Self-Launched Best of Ecuador & Galapagos: Quito, Isabela, Santa Cruz, Cotopaxi, Baños, Amazon & Papallacta

Land at Mariscal Sucre Airport and take a taxi or the Aeropuerto–Río Coca bus + trole down to the Mariscal district (~£4–8). Quito sits at 2,850 m, so take it easy. Base yourself in a hostel in La Mariscal or the colonial Centro Histórico. Eat light, drink water, and do a gentle evening wander. Book your Galapagos flight tonight (see Day 2) — LATAM/Avianca Quito–Baltra return is usually £330–420 if booked ~6–8 weeks ahead.

🚌Airport taxi ~£8 shared, or public bus ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm or budget private in La Mariscal (£12–18)

• →Evening stroll in La Mariscal
• →Book Galapagos flight + TCT/INGALA transit card online

Early flight Quito–Baltra (Seymour). At Baltra pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$200, ~£160) and the TCT transit control card (US$20, ~£16) — these are NOT included in the commercial tour either. Take the free shuttle + public bus to the Itabaca Channel, cross by ferry (~£1), then bus to Puerto Ayora. From Puerto Ayora take the public speedboat to Isabela (~2–2.5 hrs, ~£25–30, two departures daily at roughly 07:00 and 14:00). Check into a guesthouse in Puerto Villamil.

🚌Domestic flight ~£375 return incl. taxes; speedboat ~£28

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Puerto Villamil (£18–25)

• →Baltra–Santa Cruz crossing
• →Public speedboat to Isabela
• →Sunset on Puerto Villamil beach

Book a Los Túneles snorkelling tour directly with an operator on the Puerto Villamil strip or via a local agency the night before (~£60–75, includes boat, guide, snorkel gear and lunch). You'll snorkel through volcanic lava arches with sea turtles, rays, reef sharks and seahorses. Afternoon free: walk to Concha de Perla (free), a calm lagoon where sea lions and turtles swim right up to you, and rent a bike (~£5) to the giant tortoise breeding centre (free entry, donation).

🚌Walk/bike, ~£5

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (£18–25)

• →Los Túneles snorkel day trip
• →Concha de Perla snorkelling
• →Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre

Morning self-guided or small-group hike to the Sierra Negra crater rim — the second-largest caldera in the world. Transport to the trailhead is by local pickup truck (~£5–8 each way); the hike is ~4–5 hrs return and can be extended to Volcán Chico. Entry is roughly US$10 (~£8). In the afternoon book a Tintoreras islet kayak + snorkel trip (~£35–45) to see white-tipped reef sharks, penguins and marine iguanas.

🚌Shared pickup to trailhead ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (£18–25)

• →Sierra Negra crater rim hike
• →Optional Volcán Chico extension
• →Tintoreras islet kayak & snorkel

Morning speedboat back to Santa Cruz (~£28). Check into a hostel in Puerto Ayora. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station (free, donation welcome) to see the tortoise breeding programme and Lonesome George's legacy. In the afternoon take a local bus or taxi (~£3–6) up to the highlands to see wild giant tortoises in the Primicias/El Chato reserve (entry ~£5–8). Don't miss the fish market where pelicans and sea lions squabble over scraps.

🚌Speedboat ~£28, local bus/taxi ~£6

🛏Hostel in Puerto Ayora (£15–22)

• →Charles Darwin Research Station
• →Highlands giant tortoise reserve
• →Puerto Ayoroa fish market & Tortuga Bay walk

Bus + ferry back to Baltra and fly to Quito. Return to your La Mariscal hostel. Afternoon to rest or take an easy walk up El Panecillo for city views (free). Use the evening to pre-book tomorrow's activities and your onward bus to Baños.

🚌Return flight included in the ~£375 airfare; airport transfer ~£8

🛏Hostel in La Mariscal (£12–18)

• →Transfer to Baltra Airport
• →El Panecillo viewpoint
• →Pre-book Cotopaxi day tour

Free day in Quito. Join a free walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Centro Histórico (tip-based, ~£5 tip) taking in Plaza Grande, La Compañía church and San Francisco. In the afternoon take a local bus or taxi (~£4) to Mitad del Mundo and the Museo de Sitio Intiñan on the equator line (~£5 entry). Alternatively, book a Mindo cloud-forest day trip (~£50) or Otavalo market trip (~£40) via GetYourGuide/Klook.

🚌Public bus/taxi to equator ~£6

🛏Hostel in La Mariscal (£12–18)

• →Free walking tour of Quito Old Town
• →Mitad del Mundo / Intiñan equator museum
• →Optional Mindo cloud forest day trip

Book a Cotopaxi day tour that ends by dropping you at Latacunga or Quito's Quitumbe terminal (~£45–60 incl. park entry and Limpiopungo lagoon hike). Hike the Limpiopungo lagoon loop with views of Cotopaxi and Rumiñahui volcanoes (elevation ~3,800 m — take it slow). Then take a bus from Latacunga/Ambato to Baños (~£4–6, ~2.5 hrs). Check into a hostel in Baños and hit the thermal baths.

🚌Cotopaxi tour + bus to Baños ~£50

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Baños (£10–16)

• →Limpiopungo lagoon hike
• →Cotopaxi volcano viewpoints
• →Baños hot springs in the evening

Rent a mountain bike (~£10–15/day) and ride the classic Baños waterfall route downhill through Pastaza River canyon toward Llanganates National Park, or take a guided half-day MTB tour (~£30). In the afternoon visit the Casa del Árbol and the Swing at the End of the World (~£2–3 entry, taxi ~£5). Free evenings are best spent at the town thermal pools (~£3).

🚌Bike rental + taxi ~£18

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Baños (£10–16)

• →Cloud forest mountain biking
• →Casa del Árbol swing
• →Baños thermal pools

Morning head to the Ruta de las Cascadas: cross the Pastaza River in a tarabita cable car (~£2) to the Bride's Veil (Manto de la Novia) waterfall, and hike to Pailón del Diablo (~£2 entry). Add a canyoning session (~£25–35) if you're keen. Then take a bus toward Puyo/Ahuano (~£4–6) and check into a budget rainforest lodge or cabaña (~£25–35 including meals). Evening guided night walk with a local naturalist (~£10).

🚌Local bus ~£5

🛏Budget jungle lodge near Ahuano/Puyo (£25–35 half board)

• →Pailón del Diablo waterfall hike
• →Tarabita cable car crossing
• →Optional canyoning
• →Guided night walk in the rainforest

Morning Class III white-water rafting on the Jatunyacu River (~£45–60 with local operator incl. gear, guide and lunch). Afterwards, bus back toward Quito and get off at Papallacta (~£5, ~3 hrs via Tena/Baeza). Check into a guesthouse in Papallacta village and soak in the volcanic hot springs — the public pools at Termas Papallacta are cheaper (~£12) than the resort spa (~£35).

🚌Bus to Papallacta ~£6

🛏Guesthouse in Papallacta village (£20–30)

• →Jatunyacu Class III rafting
• →Papallacta volcanic hot springs

Early morning soak or a short hike on the cloud-forest trails around Papallacta. Then catch a bus or shared taxi back to Quito (~£4–8, ~1.5–2 hrs) for your international flight. If your flight is late, leave bags at your hostel and do a last café crawl in La Mariscal.

🚌Bus Papallacta–Quito ~£5

🛏None (departure day)

• →Morning cloud forest walk
• →Return bus to Quito
• →Departure