Ecuador Inland & Amazon: Self-Launched Andes, Jungle & Colonial Cities
14 days · Ecuador
G Adventures charges £1,762
No-markup version: ~£589 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 14-day self-launched loop from Quito covering the adventure town of Baños, a Quichua community stay in the Amazon, volcanic hot springs at Papallacta, the Otavalo handicraft market, Cotopaxi National Park and the colonial city of Cuenca. This replaces a small-group operator tour with local buses, shared taxis and self-booked guesthouses — using the same excellent public transport network Ecuador is famous for. All costs are approximate per person based on current backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Quito
Quito
Land at Mariscal Sucre airport and take an airport taxi or the Aeropuerto–city bus into the centre (~£4-6, 45 min). Check into a hostel in the Old Town or La Mariscal. Use the afternoon to acclimatise gently — Quito sits at 2,850m. Wander Plaza Grande and the Basilica, eat at a mercado (Mercado Central almuerzo ~£2.50) and get an early night.
🚌Airport taxi or city bus ~£4-6
🛏Hostel private room / dorm in Quito Old Town or La Mariscal (£12-18)
- →Old Town orientation walk
- →Mercado Central almuerzo
Quito to Baños
Baños
Bus from Quito's Terminal Quitumbe or Terminal Carcelén to Baños (approx 3.5-4 hrs, £5-6). Baños is Ecuador's adventure capital at 1,820m — warmer and easier to breathe than Quito. Settle in, then walk to the free municipal hot springs (Termas de la Virgen) or a private option like El Salado (£3). Evening stroll along Calle Ambato for food stalls and a batido.
🚌Local intercity bus Quito–Baños ~£5.50
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Baños (£10-15)
- →Termas de la Virgen hot springs
- →Calle Ambato evening wander
Baños adventure day
Baños
Full free day. Book canyoning (~£28) or the ziplining bundle (~£22) directly with any operator on Calle 16 de Diciembre or via GetYourGuide the day before. Cheaper alternatives: rent a mountain bike (£8) and ride the Ruta de las Cascadas to Pailón del Diablo waterfall (entry ~£1.50), or hike to the Casa del Árbol swing for free. Whitewater rafting is ~£30 if you prefer rivers.
🚌Walking / bike rental £8
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Baños (£10-15)
- →Canyoning or ziplining (self-booked)
- →Ruta de las Cascadas bike ride
- →Pailón del Diablo waterfall
Bus into the Amazon: Baños to Tena
Tena
Local bus Baños to Tena via Puyo (approx 3-4 hrs, £4-5). The road drops from the Andes into the Amazon basin — watch the cloud forest transition. In Tena, arrange a community stay directly with one of the Quichua-run lodges (e.g. lodges in the Shandia / Ahuano area, £18-25 per night including meals and a local guide) — book by phone or email a few days ahead, or ask your Tena hostel to connect you. Afternoon nature walk with a local guide.
🚌Local bus Baños–Tena ~£4.50
🛏Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (£18-25 all-in)
- →Community lodge nature walk
- →Quichua cultural introduction
Full day in the Amazon
Tena
A full day with your community hosts: jungle trail walks identifying medicinal plants, a visit to a chakra (family garden), and usually a river swim or canoe ride in a motorised dugout. Nights are for stories and chicha. Bring long sleeves, insect repellent and a headtorch. Note this is genuinely rustic — no hot water, basic beds, incredible experience.
🚌Walking and river canoe with guide
🛏Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (£18-25 all-in)
- →Jungle medicinal plant walk
- →River canoe trip
- →Chakra garden visit
Shandia bike ride & bus to Papallacta
Papallacta
Cycle to the nearby community of Shandia with a local guide (bike hire ~£5, guide tip ~£5) — a flat river-side route past small farms. Catch an afternoon bus from Tena back up towards Papallacta (via Baeza, 3-4 hrs, ~£5). Check into a guesthouse near the termas and soak in the natural mineral pools with volcano views (Termas Papallacta public pools ~£7; cheaper local pools in the village ~£2).
🚌Bike hire £5 + local bus Tena–Papallacta ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Papallacta village (£14-20)
- →Shandia community bike ride
- →Papallacta hot springs
Papallacta to Quito
Quito
A slow morning in the hot springs before the bus back down to Quito (approx 1.5-2 hrs, £2). Spend the afternoon exploring Quito properly — the Basilica del Voto Nacional tower climb (£2), La Ronda's colonial street, and the TelefériQo cable car up Cruz Loma (£8) if the weather is clear. Book your Otavalo bus for the morning.
🚌Local bus Papallacta–Quito ~£2
🛏Hostel in Quito (£12-18)
- →Basilica tower climb
- →La Ronda walk
- →TelefériQo cable car
Otavalo market day
Otavalo
Bus from Quito's Terminal Carcelén to Otavalo (approx 2 hrs, £2.50). Saturday is the biggest market day, but the Plaza de Ponchos handicraft stalls run daily and the animal market is Wednesday and Saturday. Bargain politely for textiles — quality weavings start around £15. Add the short taxi to Peguche waterfall (~£2) and, if you have energy, the walk up to the Condor Park viewpoint.
🚌Bus Quito–Otavalo ~£2.50 + local taxi £2
🛏Hostal or guesthouse in Otavalo (£10-15)
- →Plaza de Ponchos market
- →Peguche waterfall
- →Animal market (Wed/Sat)
Otavalo to Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi
Travel Otavalo → Quito → Latacunga by bus (approx 4 hrs total, ~£5). From Latacunga take a shared 4x4 or pickup up to the Cotopaxi National Park entrance and your lodge (~£10-15 shared). Stay at a mountain lodge or hostería near the park (e.g. around El Pedregal / Chasqui, £18-28). Afternoon acclimatisation walk or, if you're feeling strong, mountain bike rental with volcano views (~£15).
🚌Buses Otavalo–Latacunga ~£5 + shared 4x4 to park ~£12
🛏Rustic mountain lodge near Cotopaxi (£18-28)
- →Acclimatisation walk
- →Optional mountain biking
Cotopaxi National Park to Cuenca
Cuenca
Early start for Cotopaxi National Park. Arrange your lodge's transfer to the park entrance and hike the short trail to the José Rivas refuge (4,800m) — go slow, this is altitude. Park entry ~£4. Return to Latacunga, then take a long-distance bus to Cuenca (6-7 hrs, £8-10) or, if you want to save a day, a cheap domestic flight Latacunga/Quito–Cuenca (from ~£35 booked ahead on Avianca or LATAM). Arrive Cuenca and settle into a colonial-centre hostel.
🚌Shared 4x4 ~£12 + long-distance bus to Cuenca ~£9 (or domestic flight ~£35)
- →Cotopaxi José Rivas refuge hike
- →Andes viewpoint lunch stop
Cuenca city tour and Panama hats
Cuenca
Self-guided city tour: start at Parque Calderón and the Catedral de la Inmaculada, then the Museo Pumapungo (free). Hop a local bus or taxi (£1.50) to the Turi viewpoint for the city panorama, then head to one of the real Panama hat workshops — Homero Ortega's factory tour is free, with hats from £25. Finish at the Mercado 10 de Agosto for a £2 almuerzo and Cuenca's café scene in the evening.
🚌Local bus/taxi £3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cuenca (£12-18)
- →Cathedral and Parque Calderón
- →Turi viewpoint
- →Panama hat factory tour
- →Museo Pumapungo
Cajas National Park or Ingapirca
Cuenca
Pick your day trip. Option A: Cajas National Park — the local bus from Cuenca's Terminal Terrestre to the park entrance costs ~£1.50 and the ranger station has free marked trails through páramo lakes (a guided day tour is ~£40 if you'd rather not navigate). Option B: Ingapirca Inca ruins — bus to Cañar then local transport, ~£4 total plus £5 entry, or a shared tour ~£35. Option C: Piedra de Agua hot springs (£25). Evening: eat cuy or locro de papas in Cuenca.
🚌Local bus to Cajas/Ingapirca £2-6
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cuenca (£12-18)
- →Cajas National Park trails
- →or Ingapirca Inca ruins
- →or hot springs
Cuenca to Quito
Quito
Bus back to Quito (8-9 hrs overnight, £10-12) or book a cheap domestic flight Cuenca–Quito (~£35-45). Arriving by day bus gives you the Andes panorama route (the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes'). Spend the final evening in Quito picking up last souvenirs at the Mercado Artesanal and having a proper farewell dinner in La Floresta.
🚌Overnight/day bus Cuenca–Quito ~£11 (or flight ~£40)
🛏Hostel in Quito (£12-18)
- →Avenue of the Volcanoes route
- →Mercado Artesanal shopping
- →La Floresta dinner
Depart Quito
Quito
Final morning — a last coffee in the Old Town or the Museo Casa del Alabado if your flight is late. Airport taxi ~£5. Safe travels.
🚌Airport taxi ~£5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last Old Town coffee
- →Optional museum visit
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£589 | £1,762 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,173 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£589
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ecuador Inland & Amazon: Self-Launched Andes, Jungle & Colonial Cities cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £589 per person for 14 days in Ecuador. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,762 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £589 — a saving of roughly £1,173 (67%) per person.
How long is the Ecuador trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Ecuador.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Ecuador, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.