Self-Launched Andes to Amazon Adventure in Ecuador

Touch down at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and take the Ecovía or Trolleybus public transit into the city centre for under £1, or grab an authorised airport taxi for around £20. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the historic colonial centre — La Ronda and Plaza Grande are ideal bases. Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed old town on foot: visit Plaza de la Independencia, the Basílica del Voto Nacional and the ornate Church of La Compañía de Jesús. In the evening, head to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner — try a menú del día (set meal) for £4–6.

🚌Airport to city centre: public Ecovía/Trolleybus ~£0.50, or authorised taxi ~£20

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Quito's historic centre — e.g. Community Hostel Quito or Secret Garden Hostel. Dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night

• →Explore Quito's UNESCO-listed colonial centre on foot
• →Visit Plaza de la Independencia and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús
• →Wander the La Ronda street for street food and live music
• →Welcome dinner at a local restaurant — menú del día ~£4-6

Take an early shared shuttle or day-tour minibus from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park — bookable via GetYourGuide or local agencies on Amazonas Avenue for around £20–30 including park entrance. Hike around the Limpiopungo Lagoon (3km, flat) at 3,800m for views of Cotopaxi volcano and Rumiñahui. After the hike, arrange onward transport to Baños via shared van or local bus through Latacunga (~£5–8 total). Arrive in Baños in the early evening and check in to your guesthouse. Grab dinner on the main strip — try llapingachos (potato cakes) or roast cuy (guinea pig).

🚌Quito to Cotopaxi via shared shuttle/day tour minibus ~£20–30 incl. park entry (book via GetYourGuide or local Quito agencies). Cotopaxi to Baños via shared van/local bus through Latacunga ~£5–8

🛏Guesthouse in Baños — e.g. Hostal Chimenea or La Petite Auberge. Budget twin ~£18–28/night

• →Hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon at the foot of Cotopaxi (~3km, 1 hour)
• →Spot wild horses, finches and shore birds in the páramo
• →Drive the Avenue of Volcanoes — photograph the Andean landscape
• →Arrive and settle into Baños — Ecuador's adventure capital

Hire a bike in Baños for the day (£5–8) and take a short truck ride up to the start of the Ruta de las Cascadas — a mostly downhill 17km cycling route past a series of spectacular waterfalls. Stop at Agoyan Waterfall, then Manto de la Novia where you can optionally zip-line or take the cable car across the canyon (£3–5 payable locally). Finish at Río Verde and hike 30 minutes to the thundering Pailón del Diablo waterfall — entrance ~£2. Get a truck ride back to Baños for lunch. In the afternoon, hop in a taxi or local bus to Casa del Árbol for the famous 'Swing at the End of the World' (entrance ~£1–2), with vertiginous views over Baños and Tungurahua volcano. Free evening — grab dinner independently in town.

🚌Truck ride to Ruta de las Cascadas start ~£1. Truck/local bus back from Río Verde to Baños ~£1. Taxi/local bus to Casa del Árbol ~£2-4

🛏Guesthouse in Baños (same as Day 2)

• →Cycle the Ruta de las Cascadas (17km, mostly downhill) — bike hire ~£5-8
• →Stop at Agoyan Waterfall and Manto de la Novia
• →Optional zip-line or cable car at Manto de la Novia (~£3-5 local pay)
• →Hike to Pailón del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) waterfall — entrance ~£2
• →Ride the 'Swing at the End of the World' at Casa del Árbol — entrance ~£1-2

Book a canyoning session in Chamana Canyon through a reputable local operator in Baños — try Geo Tours, Expediciones Amazónicas or book via GetYourGuide (~£40–55 per person including all equipment, guide, and safety briefing). You'll hike, rappel down waterfalls up to 40m, slide, swim and jump through pristine rainforest pools over about 3 hours. Back in Baños by early afternoon, the rest of the day is yours. Soak in the town's famous thermal baths (Complejo de Piscinas y Sauna Virgen del Agua Santa, entry ~£2–3), explore local markets, or take a short walk to a nearby mirador. Dinner independently — plenty of excellent local options on Ambato and Martínez streets.

🚌Transport to/from Chamana Canyon typically included in canyoning tour price

🛏Guesthouse in Baños (same as Day 2)

• →Canyoning session in Chamana Canyon (~3 hrs) — book via GetYourGuide or local Baños operators ~£40-55
• →Rappel waterfalls up to 40m, swim in crystal pools, hike through rainforest
• →Afternoon soak in Baños thermal baths — entry ~£2-3
• →Explore Baños town, markets and mirador viewpoints

Take a shared bus or shuttle from Baños to the Tena/Misahuallí area in the Amazon (~3 hours, ~£5–8 by local bus via Puyo). Book 2–3 nights at a locally-run Amazon lodge — Kuyana Lodge or similar community-run eco-lodges in the Misahuallí area offer all-inclusive packages from ~£60–85/night per person including meals, guided hikes and activities. Check in, have lunch at the lodge, then head out for an afternoon guided jungle hike through the Ushpayacu estuary and to the Ushpayacu waterfalls for a wild swim in the rainforest. After dinner, join an optional nocturnal wildlife walk to spot frogs, insects and nocturnal creatures.

🚌Baños to Tena/Misahuallí: local bus via Puyo ~£5-8 (3 hrs). Local transport/lodge pickup from Tena typically arranged by lodge

🛏Amazon eco-lodge (e.g. Kuyana Lodge or similar community lodge near Misahuallí). All-inclusive packages ~£60-85/night per person including meals and guided activities

• →Travel from Baños to the Amazon via local bus through Puyo ~£5-8
• →Afternoon guided jungle hike through Ushpayacu Estuary (~12km, 5 hrs)
• →Wild swim at Ushpayacu Waterfalls in the heart of the rainforest
• →Optional nocturnal wildlife walk after dinner — spot frogs and jungle creatures

Most Amazon lodge packages include guided kayaking on the Alto Misahuallí River — Grade II rapids with qualified river guides (~4 hours). If not included, book via Klook or directly with local outfitters in Tena (~£25–35). Paddle through jungle-fringed river banks, spot wildlife and navigate lively rapids. Return to the lodge for a locally sourced lunch. In the afternoon, relax and enjoy the lodge facilities before joining an evening cooking class to learn to prepare Amazonian dishes using locally grown ingredients — typically included in lodge packages or bookable for ~£15–20 extra.

🚌All transport included via lodge package

🛏Amazon eco-lodge (same as Day 5, all-inclusive)

• →Guided kayaking on the Alto Misahuallí River — Grade II rapids (~4 hrs)
• →Wildlife spotting from the water along jungle-lined river banks
• →Relax at the lodge in the afternoon — hammocks, wildlife watching
• →Amazonian cooking class — learn to prepare local dishes with jungle ingredients

Head to the Jatunyacu River — a powerful, glacial-fed Amazon tributary — for a Grade III whitewater rafting adventure (~4–5 hours). This is typically included in lodge packages or can be booked directly with Tena-based operators such as Aguas Bravas or AquaXtream (~£30–45 per person including all equipment and guides). Paddle through rolling rapids, stop for a picnic lunch with a local indigenous community, swim from remote river beaches, and soak up the Amazon scenery. Return to the lodge for your final Amazon dinner and evening by the river.

🚌Transfer to/from Jatunyacu River typically included in lodge or rafting package

🛏Amazon eco-lodge (same as Day 5, all-inclusive)

• →Grade III whitewater rafting on the Jatunyacu River (~4-5 hrs) — ~£30-45 if not in lodge package
• →Picnic lunch with a local indigenous community on the riverbank
• →Swim from remote Amazonian river beaches
• →Final dinner at the lodge — swap stories with fellow travellers

Start the morning with a gentle yoga class at the lodge (often offered by eco-lodges — check when booking, or follow a free session on YouTube/app). After breakfast, take a shared shuttle or arrange transport from Tena to Papallacta (~3 hours, ~£10–15 via shared van or arranged transfer). Arrive in time for lunch at a local restaurant near the hot springs. Spend the afternoon soaking in the public thermal pools at Termas de Papallacta — entrance to public baths ~£8–10. Optional spa treatments and private pools available at additional cost. Check in to a hotel or guesthouse near the springs for a final night. Enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant.

🚌Tena to Papallacta: shared van/transfer ~£10-15 (3 hrs). Arrange via your lodge or local shuttle services in Tena

🛏Hotel or guesthouse near Papallacta hot springs — e.g. Hostería Termas de Papallacta or budget nearby guesthouses. ~£25–45/night

• →Morning yoga session at the lodge (guided or self-led)
• →Transfer from Amazon to Papallacta via shared van (~3 hrs)
• →Afternoon soaking in the public thermal pools at Termas de Papallacta — entry ~£8-10
• →Optional spa treatments and private thermal pools at additional local cost

Enjoy one final morning at the Termas de Papallacta thermal baths (re-entry included or ~£5–8 again for the public pools). Grab a leisurely lunch in town before catching a shared shuttle or local bus back to Quito (~1.5 hours, ~£3–5 by public bus via Baeza, or ~£10–15 by shared shuttle). Ask your accommodation to arrange a drop-off at Quito Airport (UIO) or the city centre if you're extending your trip. Allow plenty of time — book flights departing no earlier than 17:00 to be safe.

🚌Papallacta to Quito: local bus ~£3-5 (1.5 hrs) or shared shuttle ~£10-15. Bus to airport or taxi from Quito centre ~£20

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning soak in Papallacta hot springs
• →Lunch at a local restaurant in Papallacta
• →Transfer to Quito Airport or city centre for onward travel