10 Days in Ecuador: Itinerary including the Galapagos, Quito, and the Choco Rainforest
May - June 2024
Snorkeling alongside a sea lion in the Galapagos!
We just returned from an epic bucket list trip to Ecuador, where we explored Quito, the Choco Rainforest, and the Galapagos Islands. This journey was a special birthday celebration for me, and I aimed for it to be adventurous, fun, and no stress. I love the ocean, it’s my happy place, but I wanted something a little different than a typical beach vacation. Since it was a special birthday I also wanted a touch of luxury, with all the logistics, activities, and meals seamlessly planned.
I worked with an Ecuadorian-based destination management company to assist with the logistics and planning. This was the best decision and my planner nailed it. My partner refers to this as a 10 out of 10 trip.
Our 10-day itinerary (11 days including travel) was packed, but everything was meticulously scheduled in advance, from airport and hotel transfers to tours and guides. Not having to think about what to do next made a world of difference.
Aerial image of Quito including La Carolina Park
Day 1 - Travel Day
Our adventure started with a travel day, flying from Boston to Quito with a layover in Miami. While we always prefer a direct flight a layover in Miami means we were able to grab some Cuban food at La Carreta. This has always been our MIA airport tradition so we save room for some delicious food.
We spent the night at the stunning JW Marriott in Quito which has a beautiful pool and overall an elegant atmosphere. The Marriott also has a great breakfast buffet a range of Ecuadorian foods and breakfast items you usually see in the United States.
View of Mashpi Lodge
Day 2 - Choco Rainforest, Mashpi Lodge
Today was an early pick-up for our journey to Mashpi Lodge in the Choco Rainforest. The drive took about four hours, with the first part being smooth but the last few hours on very bumpy roads. We knew the trip was worthwhile upon arriving at the stunning luxury eco-lodge nestled in the heart of the rainforest.
We arrived before check-in, but we didn’t need to wait around since everything was already planned for us by the hotel. After a quick tour of the hotel and an incredible lunch, we met Jonathan, our guide for the next few days. He helped us get fitted with complimentary rain boots (they were warmed before we tried them on!), and we headed to the Life Center & Butterfly Farm. At the life center, we caught our first glimpse of a toucan and learned about butterflies. The day ended with a delicious gourmet dinner.
Walk through of our beautiful room with tree-house vibe.
Day 3 - Choco Rainforest, Mashpi Lodge
We started early with a birding lesson from the rooftop deck next to our room. I never imagined I would become a birder, but there is something magical about spotting these incredible birds. After the lesson, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast and embarked on our first hike to the skybike, observation tower, and waterfall.
The skybike lets you pedal across the top of the rainforest. The view is just amazing. Another 10 out of 10 experience.
View from the Sky Bike
In the afternoon, we visited the Hummingbird Garden. We had a fantastic time watching the birds flock to the feeders and even had them feeding right out of hand-held sugar-water feeders. Mashpi Lodge strives to minimize human interference with wildlife so you might wonder if feeding the birds is a good idea. Turns out that hummingbirds are so active that they feed all day long, so spending a few hours with humans does not make them dependent on us for food.
Hummingbird feeding out of my hand!
In the evening, we joined our guide for a short night walk through the rainforest. Normally, I don’t seek out bugs and snakes, but this was so much fun. I felt very safe with our knowledgeable guide, who found some amazing glass frogs, tarantulas, scorpions, and more.
Day 4 - Mashpi Lodge to Quito
Sadly, this was checkout day. I wished we had just one more day to relax and enjoy the hotel. I heard the spa and hot tubs were amazing. We decided to make the most of our last morning by visiting a waterfall. The hike was mildly strenuous but very manageable, even for a non-hiker like myself.
Mashpi Lodge sent us off with a delicious box lunch, and we embarked on the 4-hour ride back to Quito, where we stayed overnight at the JW Marriott again.
Day 5 - Quito to the Galapagos
Today we had an early departure for the flight from Quito to Baltra, Galapagos, with a stop in Guayaquil. As always, the transfer was seamless. Our guide had already handled all our Galapagos paperwork and led us straight to check-in and security.
After landing on Baltra, we presented our paperwork showing we had prepaid our entrance fee (though you can also pay it on arrival in cash). An adorable dog then checked our bags to ensure we weren’t bringing any banned items and we were ready to start our Galapagos trip.
Once we collected our luggage, we were met by Naturalist Guides from the Yacht Isabela II, where we would spend the next four nights. Our bags were taken to the ship while we spent the day with the guides.
From Baltra airport, we took a bus to the ferry landing and headed to Santa Cruz Island, the most populous island in the Galapagos. Our group went to Rancho El Manzanillo to see the famous Giant Tortoises. Seeing these up close after watching so many Galapagos nature documentaries was so cool.
After a delicious lunch, we visited the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about turtle conservation efforts. We then had some free time to wander around downtown Santa Cruz, where we were surprised to see iguanas, pelicans, and sea lions casually lounging around, completely unbothered by humans.
In the late afternoon we took our first zodiac ride to Yacht Isabela II. The Isabela II accommodates 40 passengers and includes three naturalist guides. These guides are Ecuadorians who have undergone rigorous training in wildlife, geology, and safety.
The rest of the day was spent getting acquainted with the ship, the schedule, and, of course, participating in a lifeboat drill.
Day 6 - Bartolomé & Santiago Island
This was a packed day but lots of fun. After breakfast we took the zodiac to Bartolomé Island. Bartolomé is one of the younger islands and there is a staircase to the top with a gorgeous view. We also rode the zodiac around part of the island for views of pinnacle rock and penguins.
In the afternoon we headed to Sullivan Bay on Santiago where we had our first chance to snorkel. We saw penguins, sea lions and plenty of fish. This was a dream come true kind of day.
Video of Sea Lion taken while I was snorkeling
Day 7 - Santa Cruz & Santiago
Today we headed to the north coast of Santa Cruz and Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) where we took a leisurely walk and viewed the Yellow Land Iguana. Again, these iguanas do not care about humans. They posed for us and looked totally unbothered.
After lunch, we headed to Santiago Island and Buccaneer Cove. We opted for the Glass Bottom boat tour which was very fun. The guide and boat captain were very good at spotting wildlife including these Golden Rays.
Yellow Land Iguana
Video of Golden Rays passing under the glass bottom boat
Day 8 - Punta Vincente, Isabela & Punta Espinoza, Fernandina
Today started with a zodiac ride along the coastline of Punta Vicente Roca on the northern part of Isabela Island. We saw many birds, fur seals and of course a gorgeous coastline.
After the zodiac ride we went back out to snorkel among the turtles, marine iguanas, and abundance of fish. This was some of the best snorkeling I have ever seen. There were several schools of fish and I swam alongside a marine iguana.
During lunch, the boat set sail for Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island. This island had the most marine iguanas we had seen along with a few flightless commerants and sea lion families. The marine iguanas are absolutely everywhere, you have to be careful not to step on them! The sea lions were playing in the ocean and we also stumbled upon a mom and baby nursing. Truly amazing and it’s so fun to just observe. These animals have no fear of humans and could care less that we were 6ft away.
Day 9 - The Galapagos to Quito
Time to head back to Quito. We had such an amazing time in the Galapagos.
If you didn’t have a chance to buy any souvenirs earlier the Baltra airport has plenty of shops. The airport was a bit crowded however we found a large almost empty priority pass lounge!
Back in Quito we headed for the Casa Gangotena hotel in the Old Town area of the city. This hotel is a splurge and totally gorgeous. The building was once a private home and was converted into a boutique hotel in the mid 2000’s. The lobby is relaxing but very elegant and the rooftop overlooks San Francisco Plaza.
Day 10 - Middle of the World & Quito
Today we hired a guide to take us to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City) and give us a walking tour of the Old Town.
Middle of the World is where the equator supposedly is located (ie latitude 0). There is a monument along with some cultural and historical exhibitions. It’s a little touristy but worth the trip. FYI - With the help of modern GPS we know the actual equator line is a little further down the road (see the video below).
Once back in Old Town we walked through the city along the cobblestone streets. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the history of the area.
Our day in Quito
Day 11 - Time to go home…
We had an amazing time in Ecuador. One of the best adventures and it’s going to be hard to top. In hindsight, I tried to do too much in 10 days. I could have easily spent an entire week in the Galapagos not to mention more time in Quito and the rainforest. We also want to go to Cotopaxi, Cuenca, the Amazon one day so I am sure I will be back.
If you have limited time, I highly recommend prearranging all your transfers and guides. It just takes all the guesswork out of travel and you don’t have to think about anything while traveling.
Ecuador is an amazing destination with something for everyone.