Itinerary Suggestions for Ecuador - Suggestions/Recomendations

Dear zytellme,

First of all welcome to Ecuador...soon !

As I see you have some flights coming to Quito but departing the next day, I highly recommend you a lodging near the Airport like Posada Mirolindo (they include transfer IN/OUT).

In Galapagos, you have several options, first of all after the airport, there are busses until a boat to cross Baltra Island to Santa Cruz, then you can take a bus or taxi to Puerto Ayora ! For accommodation there are a lot of choices, I had a good experience with Galapagos Dreams just near the main Port.
For tours, you have a lot of choices on the Malecon but you can do Lands tour (taking speedboat between the islands) or complete Cruises. I highly recommend to visit well Santa Cruz Island, Isabela, Bartolomé... then it's more on your expectatives...

Coming back from Galapagos, you can take taxi from the airport to the Center (approx. $30), I recommend you to stay in the historic center a good choice would be the Solera House you are directly in the center and it is not so far from all the great parts of Quito center. For some great tour in Quito I recommend you Travel 2 South

You are writing that you will flight to Coca, did you book a flight ? Actually Yasuni is a good choice but now with all the Oil exploration you will see dozen of Oil Boats and trucks all the way to the lodges... but one option could be Yasuni Eco Lodge. IF you like Wildlife, I recommend you to visit Cuyabeno Reserve (Lago Agrio Airport), heres is one of the best tour in Cuyabeno

I hope it could help you ..

Best regards.

All of the daytrips you listed from Quito can easily be arranged by tour agencies you will find there, or even by your hotel/hostel in many cases. Maybe the exception is Cotopaxi, which may well be closed for tourists due to volcanic activity. It's no use to go to Otavalo unless you go on a Saturday. And you can take a daytrip to the Quilotoa lake from Quito, but the Quilotoa loop is a multiple day trekking route.

My choice for an Amazon basin lodge in Ecuador is www.shiripunolodge.com. You need to reserve and pay in advance, and they pick the guests up in Coca for transport to the isolated lodge, way far out in the jungle on the Shiripuno river.

Thanks greenative. I will think about staying over night in Quito.

So to get to Puerto Ayora, I must take a bus from the airport to the port and take a boat to Santa Cruz port. Then take a taxi or bus to Puerto Ayora.

Thanks for the island recommendations. If I dont get a cheap cruise, I am planning to do some Island hopping.

I am planning to stay in the historic center. Is there a cheaper way of reach the historic center in Quito?

No, I haven't booked the ticket to Coca. Was planning to buy the ticket soon. I am interested to see wildlife, so you are recommending Cuyabeno Reserve.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Thanks mstep for the information.

I need to adjust my plan to go to Otavalo on Saturday. Would I be able to see wildlife in Shiripuno lodge?? Should I pay for the lodge in Quito??

Thanks for your information again.

The Cuyabeno region is the cheap option for the Amazon basin. It's an area that is close to commercial activity, oil extraction, etc. But you can see wildlife there depending on the season, because when the water is high, animals do get trapped on the islands there. South of Coca, the Yasuni National park and the Huaorani Reserve are much better, but also more expensive. That is a truly isolated area, and the wildlife likes isolated areas best, because indigenous people are always hunting animals, even monkeys.

For sure you can take a Shuttle bus ($8) to the old airport and then a taxi.. it should be a little cheaper ! The Aeroservicos shuttle can be bought directly from the Airport at your arrival. Then from the Bicentenary Park it will cost you around $5 to get to the Historic Center see on maps !

I recommend you Cuyabeno if you want to see the pink dolphin and the tour I told you cost $280 / person for a 3 days / 2 nights all inclusive Cuyabeno Tour or 310 $ / person for the 4 Days & 3 Nights Tour with the best naturalist bilingual local guides

We loved Isabela and San Cristobal. Isabela has great snorkeling full day and half day trips, cool beachy vibe with sand streets, some cool little bars on the beach. San Cristobal has great access to scuba and snorkel - a half day trip to Kicker Rock for snorkeling was worth it. There's also a lot of walking you can do and a few beaches that you can access on your own for snorkel. We didn't do a cruise and stayed on land the whole time (with a few days trips that we arranged when we got to each island). Every hostel is linked with a tour company, so it's super easy to book little adventures.

Thanks for the info Annelisemch. I will be sure to check those islands out.

Thanks for the info. That was very helpful.