Summer 2026 Family Trip

2 adults + 19yo | Ecuador booked Jul 2-19, 2026

🇪🇨

Ecuador

Booked · Jul 2-19, 2026

Four Worlds in One Country · 17 days

Logistics

FLIGHT BOOKEDConfirmation: ADINUO

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	Booking.com	$30-50 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: Hostería Mandala, Budget Triple	Booking.com (free cancel before Jul 1)	CAD 239 total
Montañita	Jul 17	1	Beach hotel	Booking.com	$30-60 total
Guayaquil	Jul 18	1	Hotel near Malecón	Booking.com	$50-80 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

Basilica del Voto Nacional towers framing Quito's cityscape

Quito old town rooftops with church tower and the Andes

La Compañía de Jesús: 7 tons of gold leaf on the baroque altar

La Compañía 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

La Ronda: artisan workshops and cafes on Quito's oldest street

Transport

Quito Airport (UIO)→La Mariscal

Uber/taxi|8:40 AM arrival|45 min|$8-12 CAD

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)

La Floresta (Edificio Elite), border of La Mariscal, ~10-15 min walk to Plaza Foch|CAD 247 total for 3 nights, 3 adults (incl. taxes)|Book on Booked on Booking.com

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 Compañía 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

BreakfastCafe near Airbnb or buy pastries at a panadería. Try humitas (sweet corn tamales).

LunchLocro de papa (creamy potato and cheese soup with avocado) at a restaurant in the Old Town. Classic Quito comfort food.

DinnerLa Ronda area. Try llapingachos: fried potato cakes stuffed with cheese, served with chorizo and fried egg.

Book in Advance

!Airbnb (3 nights: Jul 3-5)

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.

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

Day 1

Montreal (YUL)→Quito (UIO)

Copa via Panama City or LATAM via Lima/Bogota. Book multi-city (open-jaw) to return from Guayaquil.

Flight

7-9h (1 stop)

$600-900 CAD

Day 3

Quito→Otavalo

Hire a driver for the day trip. They wait while you explore. Book through hotel or WhatsApp.

Private driver

$80-100 CAD

Day 4

Quito→Cotopaxi

Most people book a day tour that includes transport + guide. Can also hire private driver.

Tour shuttle

$40-60 CAD/person

Day 5

Quito→Baños

Comfortable tourist shuttles run daily. Book at any hostel/hotel. Bring a jacket for the mountain pass.

Tourist shuttle

$15 CAD/person

Day 7

Baños→Tena (Amazon)

Most jungle lodges include pickup from Baños or Tena. Confirm when booking. Dramatic descent from mountains to jungle.

Lodge transfer

Included with lodge

Day 10

Amazon→Riobamba

Intercity bus back up to the highlands. Book at Tena bus terminal or have lodge arrange.

Bus

$10-15 CAD/person

Day 11

Riobamba→Chimborazo

Hire a guide with transport. Altitude is serious (5,000m), go slow. Guide recommended for safety.

Tour/driver

1.5h

$60-80 CAD

Day 12

Riobamba→Cuenca

Scenic highland route through the Avenue of Volcanoes. Comfortable modern buses.

Bus

4.5h

$10 CAD/person

Day 13

Cuenca→Puerto López

Through dramatic dry forest/desert transition. Bring snacks. Consider breaking at Guayaquil if tired.

Bus

$12 CAD/person

Day 14

Puerto López→Isla de la Plata

Full-day boat tour includes snorkeling + whale watching (Jun-Sep). Book in town the day before.

Tour boat

1.5h each way

$45-60 CAD/person

Day 15

Puerto López→Montañita

Coastal bus. Short and easy ride along the Pacific.

Bus

$5 CAD/person

Day 16

Montañita→Guayaquil

CLP or Libertad Peninsular buses. Direct service multiple times daily.

Bus

$8 CAD/person

Day 17

Guayaquil (GYE)→Montreal (YUL)

Return leg of your open-jaw ticket. Same airlines: Copa, LATAM, Avianca.

Flight

8-10h (1 stop)

$600-900 CAD

Recommended Apps

Maps.me / Organic Maps

Must have

Offline maps. Download Ecuador before you go. Works without internet in the jungle and mountains.

AllTrails

Must have

Trail maps for Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Baños area. Decent Ecuador coverage.

Wikiloc

Must have

More South American trails than AllTrails. Very popular with local hikers in Ecuador.

Must have

Essential. It's how everyone communicates in Ecuador: booking tours, contacting drivers, restaurants.

Uber

Must have

Works in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Safer and more reliable than street taxis.

Google Translate

Must have

Download 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

moderate

Quito (Old Town / La Mariscal)

Standard city precautions. Don't flash valuables. Use Uber at night. Old Town is safe during the day.

safe

Otavalo / Northern Highlands

Very safe tourist area. Friendly indigenous communities. Keep an eye on belongings at the market.

safe

Cotopaxi National Park

Safe. Main risk is altitude sickness. Acclimatize in Quito first. Bring warm layers.

safe

Baños de Agua Santa

Very safe, tourist-oriented town. Use reputable tour operators for adventure activities.

safe

Amazon / Tena region

Safe with a guide (always). Don't wander alone in the jungle. Follow your guide's instructions. Bring insect repellent.

safe

Riobamba / Chimborazo

Safe. Altitude is the main risk (5,000m). Watch for symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness. Descend if needed.

safe

Cuenca

One of the safest cities in South America. Large expat community. Very walkable.

moderate

Puerto López / Montañita

Generally safe. Watch belongings on the beach. Montañita nightlife can get rowdy late. Stay aware.

caution

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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