Summer 2026 Family Trip
2 adults + 19yo | Ecuador booked Jul 2-19, 2026
Ecuador
Booked · Jul 2-19, 2026Four Worlds in One Country · 17 days
Outbound: Thu Jul 2 (overnight)
YUL 11:00 PM → BOG 4:15 AM
2h40m layover in Bogota
BOG 6:55 AM → UIO 8:40 AM (Fri Jul 3)
Avianca 201 + 8377 | 10h 40m total
Return: Sat Jul 19
GYE 10:05 AM → BOG 12:00 PM
2h00m layover in Bogota
BOG 2:00 PM → YUL 9:35 PM
Avianca 8384 + 260 | 10h 30m total
C$1,111/person x 3 = C$3,333 total | FlightHub
Accommodation Overview (16 nights)
| Location | Dates | Nights | Type | Book On | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quito | Jul 3-5 | 3 | BOOKED: Bright apartment 2BR, La Floresta | Booking.com | CAD 247 total |
| Baños | Jul 6-8 | 3 | BOOKED: Hotel Volcano Baños, Triple Room | Booking.com (free cancel before Jul 5, pay at hotel) | CAD 433 total |
| Amazon Lodge | Jul 9-11 | 3 | BOOKED: Liana Lodge, Familiy Cabaña all-inclusive | Booked direct (cash on arrival) | $850.72 USD total for 3 |
| Riobamba | Jul 12 | 1 | Hotel Montecarlo (booked) | Booking.com | CAD 99 total |
| Cuenca | Jul 13-14 | 2 | BOOKED: Otorongo Apartment 11, Garden View | Booking.com (free cancel before Jul 6) | CAD 219 total |
| Puerto López | Jul 15-16 | 2 | BOOKED: HosterÃa Mandala, Budget Triple | Booking.com (free cancel before Jul 1) | CAD 239 total |
| Montañita | Jul 17 | 1 | Hotel Kundalini (booked) | Booking.com | CAD 149 total |
| Guayaquil | Jul 18 | 1 | Wyndham Garden Guayaquil (booked) | Booking.com | CAD 121 total |
Airbnb for longer stays (kitchen, space for 3). Booking.com for quick 1-night hotel stops. Amazon lodge is all-inclusive (meals, guides, activities). Budget: ~$1,800-2,800 CAD total accommodation for 3 people.
Day-by-Day Guide
HighlightLand in Quito and walk the colonial Old Town: Plaza Grande, the gold-covered La CompañÃa, and La Ronda at dusk.
Basilica del Voto Nacional towers framing Quito's cityscape
Quito old town rooftops with church tower and the Andes
La CompañÃa de Jesús: 7 tons of gold leaf on the baroque altar
La CompañÃa interior: gold arches, dome, and ornate ceiling
Aerial view of Quito's colonial center from the Basilica tower
Quito panorama from El Panecillo hill
Cotopaxi volcano rising above Quito at twilight
Colonial facade with wrought iron balconies and lanterns on La Ronda
Transport
Uber app works at UIO arrivals. Or use official taxi counter inside the terminal.
Accommodation (3 nights)
Bright apartment, 2 bedrooms, sensational view (BOOKED: CAD 247 total incl. taxes, free cancellation)
73 m² 2BR with kitchen and free parking. ACTION: message the host via Booking that we land Jul 3 at 8:40 AM and ask for early check-in or bag drop; a past guest noted the owner can arrange airport transport.
Morning
- -Arrive Quito 8:40 AM after overnight flight from Montreal via Bogota
- -Uber to Airbnb, check in, shower, rest
- -Light breakfast at a nearby cafe (altitude tip: eat light on day 1)
Afternoon
- -Walk to the Old Town (20 min taxi or Uber from La Mariscal)
- -Plaza Grande: Presidential Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, Archbishop's Palace
- -La CompañÃa de Jesús: the most ornate church in the Americas (7 tons of gold leaf)
- -San Francisco church and plaza: the largest colonial square in South America
Evening
- -Walk La Ronda: Quito's oldest street, now a charming lane of artisan workshops
- -Try canelazos (hot cinnamon-naranjilla drink) from a La Ronda vendor
- -Early dinner, then sleep early to adjust to altitude (2,850m) and time zone
Where to Eat
Book in Advance
- !Airbnb (3 nights: Jul 3-5) - BOOKED
- !PULL CASH IN QUITO: over these first days, withdraw the USD cash for Liana ($850.72 + ~$80 tips) from Quito ATMs with the Wise card (a few pulls; limits ~$300-500, fee ~$3-5 each). Ecuador uses USD, so no conversion. No ATMs near the jungle, so do it before Baños. Carry ~$400 USD from Canada as a card-failure backup.
Tips
- *You are at 2,850m altitude. Drink coca tea (mate de coca), available at most restaurants. Take it easy today.
- *Quito tap water is drinkable but most travelers prefer bottled.
- *Download Uber before arriving. It works great in Quito and is safer than street taxis.
- *USD is the currency. ATMs everywhere. Small bills ($5, $10) are best for markets and taxis.
HighlightOtavalo on Saturday: the largest indigenous market in South America, then the Cuicocha crater lake rim.
Browsing vibrant Andean textiles: ponchos, blankets, and woven goods
Otavalo market: colorful spices, seeds, and powders in open sacks
Indigenous hands weaving colorful textile on a traditional backstrap loom
HighlightRide the TelefériQo to 4,100m above Quito, then stand with one foot in each hemisphere at Mitad del Mundo.
TelefériQo cable car ascending to 4,100m with valley views
Quito city buildings from above during daytime
HighlightCotopaxi: hike to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,864m under the perfect snow cone, then drive down to Baños.
Cotopaxi: snow-capped cone emerging from clouds, hikers at the base
Cotopaxi volcano towering over the highlands at dusk
Cotopaxi above green páramo grassland, clouds wrapping the summit
HighlightThe Swing at the End of the World over the canyon, canyoning down waterfalls, hot springs at night.
The Swing at the End of the World: soaring over 2,600m canyon with Tungurahua behind
Baños de Agua Santa nestled in a deep green Andean valley
Canyoning: rappelling down a waterfall near Baños
HighlightBike the Ruta de las Cascadas downhill past the waterfalls and walk behind the 80m Pailón del Diablo.
Pailón del Diablo: the 80m Devil's Cauldron framed by jungle
Pailón del Diablo thundering through the rock canyon
HighlightInto the Amazon: bus down from the Andes, canoe up the Arajuno to Liana Lodge, first jungle walk and night walk.
Wooden canoe on calm Amazon river water, rainforest behind
Wide Amazon river at golden hour, towering clouds over the jungle
Night jungle: red-eyed tree frog glowing on a leaf
Open-Jaw Flight Strategy
Fly In
Montreal (YUL)
to Quito (UIO)
17 Days in Ecuador
North → South
Quito to Guayaquil
Fly Out
Guayaquil (GYE)
to Montreal (YUL)
Book as one "multi-city" ticket (not two one-ways). Copa Airlines via Panama City is usually the best option for open-jaw routes. LATAM and Avianca also work. This saves a full day of backtracking from Guayaquil to Quito.
No Rental Car Needed
Ecuador is best traveled WITHOUT a rental car. Mountain roads are narrow and winding, local drivers are aggressive, and parking in cities is a hassle. Instead, use a mix of:
Tourist Shuttles
Comfortable, direct, $10-20/person between major towns
Private Drivers
Day trips $80-100 CAD. Book via hotel/WhatsApp
Intercity Buses
Modern, clean, $5-15/person. Ecuador's bus network is excellent
Uber
Available in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca. Safer than street taxis
Ecuador uses USD. No currency exchange needed.
Getting Between Each Stop
Copa via Panama City or LATAM via Lima/Bogota. Book multi-city (open-jaw) to return from Guayaquil.
7-9h (1 stop)
$600-900 CAD
Hire a driver for the day trip. They wait while you explore. Book through hotel or WhatsApp.
2h
$80-100 CAD
Most people book a day tour that includes transport + guide. Can also hire private driver.
2h
$40-60 CAD/person
Comfortable tourist shuttles run daily. Book at any hostel/hotel. Bring a jacket for the mountain pass.
4h
$15 CAD/person
Most jungle lodges include pickup from Baños or Tena. Confirm when booking. Dramatic descent from mountains to jungle.
3h
Included with lodge
Intercity bus back up to the highlands. Book at Tena bus terminal or have lodge arrange.
5h
$10-15 CAD/person
Hire a guide with transport. Altitude is serious (5,000m), go slow. Guide recommended for safety.
1.5h
$60-80 CAD
Scenic highland route through the Avenue of Volcanoes. Comfortable modern buses.
4.5h
$10 CAD/person
Through dramatic dry forest/desert transition. Bring snacks. Consider breaking at Guayaquil if tired.
6h
$12 CAD/person
Full-day boat tour includes snorkeling + whale watching (Jun-Sep). Book in town the day before.
1.5h each way
$45-60 CAD/person
Coastal bus. Short and easy ride along the Pacific.
2h
$5 CAD/person
CLP or Libertad Peninsular buses. Direct service multiple times daily.
3h
$8 CAD/person
Return leg of your open-jaw ticket. Same airlines: Copa, LATAM, Avianca.
8-10h (1 stop)
$600-900 CAD
Recommended Apps
Maps.me / Organic Maps
Must haveOffline maps. Download Ecuador before you go. Works without internet in the jungle and mountains.
AllTrails
Must haveTrail maps for Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Baños area. Decent Ecuador coverage.
Wikiloc
Must haveMore South American trails than AllTrails. Very popular with local hikers in Ecuador.
Essential. It's how everyone communicates in Ecuador: booking tours, contacting drivers, restaurants.
Uber
Must haveWorks in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Safer and more reliable than street taxis.
Google Translate
Must haveDownload Spanish offline pack. Outside tourist areas, English is limited.
Google Maps
Good for cities and major roads. Less reliable in rural/jungle areas.
XE Currency
Ecuador uses USD, so not strictly needed. Useful for comparing prices to CAD.
iOverlander
If you end up renting a car: gas stations, rest stops, road conditions.
TripIt
Organize all your bookings, flights, and reservations in one place.
Safety by Region
Quito (Old Town / La Mariscal)
Standard city precautions. Don't flash valuables. Use Uber at night. Old Town is safe during the day.
Otavalo / Northern Highlands
Very safe tourist area. Friendly indigenous communities. Keep an eye on belongings at the market.
Cotopaxi National Park
Safe. Main risk is altitude sickness. Acclimatize in Quito first. Bring warm layers.
Baños de Agua Santa
Very safe, tourist-oriented town. Use reputable tour operators for adventure activities.
Amazon / Tena region
Safe with a guide (always). Don't wander alone in the jungle. Follow your guide's instructions. Bring insect repellent.
Riobamba / Chimborazo
Safe. Altitude is the main risk (5,000m). Watch for symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness. Descend if needed.
Cuenca
One of the safest cities in South America. Large expat community. Very walkable.
Puerto López / Montañita
Generally safe. Watch belongings on the beach. Montañita nightlife can get rowdy late. Stay aware.
Guayaquil
Stay in Las Peñas / Malecón 2000 area. Use Uber, don't walk far at night. Avoid south side of the city.
Packing for Four Climates
Mountains (Days 1-6)
- Warm fleece/down jacket (nights drop to 5-10C)
- Rain shell (afternoon showers)
- Hiking boots (essential for Cotopaxi/Chimborazo)
- Sun protection (equatorial UV is intense at altitude)
Jungle (Days 7-9)
- Light long sleeves and pants (mosquito protection)
- Rubber boots (lodge usually provides)
- Strong insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)
- Dry bag for electronics (humidity is extreme)
Desert / Highlands (Days 10-12)
- Layers (hot sun, cold wind at 4,000m+)
- Altitude sickness meds (acetazolamide, coca tea)
- Lip balm with SPF (dry air cracks lips fast)
- Buff/neck gaiter for wind and dust
Coast / Beach (Days 13-17)
- Swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen
- Water shoes (rocky beaches at Isla de la Plata)
- Light shorts and t-shirts
- Snorkel mask (or rent on Isla de la Plata)
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