Ecuador is one of those places that quietly offers an incredible amount to see and experience in a relatively small area. In just one week, you can move between historic cities, wide open Andean landscapes, an active volcano, lush waterfall filled valleys, and neighborhoods that feel completely different from one another. The scenery changes constantly, travel distances are manageable, and nothing feels repetitive.

What surprised me most was how easy it was to experience all of this without overplanning. This trip came together quickly, with almost everything planned in less than two weeks. I did not spend months researching routes or trying to build the perfect itinerary, and I went in without a long list of expectations. That ended up being one of the best parts of the experience. Ecuador consistently felt scenic, varied, and rewarding in a way that didn’t require constant logistics or rigid scheduling.

From walking through Quito’s neighborhoods to seeing Cotopaxi rise above the plains, and then spending time in Baños surrounded by waterfalls and viewpoints, each stop felt distinct. Even within a short timeline, the trip never felt rushed or overly packed. There was room to slow down, adjust plans, and enjoy places as they unfolded rather than chasing highlights.

This Ecuador itinerary reflects how we actually spent our time across Quito, Cotopaxi, and Baños over seven days. You do not need months of planning or a perfectly mapped route to enjoy Ecuador. Whether you are just starting to think about a trip or pulling something together quickly, I hope this itinerary gives you inspiration and a realistic sense of how much you can see and experience in a short amount of time.

Where to Stay and How to Get Around for This Ecuador Itinerary

Before getting into the day-by-day breakdown, it helps to understand where to base yourself and how to move between destinations. Ecuador is surprisingly easy to travel through. The towns on this itinerary are well connected, and the major routes are straightforward.

Where to Stay in Quito

We stayed in two different neighborhoods in Quito, which ended up being a great way to experience different sides of the city.

At the start of the trip, we stayed in the La Floresta area at NH Collection Quito. La Floresta felt like one of the most comfortable areas to stay as a first-time visitor. It has a relaxed, creative feel with cafés, leafy streets, and places you can explore on foot. It felt residential but still well connected, and it was easy to get around from here using Uber or taxis.

On our last night, we stayed in La Mariscal at Chakana Hotel, and this was honestly one of the highlights of our time in Quito. Cotopaxi was still my favorite stay overall, but Chakana was a close second. The hotel itself is beautiful and full of character, and the owner was incredibly attentive from the moment we arrived. Everything felt thoughtful and personal rather than generic. Their restaurant, Uku Pacha, was also excellent, and I really wish we had planned more than one night here.

Where to Stay in Cotopaxi

We spent two nights in Cotopaxi, and I am very glad we did. While it is possible to visit Cotopaxi as a day trip or stay only one night, having two nights made the experience feel much more relaxed and immersive.

We stayed at Hacienda Los Mortiños, and it ended up being one of the most memorable places of the entire trip. The lodge sits in a wide open landscape where Cotopaxi dominates the view whenever the skies are clear.

Where to Stay in Baños

Baños is friendly, compact, and very easy to explore. Staying near the center makes a big difference because most restaurants, cafés, and activity starting points are nearby. We stayed at Hotel De Mi Pueblo, which worked well as a base.

Getting Around Ecuador

Renting a Car

We chose to rent a car for this itinerary. The highway drives between Quito, Cotopaxi, and Baños were straightforward and easy. Within Quito itself, using Uber or taxis was much easier than driving.

One important thing to be aware of is that Google Maps may direct you toward a rougher approach to Cotopaxi National Park. It is much better to ask your accommodation which entrance to use.

Uber and Taxis

Uber is widely available within Quito and works well for getting around the city. For travel outside of Quito, Uber is not practical.

Private Drivers

If you do not want to drive, private drivers are easy to arrange. Most hotels can connect you with a trusted driver through WhatsApp.

Day 1: Arriving in Quito, Exploring La Floresta, and Hot Chocolate at Pacari

We arrived in Quito later in the day and headed straight to our hotel in La Floresta. We were tired from travel and already starting to feel the altitude, but we still wanted to get outside and explore a bit instead of going straight to bed.

We walked around the neighborhood for a while, just getting a feel for the area. La Floresta felt calm, walkable, and easy to navigate, which made it a great place to land on the first night without feeling overwhelmed.

For dinner, we ate at De La Llama, and the food was genuinely excellent. There were plenty of vegetarian and non vegetarian options, and everything we ordered was really well done. It ended up being one of our favorite meals in Quito, and I would highly recommend it.

After dinner, we kept walking and stopped at Pacari Experience House. We ordered hot chocolate and took our time there, which felt like a perfect way to end the night. It was cozy, low key, and very on brand for Ecuador.

Day 2: Driving to Cotopaxi and Settling into Hacienda Los Mortiños

We left Quito in the morning and drove toward Cotopaxi. The drive was scenic and straightforward, and it did not take long before the landscape opened up and Cotopaxi appeared in the distance.

Seeing Cotopaxi for the first time really stops you. It is massive, perfectly shaped, and constantly surrounded by shifting clouds.

We checked into Hacienda Los Mortiños, and almost immediately the pace of the trip slowed down. The property is quiet and expansive, with uninterrupted views of the volcano when the skies are clear.

Later that afternoon, we went horseback riding around the property. Riding through the open landscape with Cotopaxi in the background was easily one of the highlights of the entire trip.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, walking around the grounds, and watching the light change on the volcano. By the end of the day, it was clear that staying here overnight was the right decision.

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park, the Refugio José Rivas Hike, Laguna Limpiopungo, and Hacienda El Porvenir

We spent our second full day in Cotopaxi inside Cotopaxi National Park, focusing on the hike up to the refuge and then exploring more of the park afterward.

The drive up toward the trailhead for Refugio José Rivas was honestly one of the scariest drives of the entire trip. The road is very steep in sections, full of potholes, and conditions change quickly as you gain altitude. Fog rolled in and out constantly, and visibility could drop fast. If I were to do this again, I would absolutely hire a driver just for this portion. If you do decide to drive yourself, a 4×4 makes a big difference.

The hike itself is only about a mile, but it is very steep and physically demanding because of the altitude. Hiking on Cotopaxi feels completely different from a typical mountain trail. The ground is made up of dark, volcanic sand and loose rock, and every step feels heavier than expected. Being on the volcano itself, surrounded by black terrain and shifting clouds, made the experience feel intense and unique.

After the hike, we drove back down and stopped at Laguna Limpiopungo. The walk around the lake was flat and easy, which felt like a perfect contrast to the steep climb earlier.

Later, we went to Hacienda El Porvenir by Tierra del Volcán for a meal. Even though we were not staying there, it was absolutely worth visiting. The setting was beautiful and gave us another perspective on the Cotopaxi region before heading back to our lodge.

This day ended up being the highlight of the trip. Spending time on Cotopaxi itself, rather than just viewing it from a distance, made the experience feel powerful and unforgettable.

Day 4: Arriving in Baños and Exploring Town

We left Cotopaxi around 8 a.m. and arrived in Baños by late morning. The drive felt like another clear shift in landscape, moving from open Andean plains into a much greener, more enclosed setting as we got closer to town.

Once we arrived, we stopped at Andes Specialty Coffee for coffee and a light bite. Not long after that, it started raining, which immediately slowed our plans for the day. Instead of pushing through it, we decided to lean into the slower pace and took a break for a few hours. After the intensity of Cotopaxi, the downtime actually felt welcome.

Later in the afternoon, once the rain eased, we walked around town. Baños feels compact but busy, with shops, cafés, and activity agencies everywhere. It is also hillier than it looks, so even a casual walk around town feels more active than expected. The town has a very different energy from both Quito and Cotopaxi, more lively and more centered around being outdoors.

In the evening, we went to Crater Rooftop for drinks. The views from up there were excellent and gave us a great sense of how Baños sits tucked into the surrounding mountains. It felt like a good introduction to the area before jumping into more activities over the next couple of days. We ended the night with dinner at My Veg Restaurant. The food was good, the portions were huge, and it was an easy, no-frills way to wrap up the day.

Day 5: Casa del Árbol, Ruta de las Cascadas, and a Full Day Out in Baños

We started the day early and headed up to Casa del Árbol, also known as the Swing at the End of the World. We took a taxi because we were unsure what parking would be like, but once we arrived it became clear that driving would have been easy. There were plenty of parking spots near the entrance, and the road up was straightforward.

Seeing the swing in person was fun, but what really stood out were the views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. It felt like a classic Baños stop and a good way to start the day before heading out to explore more of the area.

Before continuing on, we grabbed arepas to go for lunch. They were so good that we ended up going back a second time during our stay in Baños, which says a lot.

After lunch, we spent the rest of the day along the Ruta de las Cascadas. Many people choose to rent bikes and ride the route, and you can easily make a full day out of it that way. We decided to drive instead, and I am really glad we did. There are several sections where you would be biking directly on the highway with blind turns and trucks passing through, and personally I would not have felt safe doing that.

Driving gave us the flexibility to stop where we wanted and take our time without feeling rushed. One of the highlights was Pailón del Diablo, which is impressive up close and well worth the walk down. Being near the waterfalls and moving at our own pace made the day feel active but not overwhelming.

That evening, we stopped at another bar in town for drinks and then grabbed dinner nearby. It was a full day, but it felt well balanced and ended up being one of my favorite days in Baños.

Day 6: Ziplining, Hiking, and Café del Cielo

We spent another full day in Baños and focused on ziplining. Instead of booking through a tour company, we drove directly to the ziplining spot ourselves. It was easy to find and gave us much more flexibility with timing.

The ziplining itself was a lot of fun and added a more adventurous element to the trip without feeling overly intense. Afterward, we went on a hike, which helped slow things back down and balance out the morning’s activity.

Later in the day, we stopped at Café del Cielo. The views from here were beautiful, and it was a great place to sit, relax, and take in the surroundings after a more active day. It felt like one of those stops where you naturally linger longer than planned. We kept the rest of the evening easy, knowing we had a drive the next day.

Day 7: Driving Back to Quito, Teleférico Views, and Chocolate in the Historic Center

We started our final day by driving from Baños back to Quito. The drive itself was easy and straightforward, mostly along the highway, and did not feel stressful after several days of driving in Ecuador.

Once we arrived in Quito, we went straight to the Teleférico. We spent a good amount of time at the top, walking around and taking in the views over the city and surrounding mountains. It was a nice way to transition back into the city after several days in more rural areas.

After that, we took an Uber to Quito’s Historic Center. This part of the city felt completely different from the rest of the trip. It was busier, more traditional, and full of narrow streets and colonial buildings, which made it feel like a contrast to the neighborhoods we stayed in earlier.

While walking around, we stopped at two chocolate places and sampled chocolate. One of them was Huma Chocolate and Coffee Experience, which I would highly recommend. We picked up several chocolate bars to bring home, and it ended up being one of my favorite souvenirs from the trip. If you enjoy chocolate at all, buying some while you are in Ecuador is absolutely worth it.Later that night, we headed to the airport for a late flight home, wrapping up a week that felt surprisingly full without ever feeling rushed.

Final Thoughts

This trip came together quickly, but Ecuador ended up being far more rewarding than I expected. The variety we experienced in one week was impressive, and the logistics felt approachable.

Cotopaxi was the biggest highlight for me. Even with unpredictable weather, being in that landscape and seeing the volcano up close felt special, and staying overnight made a real difference. Baños added a different energy with waterfalls and activities that were easy to do without needing tours for everything. Quito tied everything together, especially with the contrast between the Teleférico views, the Historic Center, and the chocolate stops.

Ecuador may not have been high on my list initially, but it is now a place I would confidently recommend if you want a trip that feels scenic, varied, and easy to plan.

A Few Things to Consider and Things I Wish I’d Known

This itinerary worked well for us because we wanted a more relaxed pace, but it is very easy to adjust depending on how much you want to see and what you want to prioritize.

Cotopaxi timing

Spending less time in Cotopaxi is completely fine. If your main goal is simply to see the volcano, a day trip or one night can work. However, Cotopaxi is often covered in clouds, and visibility can change quickly throughout the day.

We stayed two nights and three days, and only the first day was fully clear. We did not do the hike that day, and in hindsight I really wish we had, because it ended up being the clearest view we had of the volcano. Staying overnight gives you more chances for clear weather, which is worth considering if Cotopaxi is an important part of your trip.

Driving in Cotopaxi National Park

Driving inside the park feels very different from the highway drives elsewhere in Ecuador. The road up to Refugio José Rivas is steep, uneven, and full of potholes, and fog can roll in quickly.

If I were to do this again, I would hire a driver just for this portion of the trip, even if I drove everywhere else myself. If you do plan to drive, having a 4×4 makes a noticeable difference and adds a lot of peace of mind.

How much time you need in Baños

How long you spend in Baños really depends on what you want to do. If you plan to do multiple activities like ziplining, waterfall routes, or hiking, two to three nights makes sense.

If you are not planning many guided activities, you could easily shorten your time in Baños and add another destination instead. It is also worth keeping in mind that many tours in Baños operate primarily in Spanish, so if you are not planning to join tours, you may not need as much time here.

Considering Mindo instead

We originally planned to spend a day in Mindo Cloud Forest, but that would have added significant driving time to the trip. Instead, we chose to spend an extra day in Baños.

If you do want to include Mindo, it works best as a one night stop from Quito. It is quieter than Baños and is known for cloud forest hikes, hummingbirds, waterfalls, and chocolate experiences. That said, adding it does require rearranging the itinerary and accepting more time on the road.