Self-Launched Ecuador: Trekking the Avenue of Volcanoes
8 days · Ecuador
Adventure Journeys charges £1,370
No-markup version: ~£525 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day trek through Ecuador's Avenue of Volcanoes — Quito, Cotopaxi, the Quilotoa Loop (Isinlivi, Chugchilán, Quilotoa crater), the flanks of Chimborazo at 4,800m, Llanganates National Park and the waterfall town of Baños. Built for independent travellers using public buses, shared shuttles and hostel/guesthouse stays. Comparable hiking, scenery and wildlife to the guided itinerary, with all logistics bookable yourself. Note: this is a high-altitude trek (Quito sits at 2,800m and Chimborazo basecamp at ~4,800m) — allow time to acclimatise and take it slowly.
Day-by-day
Arrive Quito — welcome briefing & old town wander
Quito
Land in Quito (2,800m) and settle into a hostel in the La Mariscal or Centro Histórico area. Take it easy on day one to start acclimatising. In the late afternoon, head to the historic centre on foot: Plaza Grande, the Basílica del Voto Nacional (climb the towers for views), Calle La Ronda for a cheap almuerzo. If you want a peek at Pichincha, the TelefériQo cable car rises to ~4,100m — great views but save it for a well-acclimatised day. In the evening, join a free walking tour or simply gather your group at the hostel and swap notes for the trek ahead. Book onward buses at the terminal or online the night before.
🚌Airport bus/taxi to hostel (~£5 airport bus, ~£20 taxi)
🛏Hostel / budget guesthouse in La Mariscal (e.g. dorm ~£10-14pp, private ~£22-30)
- →Self-guided Quito old town walk
- →Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb
- →Optional: TelefériQo cable car
- →Optional: GetYourGuide Quito old town day tour (~£22)
Cotopaxi National Park — Limpiopungo Lagoon hike
Cotopaxi National Park
Take an early bus or shared tour from Quito towards Cotopaxi National Park (approx 1.5-2 hrs). Enter the park and hike the flat 2-hour loop around the Limpiopungo Lagoon (~3,800m), with big views of Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui and, on clear days, further volcanoes. Wildlife spotting (Andean gulls, rabbits, possibly a fox) along the way. Rather than a private transfer, join a one-day Cotopaxi day-trek via GetYourGuide/Klook from Quito (pickup, guide and park entry included) or take a public bus bound for Latacunga and get off at the park turn-off, arranging a local truck/taxi in. Continue to Latacunga/Isinlivi for the night.
🚌Shared Quito–Cotopaxi day transport / public bus to Latacunga (~£12-18)
🛏Hostel/refugio in Isinlivi or Latacunga (~£10-16)
- →Limpiopungo Lagoon hike (2 hrs)
- →Cotopaxi National Park entry
- →Volcano viewpoint stops
Quilotoa Loop — Toachi Canyon to Chugchilán
Chugchilán
Begin the classic Quilotoa Loop. Trek the Toachi Canyon trail (about 13.5 km) from Isinlivi to Chugchilán, dropping through farmland and the deep Toachi River gorge. The route is well marked but you can hire a local guide cheaply at your guesthouse if you prefer. Carry water and snacks — villages are sparse. Arrive in Chugchilán (3,200m), a small highland town, and spend the afternoon exploring on foot. Guesthouses here are family-run with hearty home-cooked meals.
🚌On foot (trail); possible shared pickup transfer for bags
🛏Family guesthouse in Chugchilán, dorm/private (~£12-18 inc. dinner)
- →Toachi Canyon trek (~13.5 km)
- →Toachi River gorge
- →Chugchilán village exploration
Quilotoa crater lake — hike the rim
Quilotoa
Trek from Chugchilán up to the Quilotoa crater rim (about 11 km, a steep climb at the end), one of Ecuador's most striking sights — a turquoise volcanic lake at 3,800m. Walk part of the crater rim, and if time and altitude allow, descend to the lakeshore and back up (allow 1.5-2 hrs each way). Pack a picnic to enjoy on the rim with views to Chimborazo on clear days. Afterward catch a shared pickup or local bus from Quilotoa down to Latacunga/Zumbahua and onward toward the Chimborazo area.
🚌Chugchilán–Quilotoa shared pickup (~£4-8); onward local bus
🛏Guesthouse near Chimborazo / Riobamba or Latacunga (~£12-18)
- →Quilotoa crater rim hike (~11 km)
- →Optional lakeshore descent
- →Picnic at the crater rim
Chimborazo Basecamp — glacier viewpoint
Chimborazo National Park
Head to Chimborazo National Park and its basecamp area. The first refuge (Carrel Refuge) sits at ~4,800m and the second at ~5,000m — altitude is serious here, so pace yourself. Walk the short marked trail toward the glacier basecamp viewpoint, keeping an eye out for vicuñas, the wild camelids that roam the park. This is the highest point of the trip (5,000m+) so expect cold, wind and possible altitude effects. Arrange a local pickup or join a shared Chimborazo day tour from Riobamba (common and cheap), then return to Riobamba for the night.
🚌Shared tour/4x4 from Riobamba to Chimborazo and back (~£15-25)
🛏Hostel in Riobamba (~£10-16)
- →Chimborazo basecamp walk to glacier viewpoint
- →Vicuña and wildlife observation
- →National park entry
Llanganates National Park trek to Baños
Baños
Take a long day trek (approx 6 hrs) in the cloud-forest foothills of Llanganates National Park, a biodiverse area between the Andes and the Amazon with views toward Tungurahua and Sangay volcanoes. Local guides in the Baños area can be arranged the night before for a fraction of a group-tour add-on. Note: Llanganates is notoriously remote and trackless in its interior — stick to the established guided day routes rather than attempting the true park interior independently. In the afternoon travel on to Baños by bus.
🚌Local bus Riobamba/Baños area to Baños (~£4-8)
🛏Hostel in Baños (~£9-15)
- →Llanganates National Park guided day trek (~6 hrs)
- →Llanganates park entry
- →Volcano viewpoints (Tungurahua, Sangay)
Baños — Ruta de las Cascadas & hot springs
Baños
Baños is adventure-central and easy to explore independently. Rent a bike (or take a local bus) for the Ruta de las Cascadas — the waterfall route along the Pastaza River gorge. Stop at the Agoyán dam, take the tarabita (cable car) across the gorge, and walk the short trail down to the thundering Pailón del Diablo waterfall, plus the smaller Bride's Veil (Manto de la Novia) falls. In the evening, unwind in the town's famous thermal hot springs and treat yourself to an optional massage. This whole day costs a fraction as a DIY bike-hire day.
🚌Bicycle hire / local buses along the waterfall route (~£5-10)
🛏Hostel in Baños (~£9-15)
- →Ruta de las Cascadas by bike (~£5-8 hire)
- →Tarabita cable car across Pastaza River
- →Pailón del Diablo waterfall hike
- →Bride's Veil waterfall
- →Optional hot springs & massage
Baños to Quito — departure
Quito
Take a morning bus back to Quito (approx 3.5-4 hrs) in time for onward flights or further travels. If your flight is late, spend a final afternoon revisiting the places you missed in Quito. Buy your Baños–Quito ticket the day before at the terminal or via an app. Allow buffer time for the journey in case of traffic or road delays.
🚌Baños–Quito public bus (~£6-9)
🛏None (departure day) — book an extra hostel night if needed (~£10-15)
- →Return bus to Quito
- →Optional final Quito sightseeing
Self-launched vs. Adventure Journeys
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Adventure Journeys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£525 | £1,370 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £845 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Adventure Journeys-style trips? Check them out here.~£525
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ecuador: Trekking the Avenue of Volcanoes cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £525 per person for 8 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 Adventure Journeys?+
Yes — Adventure Journeys charges around £1,370 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £525 — a saving of roughly £845 (62%) per person.
How long is the Ecuador trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, hiking, backpacker 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?
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