Ecuador Mainland & the Galápagos Islands — Self-Launched Version
14 days · Ecuador
G Adventures charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£1,240 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independently bookable version of G Adventures' 14-day Quito–Galápagos loop. You'll do the same route — colonial Quito, adrenaline town Baños, a two-night Amazon stay with a Quichua host family near Tena, the Papallacta hot springs, then a hop to San Cristóbal for island-hopping by public speedboat and locally-run day tours around San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Bartolomé. Accommodation is hostels and family guesthouses, transport is public buses, shared shuttles and commercial inter-island ferries, and the Galápagos wildlife days are booked direct with licensed local operators (a certified naturalist guide is legally required in the National Park — day tours include one). Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP, excluding international flights and the compulsory Galápagos fees listed separately.
Day-by-day
Arrive Quito — old town wander
Quito
Land at Quito's Mariscal Sucre airport (about an hour out of town) and take the Aeroservicios shared shuttle to the old airport terminal (~$8 USD), then a metered taxi to your hostel in La Mariscal or Centro Histórico (~$5 USD). Settle in, acclimatise to the 2,850m altitude, and take a gentle evening stroll through La Ronda's cobbled lanes. Book your Baños bus ticket tonight at the Terminal Quitumbe or via the Cooperativa Baños website.
🚌Airport shuttle + taxi (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in La Mariscal / Centro Histórico (~£12)
- →La Ronda evening stroll
- →Quito old town orientation walk
Quito → Baños
Baños
Morning bus from Quitumbe terminal to Baños — about 3.5–4 hours on a comfortable Cooperativa Baños or Transportes Amazonas coach (~$8–10 USD). Check into a guesthouse near the centre, then ease in with a soak at the Termas de la Virgen hot pools right by the waterfall gorge (~$4 USD). Pick up a map of the Ruta de las Cascadas for tomorrow.
🚌Public coach Quito–Baños (~£8)
🛏Baños guesthouse (~£12)
- →Termas de la Virgen hot springs
- →Baños town orientation
Baños adrenaline day
Baños
Free day in Ecuador's adventure capital. Hire a mountain bike (~$10 USD) and pedal the Ruta de las Cascadas to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall (~$2 entry), calling at the Casa del Árbol swing. Add ziplining (~$25 USD) or canyoning (~$30 USD) booked directly with the operators on Calle Ambato — no need for a bundle. Evening: thermal baths and a cheap set lunch (almuerzo, ~$3 USD).
🚌Bike hire (~£8)
🛏Baños guesthouse (~£12)
- →Ruta de las Cascadas by bike
- →Pailón del Diablo waterfall
- →Casa del Árbol swing
- →Optional zipline or canyoning
Baños → Tena (Amazon foothills)
Tena
Local bus to Tena (~4 hours, ~$6 USD), then a short taxi or colectivo to your community eco-lodge in the jungle outside town. Independently booked Quichua-run family stays here cost a fraction of tour rates and include meals and a local guide. Afternoon nature walk to learn about medicinal plants and the forest.
🚌Public bus Baños–Tena (~£5)
🛏Rustic Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (~£18 incl. meals)
- →Bus to Tena
- →Guided jungle nature walk with community guide
Full day in the Amazon
Tena
A full day with your host family: a river tubing or canoe trip down the Napo tributaries, a visit to a cacao or chakra farm, and a hands-on cooking session making chicha and plantain dishes. Nights in the jungle come with a soundtrack of frogs and cicadas — bring a headtorch and mosquito repellent.
🚌On foot / community canoe
🛏Rustic Quichua community cabaña, multi-share with meals (~£18 incl. meals)
- →River tubing or canoe trip
- →Cacao / chakra farm visit
- →Traditional cooking demonstration
Tena → Papallacta hot springs
Papallacta
Morning cycle or walk to the community of Shandia (bikes can be hired locally for a few dollars or arranged with your host) to see how the village runs its own tourism project. Then a local bus back through Baeza towards Papallacta (~$5 USD, 3 hours). Book a bed at a guesthouse or the budget cabins near the Termas de Papallacta; entry to the public hot pools is roughly $10–20 USD rather than the private spa's ~$70.
🚌Local bus Tena–Papallacta (~£4)
🛏Papallacta guesthouse or budget cabin (~£18)
- →Shandia community visit by bike
- →Papallacta thermal pools
Papallacta → Quito
Quito
Early morning soak in the mineral pools with volcanic views, then a bus back to Quito (~2 hours, ~$4 USD). Afternoon is free: ride the Teleférico cable car (~$9 USD) for city-and-volcano views or browse the Mercado Central. Sort your Galápagos logistics tonight — you need to buy your $20 Transit Control Card in cash at the airport before your flight.
🚌Bus Papallacta–Quito (~£3), local taxis
🛏Quito hostel (~£12)
- →Morning hot springs
- →Teleférico cable car
- →Mercado Central
Quito free day
Quito
Explore the UNESCO-listed Centro Histórico: La Compañía church, the Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb, and the Plaza Grande. Book a small-group city tour through GetYourGuide (~£20) or do it yourself. Consider a day trip to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument or the Otavalo market if you have energy. Repack — Galápagos flights allow one 23kg bag plus 10kg carry-on.
🚌Local transport and taxis (~£5)
🛏Quito hostel (~£12)
- →Centro Histórico walking tour
- →Basílica tower climb
- →Optional Mitad del Mundo / Otavalo day trip
Fly to San Cristóbal — Isla Lobos snorkel
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Early flight Quito–Guayaquil (refuel stop)–San Cristóbal, roughly £120–180 return if booked a few weeks ahead. Pay the $100 USD National Park entry in cash on arrival, plus your $20 Transit Control Card already bought in Quito. Check into a Puerto Baquerizo Moreno hostel, then join an afternoon panga trip to Isla Lobos with a licensed local operator (~£50–60) — sea lion pups, frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Snorkel gear rents for a few dollars.
🚌Domestic flight + panga (~£150)
🛏Hostel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£20)
- →Flight to San Cristóbal
- →Isla Lobos snorkelling boat trip
- →Interpretation Centre visit
North Seymour & Mosquera Islet day trip
Santa Cruz / North Seymour
Take the public inter-island speedboat from San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz (~$30 USD, 2–2.5 hours) and base yourself in Puerto Ayora. Book a shared North Seymour and Mosquera day tour direct with a local agency in town (~£110–130) — expect frigatebird colonies, land iguanas and a sea lion-covered sandbar. Return to Puerto Ayora for a cheap fish dinner on the waterfront.
🚌Public ferry San Cristóbal–Santa Cruz (~£25)
🛏Puerto Ayora hostel (~£20)
- →Inter-island ferry to Santa Cruz
- →North Seymour & Mosquera boat tour
- →Puerto Ayora waterfront evening
Santiago & Bartolomé
Santa Cruz / Bartolomé
Join a full-day small-boat tour to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island (black lava fields meeting white coral sand) and Bartolomé for the hike to the Pinnacle Rock viewpoint (~£140–170 with licensed naturalist guide, lunch included). Snorkel with Galápagos penguins and sea turtles — the standout wildlife day of the trip. Book two or three days ahead in high season.
🚌Tour boat (included in activity cost)
🛏Puerto Ayora hostel (~£20)
- →Sullivan Bay lava walk
- →Bartolomé summit hike
- →Penguin & turtle snorkelling
Charles Darwin Research Station & highlands
Puerto Ayora
Walk to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena breeding centre (free entry, donations welcome) to see giant tortoises and learn about the conservation programme. In the afternoon, hire a bike or take a shared taxi (~$5 USD) to the Santa Cruz highlands to see tortoises in the wild at El Chato reserve (~$5 entry), or join a snorkel trip to Las Grietas. End with sunset at Tortuga Bay beach.
🚌Bike or shared taxi (~£8)
🛏Puerto Ayora hostel (~£20)
- →Charles Darwin Research Station
- →Giant tortoises in the wild
- →Tortuga Bay / Las Grietas
Santa Cruz → Quito
Quito
Morning speedboat back to San Cristóbal (~$30 USD) and an afternoon flight to Quito (if your return flight leaves from San Cristóbal; alternatively take the bus to Baltra and fly from there, ~$5 USD + ferry crossing). Transfer back to your Quito hostel. Evening farewell dinner in La Mariscal.
🚌Ferry + domestic flight (~£150)
🛏Quito hostel (~£12)
- →Ferry + flight back to mainland
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Quito
Quito
Final morning for souvenir shopping at the Mercado Artesanal or a last coffee in the old town. Take the airport shuttle and taxi back out for your international flight. If your international departure isn't same-day, add an extra night at the hostel.
🚌Taxi + airport shuttle (~£10)
🛏— (departure day)
- →Mercado Artesanal shopping
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,240 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,660 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,240
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Ecuador Mainland & the Galápagos Islands — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,240 per person for 14 days in Ecuador. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,240 — a saving of roughly £1,660 (57%) per person.
How long is the Ecuador trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Ecuador.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, hiking trip through Ecuador, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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