Quilotoa, Baños and Galápagos from Quito

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, valid October 2026. Ecuador’s government has declared an internal armed conflict with criminal gangs, and states of emergency roll from province to province. Pichincha, home to Quito, is covered until mid-November 2026. A night curfew applied in Quito in May 2026, and another could be announced with little warning. The UK FCDO lists several coastal provinces and the Colombian border strip as “all but essential travel” areas; Quito is not among them. Watch for street crime and express kidnapping: ride only in registered taxis or app cars, particularly after dark and for any trip to El Panecillo. Check the UK FCDO page for Ecuador and travel.state.gov before booking.

Longer trips from Quito follow three patterns: a mountain loop on foot, a bus or drive down the volcano corridor, or a flight to a remote region. Acclimatise in the capital for two or three days before any of them, because the routes below climb to 3,900 m or more. A red alert is in force for the 2026-27 El Niño, so ask about landslides and road closures before a trip by road. Bring US dollars in small notes.

Quilotoa Loop, 3 to 4 days

Getting there: bus from Terminal Quitumbe to Latacunga, about 1.5 to 2 hours for a few dollars, then local buses to Sigchos, Isinlivi or Chugchilán.
On foot: walkers link villages across steep canyons, usually Sigchos to Isinlivi, Isinlivi to Chugchilán, and Chugchilán to the lake. Ask your host for current distances and trail conditions.
The lake: Laguna Quilotoa is a caldera lake with a rim near 3,900 m. A community entry fee of around $2 is reported.
Cash and weather: there are no cash machines on the loop, and the weather changes fast, so pack waterproofs and warm layers.

Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños, 2 to 3 days

South of Quito the Pan-American Highway runs through a corridor of volcanoes that Alexander von Humboldt surveyed in 1802. Spend the first day at Cotopaxi National Park, then continue through Ambato to Baños de Agua Santa at about 1,820 m. Baños is known for waterfalls, hot springs and canyon sports. The waterfall route to Pailón del Diablo charges about $2. Tungurahua volcano has been quiet since 2016. Before any Cotopaxi visit, check the volcano bulletin from the Instituto Geofísico and the park’s status, since closures can be sudden. A summit climb needs an accredited guide.

Galápagos from Quito, 4 to 8 days

The islands are reached by flight only, from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal. Foreign adults pay a $200 park fee at the island airports ($100 under 12), plus a $20 Transit Control Card bought before check-in. You need a return ticket, proof of lodging and health insurance, and visitors are limited to 60 days a year. Most sites require a licensed naturalist guide. Cruises vary widely and start from about $2,000. When connecting in Guayaquil, stay airside, as the UK FCDO advises.

Amazon lodge stays

Rainforest lodges are reached by flight from Quito. Yasuní lodges, served through Coca, cost far more than Cuyabeno packages, which run roughly $300 to $400 for four days. Cuyabeno is normally reached via Lago Agrio, which lies inside the Colombian border strip where the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Read the current advice first, travel by day with a reputable operator and skip night buses. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

Where to base yourself

Reserve a night in Quito before and after each loop, so a delayed bus or flight does not wreck the plan. Use a search such as Quito stays on Booking.com to compare rooms by the bus terminals and airport routes.