Ecuador Multisport: Self-Launched Quito–Tena–Baños–Cotopaxi Adventure

Land at Mariscal Sucre (UIO) and make your own way into the city — the Aeroservicios bus to the centre is about £2, or a taxi/Uber around £12. Check into a hostel in the La Mariscal or Centro Histórico area and spend the afternoon acclimatising at 2,850m: gentle strolls, plenty of water, light meals. Optional pre-bookable extras include a Quito city tour with the Equator line (Mitad del Mundo) from around £20-25 via GetYourGuide, which is a good low-effort way to warm up.

🚌Airport bus (~£2) or taxi (~£12) to the city centre

🛏Hostel dorm in La Mariscal or Centro Histórico, e.g. Community Hostel or similar (~£12-15/night)

• →Self-guided wander of La Mariscal and Plaza Foch
• →Optional Quito city tour + Mitad del Mundo (~£20-25 via GetYourGuide)

Catch a morning bus from Quito's Terminal Quitumbe to Tena — several companies run this route, roughly 5-6 hours, about £8-10. The scenery shifts from Andean peaks to cloud forest and jungle. In the afternoon, rent a bike in Tena (around £6-10/day) and cycle to the Kichwa community of Shandia, where you can arrange a short local guide for the ride — ask your hostel or the community tourism office in Tena to hook you up with a local guide for around £10-15.

🚌Public bus Quito (Terminal Quitumbe) to Tena, ~£8-10, 5-6 hrs

🛏Hostel or riverside guesthouse in Tena, e.g. Hostal Pakay or similar (~£10-14/night)

• →Bike hire in Tena (~£6-10)
• →Cycling to Shandia community with a local guide (~£10-15)
• →Optional river swim and viewpoint stops en route

Book a half- or full-day whitewater rafting trip on the Jatunyaku (also written Jatun Yacu) or nearby Napo/Anzu rivers through any of Tena's riverside operators — expect £30-40 including transport, gear, guide and usually lunch. Grade III-IV rapids through cloud forest, with warm water and big jungle views. Return to Tena for the night and eat cheap set lunches (almuerzos) for £2-3.

🚌Rafting operator pickup/drop-off included in the trip price

🛏Hostel or riverside guesthouse in Tena (~£10-14/night)

• →Full-day Jatunyaku / Napo river rafting (~£30-40, book direct with a Tena operator)

Take a local bus from Tena to Baños, roughly 3-4 hours and £4-6. In the afternoon, hire a bike or take a local bus toward Río Verde to see Pailón del Diablo (entry about £2) and climb the winding steps behind the waterfall. Then head to Casa del Árbol for the famous swing over the drop (entry ~£1-2) with Volcán Tungurahua views on a clear day. Optional add-on: a canyoning half-day in Baños from around £25-30, bookable via GetYourGuide or local agencies.

🚌Local bus Tena to Baños, ~£4-6, 3-4 hrs; local bus or bike hire to the waterfalls (~£4-6)

🛏Hostel in Baños, e.g. Hostal Plantas y Blanco or similar (~£10-14/night)

• →Pailón del Diablo waterfall visit (~£2 entry)
• →Casa del Árbol swing & Tungurahua viewpoint (~£1-2)
• →Optional Baños canyoning half-day (~£25-30)

This is the one day it pays to book something organised: arrange a guided Llanganates trek with a Baños agency (roughly £60-90 depending on group size, including transport, guide, camping gear, meals and park entry). A shared van takes you to the trailhead, then you hike through cloud forest with Tungurahua looming above, camp under the stars and eat dinner cooked at camp.

🚌Shared private van from Baños to the trailhead, included in the trek package

🛏Camping in Llanganates National Park (tent and gear provided by the trek operator)

• →Guided cloud-forest trek into Llanganates National Park (~£60-90 all-in)
• →Camp dinner and stargazing

Early start to continue trekking out of the park, with the descent usually done by early afternoon. Back in Baños, treat yourself to the town's thermal baths (Termas de la Virgen, roughly £2-4) and a cheap almuerzo. Rest up — tomorrow is an early bus.

🚌Return hike and included van back to Baños

🛏Hostel in Baños (~£10-14/night)

• →Morning cloud-forest trek
• →Termas de la Virgen hot springs (~£2-4)

Catch an early bus from Baños toward Latacunga or Machachi (roughly £5-8, 3-4 hrs with a change), then a short local bus or shared taxi to the haciendas below Cotopaxi. In the afternoon, join a horse riding or mountain biking excursion on the volcano's lower slopes — book through your hacienda or a Machachi operator for around £25-40. Altitude is 3,500m+, so take it steady.

🚌Local buses Baños to Latacunga/Machachi (~£5-8) plus shared taxi to hacienda area (~£3-5)

🛏Hacienda dorm or budget room near Cotopaxi, e.g. a working hacienda with backpacker dorms (~£18-25/night)

• →Horse riding or mountain biking on Cotopaxi's lower slopes (~£25-40)

In the morning, head into Cotopaxi National Park — entry is about £8-10 and a shared 4x4 or organised day trip from the hacienda area gets you to the parking lot at 4,500m. Walk up to the refuge (4,800m) if altitude allows, and stop at Laguna Limpiopungo for views. A guided Cotopaxi day trip via GetYourGuide runs around £35-50 including transport and park entry. Return to Quito in the late afternoon via Machachi/Latacunga bus (~£4-6).

🚌Shared 4x4 into the park; bus Machachi/Latacunga to Quito (~£4-6)

🛏Hostel dorm in Quito (~£12-15/night)

• →Cotopaxi National Park trek to the José Rivas refuge (~£35-50 with transport and entry)
• →Laguna Limpiopungo viewpoint

Enjoy a final breakfast of tigrillo or bolón, do any last souvenir shopping in the Centro Histórico or La Mariscal markets, and make your way to the airport by bus (~£2) or taxi (~£12). If you have a late flight, the free-to-enter Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb (about £2) is a great last-hour activity. Note: UIO airport closes for runway maintenance on certain 2026 dates (e.g. 5, 12 and 26 September; 3 October) — double check your flight schedule.

🚌Airport bus (~£2) or taxi (~£12)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Centro Histórico wander and market shopping
• →Optional Basílica tower climb (~£2)