One Month Ecuador Itinerary for Solo Travelers

One Month Itinerary Backpacking in Ecuador

Quito is located more than 3,000 meters above sea level, and the last thing you want to do is hit the ground running, go off, and start hiking volcanoes. So before you do anything, be sure you are acclimatized to the altitude first.

The key to acclimatization is to let your body get used to the altitude slowly, and what better way to do it than to walk around the city and explore the beautiful colonial part of Quito. Spend the first day walking around Quite Historic Center, check out the Independence Square, and be sure to walk all the way to Basílica del Voto Nacional, one of my favorite piece of architecture here.

The next day, hop on a bus at Quito Norte Bus Station and go on a day trip and visit the Center of the World (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo), a monument signifying that you can jump from one hemisphere to another.

Personally, I think the area is nothing particularly special, but it is still pretty cool to know that you have made it to the center of the World! Well, almost at least, because the monument was built in the 80s and they thought the center of the world was here, but in fact, it is actually around 240 meters away 🤣.

After spending the first two days acclimatizing, now it is time for you to go do something crazy. How about climbing a volcano? Pichincha Volcano is one of the most accessible volcanoes here and you can easily reach it via a 5-minute cable car straight from the city center. The hike should take about 4 hours up and 3 hours down, so this will be an entire day trip.

First, take an Uber to Quito Teleferico and get a round-trip ticket for the cable car for 9 USD. Once you arrive at the other end, you can hike straight from the cable car station all the way to the summit in 4 hours.

The trail is pretty straightforward at first, but the last hour is extremely steep and gets a bit technical, as you will have to be on all fours and scramble your way up a pretty steep rock face. However, the view from the 4,700-meter-high summit is well worth the effort.

While you are up there, you might even meet a few inhabitants of the volcanoes, these little friendly eagles who just love hanging out with me as you can see in the picture here 😄. Spend an hour at the tip and enjoy the view before making your way down.

Getting down is quite easy, as most parts of the trail are gravel paths so you should be able to easily run straight down. It’s gonna take about 3 hours so be sure you calculate your time carefully so you are not hiking in the dark.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

For more information about Quito:Top 7 Things to Do in Quito, Ecuador

Getting From Quito to Mindo

After 3 days in Quito, we will go north to check out the beautiful cloud forest of Mindo, which is home to over 500 species of birds. To get from Quito to Mindo, you will have to catch a bus at Terminal de La Ofelia, which you can reach by taxi or by taking the local bus #3 from the main square to the bus terminal.

There are approximately 4 buses running between Quito and Mindo every day. The journey will take about 2 hours and cost 3 USD per person. The bus company that operates this route is called Flor del Valle, and you can simply go to the bus terminal and get a ticket on the spot.

Mindo (2 nights)

Mindo is one of my favorite areas in Ecuador. The peaceful town is located in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains and cloud forests, where you can go bird-watching, spend the day hiking to one of the many waterfalls, and even go tubing across the jungle.

For the first half of the day, you can make your way to Minjoy Park early in the morning and take the chairlift up the mountain. It is about 8 USD for a round-trip ticket and it will take you deep into the jungle and drop you off right at the trailhead of Mindo’s Sanctuary of Waterfalls hike (Tarabita Mindo a las Cascadas).

Depending on your time and physical condition, you can choose one of the 3 hiking trails and you should be able to follow the signed trail to see the extensive network of waterfalls Mindo is known for. There are 7 waterfalls in the area, so be sure to check them all out.

For the latter half of the day, you can also go tubing and spend the rest of the day chilling out, drinking beers by the river, and enjoying your quiet moment in nature, away from the crowds. You should be able to book the tubing tour here or through your accommodation.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Mindo to the Amazon

Next up, we will go to the Amazon, and you will have to get back to Quito via the same Flor del Valle bus you took before and buy a tour that will guide you through the Ecuadorian Amazon forest.

I did a 4-day Amazon tour with CarpeDM for 270 USD, which includes everything from accommodation to food to transportation for the entire duration, and I had a blast with them. Be sure to check out the CarpeDM Adventures agency in Quito so they can explain more about the tour.

Amazon – Cuyabeno (4 nights)

Next up, we are going to be heading back to Quito and start our journey into the Amazon Rainforest. There are many places you can do the Amazon Rainforest tour since the forest covers over 9 countries. The reason I chose to do it in Ecuador is because it is relatively close to the capital city and it only took me one overnight bus to get to the heart of the Amazon.

If you want to explore Amazon, I highly recommend you book one in advance as it requires a bit of planning and logistics involved. You can find many Amazon tours online here or look around for an agency in Quito. I did a 4-day Amazon tour with CarpeDM for about 300 USD, and it includes an overnight bus ticket to Nueva Loja, as well as a guide, transport, food, and accommodation in the Amazon for the entire trip.

We took an overnight bus to Nueva Loja and the tour picked us up from the bus station to their office as they prepared all the supplies for the trip. After that, we took a canoe into the Amazon Forest and spent 4 days in the jungle, with many activities lined up for us to enjoy each day.

They took us through the jungle on foot, both during the day and at night, to spot wildlife, some of which will completely blow your mind, like the Anaconda we saw just outside of our lodge. They also took us on a boat ride around a lagoon and we had time to chill and relax while being surrounded by the Amazon Forest. It was incredible!

On other days, we also visit a local village and meet the indigenous people living in the Amazon. They showed us their ways of life, performing rituals to drive out bad spirits, and we got to meet the village chief himself. It was such a memorable experience that you should not miss it!

The entire trip was incredible and the guide we had was amazing. However, don’t expect to spend four full days exploring the forest, as you will be spending the first and last day traveling, and you actually have around 2 full days completely in the jungle. For me, that was more than enough as the jungle can be a pretty unforgiving place to spend many nights in.

On your last day, you will then be dropped off at the bus station and you can then take another overnight bus back to Quito. I highly recommend you spend a night in Quito as you are going to need a bit of rest after that epic trip in the Amazon.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Quito to Cotopaxi

After the Amazon, you will be back in Quito where you can take a taxi to Quitumbe Bus Terminal in the southern part of the city and catch a bus to Cotopaxi.

At the bus terminal, get on a bus with a sign labeled Cotopaxi, and make sure to tell the bus driver to drop you off at the entrance of Cotopaxi. From there, you will find plenty of local trucks waiting along the street. Wait until more people arrive and hire them to guide you up and down the mountain for $25 USD.

Once you are done, the truck will drop you off at the main road. There, you can then flag down the onward bus to go to Latacunga, where you will spend the night.

Cotopaxi (1 night in Latacunga)

After returning from the Amazon, get on the bus at Quito Sur Bus Station to Cotopaxi and ask the bus driver to drop you off at the entrance of the national park. The driver should drop you along the road, and from there, you should be able to find many local guides with their pick-up truck waiting for you. Tell them you want to go to Cotopaxi and they will pool other people in to share the ride and take you up to the trailhead. They will guide you to the camp for $25 USD.

After you get a pick-up car to take you to Cotopaxi, you will be driven along the rugged road to the trailhead to hike Cotopaxi in about an hour. From the parking lot, it will take another hour to reach the mountain hut where you can enjoy the mountain view as well as warm yourself up with a cup of hot cocoa.

That is as far as you can go on Cotopaxi without requiring technical gear. Once you are done, you will be dropped off at the entrance of the national park again and they you can flag a local bus heading south down and ask them if they are going to Latacunga. If yes, then hop on it and get to Latacunga to spend the night.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Latacunga to Quitotoa

From Latacunga, you can easily find a bus to Quilotoa Laguna, our next destination, at the Latacunga Bus Terminal. At the bus terminal, simply look out for a kiosk with the QUILOTOA sign in front of it, and you can get the ticket from there.

The bus runs almost every hour, so you should have no trouble getting a ticket right on the spot. The bus should take about 2 hours and cost around $2 per person.

Quilotoa Laguna (1 night)

The next day, you can take another bus from Latacunga Bus Terminal, to get to Quilotoa Laguna where you can enjoy the stunning crater view of Quilotoa and hike parts of the famous Quilotoa Loop. You can also just enjoy the view of the laguna if you find the altitude gain to be a little too much as you will be almost 4,000 meters above sea-level at this point.

Spend the night here before going back down either via a bus if you can find one (ask your accommodation for the bus schedule) or you can just hitchhike down with a local as I did. It was pretty easy, but you might have to pay a little to the driver.

Ask them to drop you off along the road where the Banos-bound bus goes through and catch the bus from there. Usually, they will drop you off at this roundabout and the driver should be able to direct you to the right bus to Banos.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Quilotoa to Banos

From Quilotoa, you can take a bus or hitchhike down to the main road where you can then ask your driver to drop you off at a bus stop. Once you arrive, there will be many buses passing through the area.

Be sure to flag down the one that goes to Baños, and you will be on your way. Ask your driver when they stop if they are going to Baños or not, just to be sure.

Banos (2 nights)

Once you arrive in Banos, you can settle down for the day and prepare for an epic full-day adventure the next day. You can pretty much see everything in Banos in one day by starting off early and hiking up to Mirador Bellavista to get a view of the city from the top.

You can take a break from the hike and enjoy the view of Banos from above before we continue hiking to the main road where you can then catch a bus to La Casa del Árbol, which is where that epic “Swing from the Edge of the World” tree house swing is located.

Make sure to check the bus schedule for that route and plan your time accordingly as the bus only runs 3 times a day. Otherwise, you can also hitchhike as I did as most people driving this road will pass by La Casa del Árbol anyway. If not, you can also go with a private tour.

You can also take the bus operated by Luna Sánchez (the blue one) straight from the downtown at the corner in front of Don Gato bakery. The bus should take about 45 minutes and cost 2 USD. They depart 4 times a day every day at 5:45 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM and they return at 8 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM. The schedule is subject to change though so be sure to ask your accommodation for the updated schedule.

Spend the first half of the day here before taking the bus back to Banos, and prepare for an epic zipline adventure in the afternoon.

Banos is one of the best places to do canopying (ziplining), and if you have never gone ziplining before, here’s your chance to do it. There is also no better place to do it than here as you will be swinging yourself across a massive valley, flying over rivers and waterfalls.

I had a blast doing to ziplining tour via Putzan Canopy. It cost me about 25 USD and it took us about 3 hours to complete the tip with plenty of time on the zipline. It was definitely well worth the money, so be sure to do it when you are in Banos.

After zip-lining, take a taxi to Mirador Ojos Del Volcan and watch the sunset from there. At the viewpoint, you should be able to see the striking Chimborazo volcano as well as get access to plenty of epic swings you can take photos with.

To be honest, I found this viewpoint to be much better than at La Casa del Arbol as the view is more open with the iconic Chimborazo volcano looming behind. It is also way less crowded, which is automatically a way better experience than the one where you have to queue just to get a photo. Once you are done, you can take a taxi back to Banos and retreat for the day.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

For more info:The Backpacking Guide on Things to Do in Baños, Ecuador

Getting From Banos to Guayaquil

From Baños to Guayaquil, you can take a direct bus from Baños Terminal to Guayaquil bus terminal in the early morning, as the trip can take as long as 6-7 hours. The journey will cost you about 10 USD per person.

Guayaquil (1 night)

There isn’t much to see in Guayaquil, so we will be spending only a night here as a jumping point to texplore the Galapagos Island. It is cheaper to fly from here to Galapagos than from Quito, as long as you book the flight way in advance, so be sure to do that before arriving here.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Guayaquil to Galapagos

From Guayaquil to Galapagos, you will have to fly either via LATAM or TAM airlines, and the round-trip cost is often fixed at $351 USD. However, sometimes, if you book way in advance, you might be able to get it cheaper. You can book the flight to the Galapagos here.

Galapagos (10 nights)

Here comes the highlight of visiting Ecuador, and probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. We are going to explore the wonderful Galapagos Islands, home to some of the rarest wildlife sightings in the world. You will never experience anything quite like the Galapagos Islands!

To the Galapagos justice, you need at least a week to explore the archipelago thoroughly in the first few days, looking around to find the right cruise to join. On the first day after arriving in Puerto Ayora, go for a walk around the tourist street and shop for a last-minute cruise to join. There will be many options with different price ranges and routes, so decide carefully.

What I found most reasonable is a 6-day cruise that goes to Puerto Villamil, around Isla Isabela, with a stop at Isla Fernandina, visiting the black and red sand beaches along the way, crossing the equator line, and around Volcan Wolf, with the last stop is at North Seymour Island before going back to Puerto Aroya, all for 1,100 USD.

With this itinerary, I was able to visit the remotest parts of Galapagos, where you won’t be able to visit independently, all in one go. I also got to do things like snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, and seals in these remote areas, which have a much higher density of wildlife than the snorkeling spots near Puerto Aroya.

Tips: What I found after talking to so many agencies quite consistently is that they are unlikely to reduce the already discounted price. However, you can ask them to throw in some free stuff like wetsuits and goggles because you will have to rent them on the cruise if you don’t have one, and it may cost you
10 USD per day! So, do ask them for free stuff!

If you prefer to book a cruise only, you can browse through some of the offerings here Make sure you get the one that will take you to islands like Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela, Isla Fernandina, and North Seymour Islands, so you can really make the best out of your experiences.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

For more info about traveling to the Galapagos:A Guide To Galapagos On A Budget

Getting From Galapagos to Cuenca

From Galapagos, you will have to fly back to Guayaquil, and from there, you can continue your journey south towards Cuenca. Not too far from the airport, you can get a collectivo or a shared van from Bahia Norte bus stop.

It’s only a 10-15 minute walk from the airport. The van leaves when it’s full. The journey should take around 3.5 hours and cost about 12 USD per person.

Cuenca (2 nights)

Although it is relatively comfortable to go on a cruise in the Galapagos, you might feel like you want to be on solid ground for a bit and relax after the trip. Cuenca is the perfect place for that for its incredibly beautiful colonial architecture, charming downtown, and a wonderful city to explore on foot.

Spend the day exploring all the beautiful architecture Cuenca has to offer like Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, probably one of the most stunning Catholic Churches you will see in all of South America. Walking around Cuenca reminded me of my time in Seville, Spain, it was awesome!

While you are in Cuenca, be sure to also drop by Calderon Park, a beautiful park located right at the center of the city, the Old Cathedral of Cuenca, a 16th Century white-washed colonial style cathedral, and all the awesome museums in the city to learn more about this historically rich city.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting From Cuenca to Vilcabamba

To get from Cuenca to Vilcabamba, you will have to catch a bus from Cuenca Bus Terminal to Loja, a big bus hub in the area, and then you can get another bus to Vilcabamba. There are around 5 buses connecting Cuenca to Loja from 7:45 AM to midnight, operated by Ejecutivo San Luis. The journey from Cuenca to Loja should take about 4 hours and cost 7.5 USD.

After you arrive at the Loja bus terminal, you can easily catch a bus with a sign that says “Vilcabamba”, which will take another 45 minutes before you arrive in Vilcabamba.

Vilcabamba (2 nights)

Last but not least, we will be visiting the mountain town of Vilcabamba, an awesome place to go hiking and bid farewell to Ecuador, as you make your way across the land border to Peru afterward.

The first order of business here is to go hike the Mandango trail, where you will get to see and hike the Mandango Rock, which is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Vilcabamba. The hike begins this trailhead and it should take about 3 – 4 hours to complete so be sure to dedicate enough time for the hike. I wouldn’t recommend hiking after sundown as you can easily get lost here!

Once you get down, do treat yourself to a nice falafel at the United Falafel Organization (UFO) restaurant near the church in the square before retreating for the day.

From here, if you want to cross the border to Peru, you will have to start off early and get yourself to Loja. Then, you can either take the afternoon direct bus to Piura, Peru.

If you were unlucky like me and found yourself in Loja with no bus leaving at 1 PM as it used to, you can do it independently quite easily. First, get a bus from Loja Bus Terminal to Macara and take a taxi to the land border.

Once you have crossed the border, you can get some money exchanged at the small restaurant on your left and get a collectivo (shared taxi) to Sullana. Ask the collectivo driver to drop you off at the bus station to Piura, where you can get a night bus to Trujillo.

There are plenty of buses going from Loja to Macara and from Sullana to Piura, so do not worry that you might get stuck somewhere in between. There will also be people looking to fill up the collectivo as fast as they can at the border, so there is no need to worry about that either. All in all, the experience was easier than I thought and better than waiting a whole day for another bus!

First time in South America? Check out:20 Best Places to Visit in South America

Why visit Ecuador?

If you like nature and experiencing wildlife up close, there is no place like the Galapagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon. If you enjoy hiking, Quito, Cotopaxi, and Quilotoa are all great bases to launch yourself into the mountains. And if you appreciate photogenic places, Cuenca and Banos offer you the best options for that.

Have you ever browsed through Instagram and found a photo of a person swinging on the treehouse off the edge of the cliff, overlooking a volcano? Do you want one of those photos for yourself? Well, you’re in luck because all those photos were taken at Casa del Árbol in Baños, Ecuador! If this photo doesn’t make you want to visit Ecuador, I don’t know what will!

When to Visit Ecuador?

The weather in Ecuador generally varies depending on the area. The higher the altitude, the colder and more unpredictable it is. June to September is the warmest and driest period in the mountains, whereas May to November is quite cool in the south and on the coast. Galapagos is good all year round, whereas the Amazon will always be humid and warmer than other places.

I was there in October, and the weather was perfectly fine, with a relatively small number of cloudy days in the mountains.

How to Get to Ecuador?

The best way to get here is to fly into Quito if you are coming from abroad. I would recommend you browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find a cheap flight from where you live to Quito that best fits your itinerary. If you are already in Colombia, you can simply cross the border from the north with a shared taxi from Ipiales to Quito and traverse from north to south as suggested in the itinerary.

How To Get Around Ecuador?

Ecuador is a small country, so traveling around it is not much of a headache. Although buses can be quite old, with great roads, getting from one place to another is relatively easy and painless. When it comes to long distances, you have many buses to choose from at the bus terminals in Quito. Be sure to check your destination and get to the right terminal. There are 2 terminals, Terminal Quitumbe, which serves the southern route, and Terminal Carcelén, which serves the northern route.

For traveling around in Quito, if you are located in the old town part, walking around is the easiest option. If you are a little further from the center, local bus systems like El Trole, Metrobus, and Ecovia can get you to many places for as cheap as 0.25 USD.

For Galapagos, the only option is to fly from either Quito or Guayaquil (cheaper) with LATAM for US$351 round trip. Getting around the remote islands can only be done through private last-minute cruises that range from $600 USD for 3 days to $1100 USD for 6 days. You can do them independently, but only to a populated area, and the boat costs around $200 USD for round trip.

My recommendation is to go to the island and walk around the streets to find a last-minute cruise that works for your schedule. This way, you get access to places you won’t be able to if you do it independently, and it costs the same. DO NOT book your cruise abroad as it could cost you an additional 2000 USD!

Which tourist SIM card is best for Ecuador?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Ecuador without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you’ll be good to go. If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Ecuador:

Claro serves me well as a SIM card with reliable internet access that can be easily recharged at any shop displaying the Claro logo. However, the coverage can be quite difficult to find in places like Galapagos and Mindo where there are no better alternatives. For more information, read more here.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It’s FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

What to Pack for Ecuador?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Ecuador:

Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.

Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.

Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).

Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It’s lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.

Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker’s towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.

Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.

Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Universal Adapter: You’ll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.

Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for South America? Check out:What to Pack For South America: The Essential Packing List

Further Reading for Ecuador

There’s so much more to do in Ecuador, and I have written a few articles about my experience in Ecuador. To read further about Ecuador, be sure to check out these articles:

Looking for a complete backpacking guide to the entire South American continent? Here is the ultimate 6-Month Backpacking Itinerary for South America.

First time in South America? Check out the 20 Best Places to Visit in South America.
Packing for a trip to visit South America can be extremely daunting. Here’s a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for South America.
Quito is the second highest capital city in the world, standing at 2850m, and you will likely start your journey in Ecuador there. Here is a complete travel guide on the top 7 things to do in Quito, Ecuador.
Banos is a place you may not have heard of, but you have definitely seen a photo of it. It is where the famous “swing at the edge of the world” photo was taken, and it is a must-visit when you are in Ecuador. Here’s a complete travel guide on how to spend one day in Banos, including zip-lining, swinging off cliffs, and more.
Galapagos, one of the many reasons to visit Ecuador, is not the cheapest place to visit, but there are ways to minimize your costs. Here is the cheapest way to travel to Galapagos based on my personal experience.
Not convinced by my words about Ecuador? Check out 34 breathtaking photos that will inspire you to visit Ecuador.
You can also watch my Ecuador travel video here: Ecuador Crossing travel video.
To see all articles about Ecuador, visit the Ecuador Travel Guide page.
Looking for a place to go after Ecuador? Popular destinations after Ecuador are Colombia and Peru. Be sure to check out my Colombia travel guide page and Peru travel guide page.
Looking for more travel guides for South America? You can find more on my South America Travel Guide page.
For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.