r/ecuador • u/cat_lives_upstairs • 1d ago
Itinerary feedback - 3 wks with kids/teens
I would love feedback on my itinerary for March/April! Family of five - kids will be 10, 13, 15. The only thing booked so far is the Galapagos liveaboard cruise and our flights, but I'm about ready to book the rest. Let me know if you have any suggestions. We haven't decided how we're getting around either (rental vs driver vs buses - possibly a mix). Very excited about this trip. Thanks!
Day 1
Toronto-Quito
Arrive early evening
Sleep Quito
Day 2
Quito - Quilotoa
Sleep Black Sheep Inn (probably)
Day 3
Quilotoa - acclimatize
AM: Zumbahua for the market
Sleep Black Sheep Inn (probably)
Day 4
Quilotoa main day - hike if acclimatized, car tour if not
Quilotoa Lake
Sleep Black Sheep Inn (probably)
Day 5
Travel between Quilotoa and Cotopaxi
Sleep Hacienda el Porvenir, Cotopaxi Lodge or Tambopaxi Lodge
Day 6
Cotopaxi - Quito
Day trip to Cotopaxi, ending in Quito
Sleep Quito
Day 7
Quito - Coca - Limoncocha
Tentative booking for an overnight at Limoncocha to see the caimans and fireflies
Day 8
Limoncocha - Coca
Wild Mandari Amazon Jungle Express Day 1
Day 9
Amazon Jungle Express Day 2
Day 10
Amazon Jungle Express Day 3
Day 11
Amazon Jungle Express Day 4 - return to Coca
Sleep Coca
Day 12
Coca- Quito
Keep unplanned
Sleep Quito
Day 13
Quito - could do a day trip to Papallacta Hot Springs but I think the day is better spent in the city - keep unplanned
Sleep Quito
Day 14
Quito-Baltra-Puerto Ayora
Sleep Puerto Ayora
Day 15
Puerto Ayora
Keep unplanned
Sleep Puerto Ayora
Beach Day/relax
Keep unplanned
Day 16
Puerto Ayora
Keep unplanned
Sleep Puerto Ayora
Day 17-21
Galapagos Liveaboard 5 Days / 4 Nights (leaves from Santa Cruz)
Bachas, Bartolome, Sullivan Bay, South Plazas Island, Santa Fe Island, Witch Hill, Pitt Point, San Cristobal Highlands
Day 21
Finish in San Cristobal – fly to Quito
Sleep Quito
Day 22
Quito-Toronto
2
u/gadgetvirtuoso 1d ago
Plan for activities that don’t need the internet. You’ve got a bunch of places on here where the internet is going to be spotty to non-existent. Cellular service changes fast from 5G in Quito to 4G to 3G and EDGE outside the cities. Small towns will have 3G/4G usually but expect that streaming music, YT or online games may not be possible. Most places do have WiFi, even in the Amazon.
You’ve got a lot of travel time in there and kids that age will get board.
Have you all ever been at high altitude before? Plan for at least one person in your group to have trouble with it and may not be up for anything. Soroche is no joke and can happen to anyone.