taxi ~£8

🛏Hostel in Centro Histórico or La Mariscal (dorm or private twin, £12–18/night)

• →Airport transfer by taxi
• →Plaza Grande and Calle La Ronda evening walk

Fly Quito to Manta early morning (Latam/Avianca, ~£50–70 one way booked a few weeks ahead; alternatively a 7–8hr bus from Quito's Terminal Quitumbe, ~£10). Manta is Ecuador's tuna capital — visit the Cancebi museum (Museo Cancebi, ~£2) for a primer on local fishing heritage, then take a local bus or taxi (20 min) to Montecristi to see woven toquilla 'Panama' hats being made in the workshops. Eat ceviche at the Mercado Central for ~£3.

🚌Flight ~£60; local buses/taxis ~£4

🛏Budget hotel or hostel near Manta's Barbasquillo/Tarqui (£14–20/night)

• →Internal flight Quito–Manta
• →Museo Cancebi
• →Montecristi hat workshops
• →Ceviche at Mercado Central

Take a local bus or shared taxi south along the Ruta del Spondylus to Puerto López (~2.5–3 hrs, £4–6). En route, hop off at Agua Blanca, a community-run archaeological site inside Machalilla National Park: entry ~£4, a short self-guided or local-guide hike to the sulphur mud lagoon for a mud bath, plus a small museum. Taxi from the highway turn-off, or arrange a mototaxi from Puerto López (~£3). Lunch at the community comedor ~£4. Arrive Puerto López in the afternoon and walk the malecón.

🚌Bus/shared taxi ~£5; local taxis ~£4

🛏Beach hostel or guesthouse in Puerto López (£10–16/night)

• →Agua Blanca community & mud bath
• →Machalilla National Park entry
• →Sunset on Puerto López malecón

Book a full-day boat trip to Isla de la Plata directly at the Puerto López tour kiosks or with a local operator the day before (~£30–35 including boat, guide, snorkel gear, entrance fee and usually lunch). Two hiking circuits on the island: blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and albatrosses (seasonal), then snorkelling off the reef. Boats leave ~8am and return ~4pm. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, cash for the park fee, and seasickness tablets if prone.

🚌Included in boat tour

🛏Beach hostel or guesthouse in Puerto López (£10–16/night)

• →Isla de la Plata boat trip
• →Wildlife hike (blue-footed boobies)
• →Snorkelling

Free day. Take a local bus or shared pickup north to Playa Los Frailes (~£2, free entry) — one of Ecuador's prettiest white-sand bays with a short self-guided trail. Alternatively hike in Machalilla National Park with a local guide (~£12), or join a whale-watching boat between June and September (~£30). Back in town, dinner of fresh fish and patacones for ~£6.

🚌Local bus/pickup ~£3

🛏Beach hostel or guesthouse in Puerto López (£10–16/night)

• →Playa Los Frailes
• →Optional Machalilla NP hike
• →Optional seasonal whale watching

Bus to Guayaquil (3.5–4 hrs, ~£5 with Rutas del Pacífico or Cooperativa Jipijapa) and fly back to Quito from José Joaquín de Olmedo airport (~£35–50, or a cheaper 8hr overnight bus ~£12 if you prefer). Afternoon free: ride the Teleférico up Pichincha for city views (~£7), or just recover in a café in La Mariscal. Optional group-style night out on Calle La Ronda or Plaza Foch.

🚌Bus ~£5; flight ~£45

🛏Hostel in Quito (£12–18/night)

• →Bus Puerto López–Guayaquil
• →Flight Guayaquil–Quito
• →Optional Teleférico

Explore Quito's UNESCO old town on foot: Basílica del Voto Nacional (~£2 to climb the towers), Compañía de Jesús church, San Francisco plaza, and the Mercado San Francisco for a cheap almuerzo (~£3). In the afternoon take a local bus (~£1) to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument (~£3 entry) or the smaller, quirkier Intiñan museum. Book your bus to Baños for tomorrow morning at Terminal Quitumbe.

🚌Local buses ~£3

🛏Hostel in Quito (£12–18/night)

• →Centro Histórico walking day
• →Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb
• →Mitad del Mundo / Intiñan equator museum

Bus from Quito to Baños via Ambato (~3.5–4 hrs, ~£6). Check into a hostel near the centre and soak in the Termas de la Virgen or the more scenic El Refugio pools (~£4). Rent a mountain bike (~£8/day) or take a local bus to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall (~£2 entry) along the Ruta de las Cascadas. Evening at a rooftop café overlooking the volcano Tungurahua.

🚌Bus ~£6; local bus ~£2

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Baños (£9–15/night)

• →Bus Quito–Baños
• →Pailón del Diablo waterfall
• →Hot springs soak

Pick your own adrenaline: canyoning (~£25), whitewater rafting on the Pastaza (~£28), ziplining (~£20), horseback riding (~£22), or the iconic Casa del Árbol swing at the end of the world (~£2 entry, taxi ~£5). Hiking the trails above town is free. All activities can be booked directly with operators on Ambato or Montalvo street the evening before — no need for a middleman. Finish with a cheap almuerzo and a batido.

🚌Taxis and local transport ~£4

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Baños (£9–15/night)

• →Canyoning or rafting
• →Casa del Árbol swing
• →Zipline or horseback riding
• →Free hiking trails

Local buses Baños–Puyo–Tena (~4–5 hrs, ~£6). In Tena, arrange a two-night stay in a Quichua community homestay/cabaña — operators like Rios Ecuador or the community-run Cabinas in the neighbouring villages (e.g. Shandia, Ahuano) can be booked online or on arrival (~£20–25/night including meals). Afternoon nature walk with a community guide to spot birds and learn about medicinal plants. Simple shared cabaña accommodation with basic cold-water bathrooms — bring a torch.

🚌Local buses ~£6

🛏Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (£20–25/night)

• →Bus into the Amazon
• →Community homestay check-in
• →Guided rainforest walk

A full day with your Quichua hosts: a longer jungle hike, a traditional chicha-making demonstration, a river swim or tube float, and an evening storytelling session. Some communities offer cacao or pottery workshops. Costs are usually bundled into the homestay rate — tip guides modestly (~£5–8) and buy any local crafts directly.

🚌Walking / community transport

🛏Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (£20–25/night)

• →Jungle hike
• →Chicha & local culture demonstration
• →River swim
• →Community evening

Rent a bike locally (~£6) and cycle to the community of Shandia (~10km) with a community guide (~£10) — passing waterfalls and river swimming spots. Return to Tena, then take a local bus toward Quito and get off at Papallacta (~4–5 hrs, ~£7). Check into a budget guesthouse and soak in the natural mineral pools: the communal free pools by the river are free, or the Termas Papallacta complex entry ~£15. Volcanic views and cold mountain air — bring a fleece.

🚌Bus ~£7; bike rental ~£6

🛏Guesthouse in Papallacta village (£12–18/night)

• →Shandia bike ride with community guide
• →Bus Tena–Papallacta
• →Papallacta hot springs

Morning soak or a short hike in the cloud forest reserve above the village, then a local bus back to Quito (~1.5–2 hrs, ~£2). Afternoon to buy last souvenirs, visit the Museo Nacional or simply relax. Farewell dinner in La Mariscal — llapingachos or seafood for ~£8.

🚌Local bus ~£2

🛏Hostel in Quito (£12–18/night)

• →Morning cloud forest walk
• →Bus to Quito
• →Museum or shopping
• →Farewell dinner

Transfer to Mariscal Sucre Airport by taxi or Aeropuerto bus (~£2 from La Mariscal; taxi ~£8) for your international flight home. If your flight is late, leave bags at the hostel and spend the morning in the Centro Histórico.

🚌Taxi or airport bus ~£5

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Airport transfer
• →Optional old town morning