Quito Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need in Quito?

Planning a trip to Ecuador and wondering how much time to dedicate to its captivating capital city, Quito? It’s a common question for travelers eager to experience the best of what this Andean gem has to offer. The ideal duration for your Quito adventure depends on your interests, travel style, and overall itinerary for Ecuador.

• Most travelers spend 5-7 days in Quito, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the city and its surrounding attractions.
• Visiting Quito in 4 days is possible, offering a taste of the city’s highlights, but it will feel rushed, potentially leaving you wanting more.
• With 8 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip, venturing beyond Quito to explore other regions of Ecuador.
• The most common extensions include journeys to Isla San Cristóbal and Puerto Ayora in the mesmerizing Galápagos Islands, or an immersive experience in the biodiverse Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve within the Amazon rainforest.

Ecuador offers a wealth of experiences, from the towering Andes mountains to the Pacific coastline and the enchanting Galápagos Islands. Determining the right amount of time to spend in each location is crucial for a well-rounded and unforgettable trip. Quito, as the gateway to many of these adventures, deserves careful consideration.

## Recommended Itineraries for Quito

To help you plan your visit, here are some recommended itineraries for Quito, catering to different timeframes and interests. These itineraries showcase the diverse range of activities and attractions available in and around the city, providing a foundation for your own personalized travel plan.

### Recommended Itinerary for 5 Days

This five-day itinerary offers a balanced introduction to Quito, combining historical exploration with exciting day trips to nearby destinations. You’ll delve into the city’s rich cultural heritage and witness the stunning natural beauty that surrounds it. Prepare for an immersive experience that will leave you with lasting memories of Ecuador.

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Arrive in Quito, Self-Guided Exploration	Quito
Day 2	Quito City Tour	Quito
Day 3	Otavalo Day-Trip	Quito
Day 4	Hike Cotopaxi National Park	Quito
Day 5	Depart Quito

This short but extensive itinerary brings you into the very heart of the Ecuadorian capital and its surroundings. You’ll tour Quito’s beautifully preserved historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to see fine examples of colonial architecture, learn about history and culture at the Ethnographic Museum, and enjoy the best panoramic view of the city from a strategic vantage point. The adventure continues north of Quito in Otavalo and Cotacachi, renowned for their local crafts, vibrant markets, and skilled artisans. Here, you can immerse yourself in the local culture, haggle for souvenirs, and witness the traditions that have been passed down through generations. Finally, take a day trip to Cotopaxi National Park—its namesake volcano is one of Ecuador’s most famous natural landmarks. The park offers breathtaking views, challenging hiking trails, and the opportunity to witness the unique paramo ecosystem.

### Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days

For those seeking a more immersive experience of Quito’s urban lifestyle, this six-day itinerary is the perfect choice. It combines classic sightseeing with unique cultural activities, offering a deeper understanding of the city’s vibrant spirit and local traditions. Get ready to explore Quito from a different perspective and create unforgettable memories.

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Arrive in Quito, Craft Beer Tour	Quito
Day 2	Quito City Tour, Salsa Dancing Class	Quito
Day 3	Urban Bike Tour, Chocolate Tasting Experience	Quito
Day 4	Visit Pululahua Crater, Lunch at El Patio Restaurant, Visit to Casa Ágave	Quito
Day 5	Hike the Rucu Pichincha Volcano	Quito
Day 6	Free Morning in Quito, Depart Ecuador

Learn to salsa dance, cruise around colorful streets on a bicycle, and sample Ecuadorian craft beers on this lively six-day exploration of Quito. Though the itinerary features a classic city tour and time to explore the historic center, this urban adventure also takes you off the beaten path to taste locally produced chocolates, hike around Pululahua Crater (a stunning dormant volcano), and learn about agave cultivation in the Andes. The agave plant is not only a fascinating botanical specimen but also the source of various traditional beverages. This itinerary provides a unique blend of cultural immersion and adventurous exploration, ensuring a memorable experience for those seeking a different perspective on Quito.

## Extended Itineraries

For those with more time to spare, consider extending your Quito adventure to explore other regions of Ecuador. Here are some extended itineraries that combine the best of Quito with the natural wonders of the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon rainforest. These itineraries offer a comprehensive exploration of Ecuador’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems.

### 1-Week Itinerary Including Puerto Ayora & Isla San Cristóbal

This week-long itinerary offers an unforgettable journey to the Galápagos Islands, a unique archipelago renowned for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes. Combine your Quito exploration with an immersive experience in this natural paradise. Prepare for encounters with iconic species, breathtaking scenery, and unforgettable adventures.

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Arrive in Quito, Self-Guided Exploration	Quito
Day 2	Fly to the Galápagos Islands, Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station	Puerto Ayora
Day 3	Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands	Puerto Ayora
Day 4	Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island	Puerto Ayora
Day 5	Speedboat to Isla San Cristobal, Visit an Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill	Isla San Cristóbal
Day 6	Embracing Nature: Discovering Wildlife on Isla Española	Isla San Cristóbal
Day 7	Fly to Quito, Depart Ecuador

Hike around an island populated by blue-footed boobies, then dive beneath the surface of the ocean to swim with sea lions and pufferfish: this week-long itinerary in the Galápagos is filled with wildlife and outdoor activities. You’ll explore Isla Santa Cruz and Isla San Cristóbal, as well as a pair of uninhabited islands, enjoying boat tours, a snorkeling excursion, and guided nature hikes along the way. This itinerary combines the cultural charm of Quito with the unparalleled natural beauty of the Galápagos Islands, creating a truly unforgettable Ecuadorian adventure. Discover the wonders of evolution and encounter unique species in their natural habitat.

### 8-Day Itinerary Including Puerto Ayora

Extend your Galápagos adventure with this eight-day itinerary, which includes more time to explore Quito and its surrounding attractions before venturing to the islands. This itinerary allows for a more relaxed pace and a deeper exploration of both the Andean highlands and the Pacific archipelago.

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Arrive in Quito, Free Day	Quito
Day 2	Visit Otavalo Market, Cooking Class	Quito
Day 3	Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park	Quito
Day 4	Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class, Visit the Middle of the World Monument	Quito
Day 5	Fly to the Galápagos Islands, Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station	Puerto Ayora
Day 6	Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay, Afternoon Bay Tour of Isla Santa Cruz	Puerto Ayora
Day 7	Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island	Puerto Ayora
Day 8	Leisure Day, Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart Ecuador

Explore Ecuador’s diverse beauty during this eight-day adventure from mountains to islands. Start among the Andes in Quito, where you’ll learn about its traditional food and colonial Old Town. Head into nature to hike in Cotopaxi National Park and see its active volcano, then hop over to the Galápagos Islands. Get up close to the giant tortoises on Isla Santa Cruz, spot rare marine life as you kayak along Tortuga Bay, and then spend some downtime swimming, snorkeling, or just lazing on the beach. This balanced itinerary offers a comprehensive experience of Ecuador’s natural and cultural treasures.

### 10-Day Itinerary Including Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

For nature enthusiasts, this ten-day itinerary combines the cultural richness of Quito with an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Immerse yourself in the biodiversity of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and witness the incredible wildlife that calls this region home. Prepare for an experience that will awaken your senses and leave you with a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature.

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Arrive in Quito, Self-Guided Exploration	Quito
Day 2	Visit Quito’s Historic Center, Cooking Class, Middle of the World Tour	Quito
Day 3	Visit Otavalo Market, Explore Cuicocha Lake	Quito
Day 4	Explore the Mindo Cloud Forest	Quito
Day 5	Free Day in Quito	Quito
Day 6	Transfer to Cuyabeno Reserve, Canoe Trip to a Jungle Lodge	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Day 7	Wildlife in the Amazon: Sloths, Dolphins & More	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Day 8	Visit an Indigenous Community, Laguna Grande & Igapó	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Day 9	Return to Quito	Quito
Day 10	Sightseeing in Quito, Depart Ecuador

See rare wildlife, climb into the clouds, traverse volcanoes, and more on this 10-day Ecuador itinerary. You’ll get to experience cultural highlights, like Quito’s UNESCO-designated city center and the Otavalo market, a bustling hub of indigenous culture and craftsmanship, but the true gem of this trip is nature. From the lush cloud forests of Mindo to the ecologically diverse Amazon, there’s no shortage of wildlife sightings: howler monkeys, pink river dolphins, and iridescent blue butterflies all call this region home. A visit to Laguna Grande and Igapó offers a chance to explore the unique ecosystems of the Amazon basin, including flooded forests and diverse aquatic life. This itinerary provides a truly immersive experience of Ecuador’s natural and cultural treasures, leaving you with lasting memories of this remarkable country.