2 weeks in Ecuador seems pretty short to me. The country of the four worlds is a small country, but with so much to see that I think that you would need at least 3 weeks in Ecuador. That’s how you will get the best idea of the Ecuadorian culture and explore its beautiful land.
This post is all about the best itinerary to follow if you are in Ecuador for two weeks. It will cover the best places to visit in the Ecuadorian Andes, the Coast and the Amazon.
Keep in mind that renting a car would allow you to be more flexible than if you had to rely on the bus timetables.
On the other hand, it would also be more expensive, and you’d have to drive long distances. Which can be exhausting. It is totally up to you! I’ve done both, and both option have their pros and cons.
Get ready to take note and start planning your 2 weeks in Ecuador.
DAY 1: Quito
Capital of Ecuador, you can land there and start your 2 weeks in Ecuador right away.
Quito by itself would need a week to be discovered properly, but when you are short in time, you must make choices.
If you get there in the morning, I would advise you to start by wandering in Quito’s historic center.
Full of colonial architecture and historic gems, strolling around seems to be the perfect way to start exploring the Country of the Four Worlds and adjust to the culture.
Here are some places you might want to visit or pay attention to:
Basilica del Voto Nacional:
This gorgeous edifice is the biggest neo-gothic basilica in the Americas. (YES, the entire American continent, from Alaska to Patagonia!)
If you have time, you can visit the inside, which I did on my second trip to Quito, and it is just GORGEOUS.
Independence Square:
Symbol of Quito’s Independence, this place symbolizes a huge shift in Colonial History. Plus, the square is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
El Panecillo:
You can’t possibly miss it, even if you wanted to. A huge statue on top of the city, protecting the people of Quito.
You might want to go up there to see it close, but if you are in a hurry you can just admire it from down below.
The Monument of the Middle of the World
The name of it says it all… I can’t think of anything cooler than standing in the middle of the World.
You might want to know though that it isn’t located in Quito’s historic center. You must take a bus, your car (if you rented one) or book a guided tour to get there.
Of course, there is much more to see in Quito, but if you only have one day there, this is what I’d recommend you to focus on.
A full article on Quito is coming your way, though!
DAY 2: OTAVALO
Located less than two hours north of Quito, Otavalo is a lovely small town that is worth a detour. To get there, you can get a bus from the bus terminal of Quito (the northern one).
If you have rented a car (I suggest you do if you are only staying 2 weeks in Ecuador), the hardest part will be to get out of Quito. After that, the road is well maintained and you shouldn’t have any problems.
I’ve already written various blog posts on “What to do in Otavalo” (here and here). But if I had only one day there, I would visit the artisanal market in the morning and head to la Laguna de Cuicocha as soon as I am done with la Plaza de Los Ponchos.
I would head back to Quito the same day to get ready for my next adventure! But once again, it is totally up to you!
DAY 3/4/5: CUYABENO RESERVE
Cuyabeno is a protected area of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.
Therefore, you can only enter the Cuyabeno Reserve with a guide, and you will have to book your tour in advance.
I suggest you stay in the Reserve for at least 2 nights and 3 days to make sure you have time to explore most of it.
I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days and had an ABSOLUTE blast! The rainforest is another world, and you will see things that you never thought you would see.
This activity has a cost, though.
It can be expensive but, in my opinion, it is worth it.
If I remember well, I paid $250 for three nights and four days. But some experiences are much more expensive than that.
My number one tip to find the cheapest prices would be to do your research in Spanish! Some agencies target foreigners by promoting their tour in English and therefore charge you more. If you need help, just reach out to me and I’d be glad to help you!
DAY 6: QUITO AND EL COTOPAXI
From the Cuyabeno Reserve, the easiest thing to do is to go back to Quito.
You can take a day off in Quito (the Amazon can be exhausting) or head to your next destination: El Cotopaxi.
Probably my favorite volcano in Ecuador. I couldn’t explain to you why, but when you will see it, you will understand, I PROMISE!
The entrance of the park is located an hour away from Quito (a bit more if you are staying in Quito’s historical center, as getting out of the city can be a real nightmare).
To enter the Cotopaxi National Park, you’ll have to register yourself with your name and passport number and pay $2 as a contribution to the park’s maintenance. Believe me, these are going to be $2 well spent.
Once you are in the park, you can drive to la Laguna Limpiopungo, and from there you will get the BEST view of the volcano. (If the weather allows it, of course)
You can walk around the la Laguna Limpiopungo and just enjoy the beauty and the serenity of the place.
A little advice though, if you can go on a weekday, the place will be much less crowded.
Afterward, if you are feeling adventurous, you can head up to the first base camp. Drive to the parking lot located a bit higher, then start walking up!
A warning for you though, el Refugio José Ribas is located at an elevation of 4800m. You might experience altitude sickness, and believe me, that is NOT a fun feeling.
DAY 7: BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA
2 hours away from the Cotopaxi National Park, you will find the small city of Baños de Agua Santa.
Known for its thermal waters and its huge waterfall, El Pailon del Diablo, this city is, to me, a great place to relax.
Some would qualify Baños de Agua Santa as an amusement park. And I get why.
You can’t walk 100m in the city without someone trying to sell you an excursion or activity. Various viewpoints with colorful lights (perfect for Instagrammable photos), loads of attractions along the road, canyoning…
Anything you might think about, you will find it there.
But even though this isn’t my jam (it is fine if it is yours!) I still love this place and the nature surrounding it.
DAY 8: EL CHIMBORAZO
Just by knowing this fact, you will want to visit.
El Chimborazo is the closest point to the sun on Earth.
You might wonder, “What? But it isn’t the highest mountain in the world!”. Well, it is simply due to its position, on the earth’s equator.
Now that you know that, you have various options to enjoy El Chimborazo.
You can see it from afar, that’s how you will be the most impressed in my opinion, and in this case, I would recommend you to stay in Riobamba.
Or you can drive to the first base camp located ON the Chimborazo. It is also super impressive, but it would take you more time. It all depends on your preferences and your priorities!
Once again, I’ve done both and both have their pros and cons! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help to decide.
DAY 9/10: CUENCA
Cuenca is, to me, the most beautiful city in Ecuador. And not only because I live there.
The architecture is gorgeous, and the city is pretty safe, even for tourists. I could talk about Cuenca for hours, so if you want to know more, I’m writing a blog post about it soon!
The journey from Riobamba to Cuenca is almost 5 hours. That’s why I suggest you stay 2 days in Cuenca, as the first day would mostly be to get there.
It is up to you if you’d like to slow down the rhythm of your trip, or if you can handle so much time on the road.
If you are driving, though, remember to stop along the way to get some rest. And if you are traveling with the local bus, try to travel at night to gain time during the day!
I hope you will love this city as much as I do!
DAY 11/12/13/14: OLON, AYAMPE, ISLA SALANGO AND LOS FRAILES
After crossing the Ecuadorian Andes from North to South, VAMOS A LA PLAYA!
I chose Olón for you because of its location.
Lovely village, with everything you might need for a few days, less than 10 minutes away from Montañita, the backpacker’s paradise, for late nights and drinks. And half an hour away from Ayampe. A lovely fishing village.
You can decide to stay in Olón, Ayampe, or Montanita and just go on day trips to the other destinations.
That’s what I would do to stop moving around for a while and enjoy my last days of vacation.
The two places you really can’t miss on the Ecuadorian Coast are La Isla Salango and La Playa de Los Frailes. So make sure to visit these Ecuadorian gems.