Description
Your greatest Ecuadorian adventure, from the incredible beaches on the coast, to the beautiful scenery in the mountains, to the tropical paradise of the jungle; this pass has everything you need to see the real Ecuador.
Don’t stress! Once you have booked your pass, you can change your dates to fit your itinerary. Once you start your trip, you’ll also be able to change departure dates. All changes are free and immediate (with 8 hours’ notice and subject to availability).
Main Stops
- Cotopaxi
- Quilotoa
- Baños
- Puyo
- Puerto Misahuallí
- Piakawe Lagoon
- Guamote or Riobamba market
- Ozogoche Lakes
- Cuenca
- El Cajas National Park
- Cacao hacienda
- Guayaquil
- Montañita
- Puerto López
- And many other short stops along the way!
Highlights
- Wander the beautiful streets of Quito’s Old Town where you’ll see amazing gold churches, interesting museums, and the local cuisine, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Explore the stunning Cotopaxi National Park by foot, bike or horseback with a chance to climb one of the world’s highest active volcanoes.
- Take lots of pictures of the famous Quilotoa Lake, a brilliant turquoise, 400-meter deep caldera created from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.
- Raft, hike, bungee jump, zipline and more in the small adventure town of Baños on the border of the Highlands and Amazon.
- Try the delicious traditional Ecuadorian breakfast of maito in Puyo.
- Canoe in the middle of the amazon rainforest looking for wildlife and breathing in the fresh air at Piakawe Lagoon. Return on your own to Baños.
- Discover the picture-perfect colonial city of Cuenca and walk along the Tomebamba River.
- Hike in the cloud forest in El Cajas National Park, which has more than 200 lakes.
- Learn how chocolate really does grow on trees, with an authentic cacao experience in a real-life hacienda on the coast.
- Surf with the pros, relax on golden beaches, explore beautiful national parks and party in one of South America’s best nightlife towns, Moñtanita.
- Explore the wild beaches of Machalilla National Park and learn about coastal culture and cuisine around Puerto López.
Recommended Full Itinerary
Remember, this itinerary is just our suggestion – you can hop on and hop off at any of the main stops, extending your trip for as long as you like!
Day 1: Quito to Baños
Departure days: Every day except Sunday
Point 1: Plaza Belmonte 6:00 am. View map
Point 2: Plaza Foch 6:20 am. View map
Starting June 24: Hostel and Hotel Pick-Ups in Quito. See list of options.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 06:00-07:00 | Depart from Quito from your selected pick-up point. |
| 08:00 | Stop for breakfast |
| 09:30 | Guidance at Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. |
| 11:30 | Depart Cotopaxi |
| 12:00 | Short visit to charming Pujili, a town famous for its dancers. Traditional lunch. |
| 13:00 | Depart Pujili |
| 14:15 | Guidance at Quilotoa. Explore the 3km-wide turquoise volcanic crater lake. |
| 16:15 | Depart Quilotoa |
| 19:30-20:00 | Arrive in Baños, home to steaming volcanoes, explosive waterfalls and hot thermal springs. |
Day 2: FREE DAY
To adventure in Baños; you can raft, zipline, go bungee jumping, paraglide, rappel down a waterfall, and so much more!
Day 3: Baños to Puerto Misahuallí
Departure Days: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Point 1: Parque la Basílica (main entrance to the Cathedral) 6:30 am. View map
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 06:30 | Depart from Baños |
| 08:00 | Stop for breakfast in Puyo |
| 10:00 | Visit Piakawe Lagoon for some wildlife watching and a canoe ride |
| 10:45 | Drop off at Puerto Misahuallí |
Day 4: Explore Puerto Misahuallí
Stay in the well-known jungle lodges.
Day 5: FREE DAY
Spend the day in the jungle and visit the Cascadas de Latas, some of the most stunning waterfalls in the area.
Day 6: Travel back to Baños on your own
Make your own way back from Misahuallí in the morning or afternoon. In Baños, visit the Casa del Arbol in the afternoon and swing over a mountain, or just chill in the hot springs with the pueblo!
Return to Baños is NOT aboard the Wanderbus. You can take a private vehicle ($50 for 1 person, $60 for 2; $25 per person for 3 or more), or a public bus. The journey takes around 3 hours, or under 4 on a bus.
Day 7: Baños to Cuenca
Departure Days: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
Point 1: Parque la Basílica (main entrance to the Cathedral) 6:30 am. View map
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 06:30-07:00 | Depart from Baños from your selected pick-up point. |
| 09:30 | 15-minute stop at the mirror-like Colta lake and Balbanera church for photos. |
| 10:00 | Visit Guamote or Riobamba to explore one of the most authentic markets in the country. Time for a local breakfast in the market. |
| 11:00 | Depart Guamote or Riobamba. |
| 12:00 | Guidance at Ozogoche, 45 lagoons for hiking, fishing and spotting highland wildlife amid dramatic landscapes. |
| 13:00 | Lunch at Ozogoche, made by the local community. |
| 14:30 | Depart Ozogoche. |
| 15:00 | Short stop to visit Alausi. Those who wish to take the train hop off at Alausi. |
| 19:30-20:00 | Arrive in Cuenca, ready to explore one of South America’s most intact colonial cities. |
Day 8: FREE DAY
Explore the historic and bohemian charms of Cuenca, including visiting the Pumapungo Inca ruins, walking along the riverside, checking out the art galleries and shops, visiting a convent and enjoying the cafés, bars and clubs.
Day 9: FREE DAY
Discover more of the treasures just outside the city, exploring Inca ruins in Ingapirca, marvelling at the beautiful river and skilled artisans of Gualaceo, and soaking in the volcanic hot springs under the stars.
Day 10: Cuenca to Montañita
Departure Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
Point 1: Parque Calderón (main entrance to the Cathedral) 7:00 am. View map
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Depart from Cuenca from your pick-up point. |
| 08:00 | Guidance at El Cajas National Park for a wet and wild adventure among 200 lakes. |
| 09:15 | Depart from El Cajas. |
| 09:30 | Stop for breakfast |
| 11:30 | Visit at hacienda for the cacao experience and lunch. |
| 13:00 | Depart hacienda. |
| 15:15 | Arrive in Guayaquil to drop off/pick up those who wish to stay here. |
| 18:30 | Arrive in Montañita in time to catch the sunset and hit the party scene. |
Day 11
Surf’s up! Get out on the waves and enjoy the beach life of Montañita and it’s nightlife later!
Day 12
Check the sleepy fishing town of Manglaralto for a lazy lunch on the beach, or Olón’s more chilled vibe. Or else organize a hike in the dry forest ecosystem to the east.
Day 13: Montañita to Quito
Departure days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
Point 1: Main road, at Selina hostal 6:50 am.
Point 2: “Surfista” car park towards La Punta 7:00 am.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 06:50-07:00 | Depart from Montañita from your selected pick-up point. |
| 08:00 | Pick up in Puerto Lopez |
| 08:30-09:30 | Cooking experience: Make your own traditional breakfast at Puerto Cayo beach |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Stop for lunch |
| 18:30-19:00 | Arrive in Quito and be dropped off at one of our points. |
Notes
Bear in mind that, due to our bus schedules, you may need to add one extra day to our recommended itineraries at some stops before continuing your trip. It all depends on the day of the week. Please check our Timetables and Planning Guide.
- If you want to do the Quilotoa loop, add two to three days.
- If you want to easily experience the jungle we recommend spending 2-4 days in Puerto Misahuallí, the gateway to all the best Amazon adventures
- If you have more time we recommend you add 2-3 days in Baños
- If you want to take the La Nariz del Diablo train we recommend staying 1 day in Alausi
- If you want to travel to the Galapagos Islands, we recommend being dropped off in Guayaquil
- If you want to spend more time on the beach, we recommend hopping off the bus in Puerto Lopez for 1-2 days
- Please bear in mind that the return from Misahuallí to Baños (to then continue south to Cuenca) is NOT aboard the Wanderbus. You can take a private vehicle ($50 for 1 person, $60 for 2; $25 per person for 3 or more), or a public bus. The journey takes around 3 hours, or under 4 on a bus.
