Road trip itinerary

If you've already been to a jungle lodge in the Amazon basin, I see little reason to drive down to Puyo from Banos. If you want a little more time in the Amazon basin, just spend another night in Coca, or wherever your jungle lodge picks you up.

And maybe after you've visited Montanita and Puerto Lopez, you'll have had enough of beaches in Ecuador. Canoa is great, and it's the closest beach to reach from Quito, but I don't think it's a must see for every tourist. You might want another day in Puerto Lopez, so you have enough time to explore Machalilla national park.

And I'm guessing you might want more than one night in Cuenca. It's a really beautiful colonial town, and plus since you'll have a car, you can explore the beautiful Parque Nacional Cajas. Also be sure to stop at Ingapirca, on the way to Cuenca, to see the Inca ruins.

Thanks, Puyo was just for the great drive from what I've heard and can be easily skipped, as you mentioned.
Since I wanted to finish off in Mindo (close to Quito and our flight home) I thought it was worth the drive up the coast to Canoa(is the drive beautiful?).Puerto Lopez to Mindo seems like a big drive, any suggestions for a stop or a route?
Thanks, the plan seems a bit rushed, but I know we can and have done it before.

I wouldn't call the coastal drive up to Canoa "beautiful". It's a region of dry tropical forest, so this time of the year everything is kind of brown: it likely will get green again beginning in January or February, when rain starts.

Going directly from Puerto Lopez to Mindo by car would take maybe two hours more than going to Mindo from Canoa.

Thanks MSTEP, after further research we have also decided to skip Riobamba, at least not to stay there , so we can get our off the beaten track experience driving from Banos and staying in Macas go thru Sangay Park.
I forgot to say that our trip starts Dec 9 and finishes Jan 9, I take it things will still be dry and brown?

I've spent New Years twice on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. Always very dry and brown. But I think every other region in the country is beautiful that time of the year. It's an especially nice time to go down into the Amazon basin.

As to the question about the need for a 4WD, we had a tiny regular rental and went to Chugchilan in the Quilotoa area. The last part of the road from Latacunga is pretty rough, although it is being paved now. Several times we wished we had a 4WD, and if there's a lot of rain (we didn't have any) the road can disappear. On the other hand,.we made it, and the 4WD was way more expensive, funds we spent on the wonderful Black Sheep Inn in Chugchilan instead.

Thanks Jeanfromboston2,
We may get a 4wd, although it does sem very expensive.
-Quito and around for first four nights
-Jungle Lodge (reserved)3 nights

-Quilota loop area- 2nights
-Banos - 3 nights
-Cuenca- 3 nights and Christmas!
-Montanita- 3 nights on beach
-Puerto Lopez- 3 nights and new years
-Mindo-3 nights
-somewhere north of Quito but not Octavalo-ANY IDEAS?
-Quito for flight home
Thanks everyone and if there is anything in these areas that you think we shouldn't miss, your ideas are appreciated.

Although it's easier accessed from Riobabmba going up Chimborozo is amazing and beautiful. I have traveled to Ecuador 8 times and it's one of my favorite places. We booked a biking trip with a local outfitter, they drove us up to the top then we rode bikes down it was awesome. Banos is only about a 45 minute drive from Riobabmba. Although Riobabmba is a largish town it's interesting because the indiginous consider it to be their capital.

-somewhere north of Quito but not Octavalo-ANY IDEAS?

How about Cotacachi? But it's near Otavalo