Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: we refreshed the cost ranges, added the 2024 park fee increase, and summarized the differences in one table.

Planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands can be daunting and full of questions — one of the main ones being, should I island-hop, or cruise? We put together a handy guide to help you answer this question so you can move onto getting excited about your upcoming adventure!

There are two sides to every story, and there are two ways of exploring the Galapagos Islands: by island-hopping and by cruise. Travelers are commonly paralyzed by these options, and rightly so — if you’ve never been to the Galapagos, how are you supposed to know how you should experience them? Let’s be clear about what the difference is between these two in the first place. Island-hopping (also referred to as land-based) means you’ll be staying at hotels on the main islands, and doing day trips (‘hopping’) from there. A cruise involves you travelling on a boat during the duration of your trip, and the boat being your base for all activities (lodging, meals, excursions, etc.).

While we hope this guide is thorough, any well-planned trip involves your own research and having a clear idea of the kind of Galapagos experience you’re after. So, our biggest recommendation as you decide is to do your homework on the islands and the wildlife, and map out what your priorities are — this will be the main driver behind the type of tour you choose. It all comes down to a matter of preference, so knowing what you want is key. Finally, keep in mind that careful planning is especially important during Galapagos high seasons, which are: 1) the last two weeks of April, 2) July to mid-September, and 3) the last two weeks of December.  For cruises, the months of May and November are also considered high season, since many boats are on deck receiving maintenance.

Below, we break down the main differences between each type of tour: cost, accomodation, flexibility, range of visit (including wildlife sightings), activities, duration of trip, and overall comfort. To make the differences even more clear, we go into further detail (including pros and cons) in the last part of this guide. We hope this is as handy for you as it has been for all our travelers!

The main differences:

Cost: The cheaper option is definitely island-hopping. The all-inclusive nature of cruises makes their rates higher and less flexible. That said, the variety of cruises do suit different budgets, but even your cheapest option will be comparable or more expensive than an island-hopping itinerary. Island-hopping allows you to be more flexible with your budget, as you can choose which excursions and activities to engage in, and where to stay for any given day. For reference, a 5-day cruise can go anywhere from $ 2,000 – $ 4,000, while a 5-day island-hopping tour ranges from $ 900 – $ 2,500.

Accommodation: The biggest difference here is that for cruises, your lodging (including meals!) will be on the boat, whereas for island-hopping you will stay at a hotel on one of the main islands. Lodging options on the islands range from hostels to high-end hotels, so again, island-hopping has more flexibility built into it. Cruises usually include the following accommodation categories: Luxury, First Class, Tourist Superior, and Tourist (and the main difference between these is of course, space and comfort). If you’re particular about space, be sure to inquire about specifics for your boat.

Flexibility: Simply put, cruises lack flexibility and independence, whereas island-hopping is fully dependent on them. When you book a cruise, you book a package deal — your schedule, excursions, and activities are pre-determined for you (and if you want to take the hassle out of planning, this can be a good thing!). With a cruise, the only thing you’ll get to decide is its duration. With island-hopping, you get to choose where to stay, what to do, when to do it, and at what pace (although it may take more planning on your end!)

Range of visit (islands and wildlife): The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 major islands, 5 medium-sized islands, and 215 islets. That’s a lot of ground to cover! And you’ll get to see a lot more of it (including wildlife) by cruise. Cruises do most of their travel by night, so you’ll get to reach more remote areas that otherwise cannot be reached by day tour. Additionally, some places are strictly accessible to cruise boats. Island-hopping means you’ll remain mainly on the three main islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela), and your visits to other islands are limited to those that can be reached during the day.

Activities: Island-hopping offers a wider range of activities than cruises, and these activities tend to be more active and adventurous. Island-hopping gives you an opportunity to do a little bit of both, and to choose how adventurous you want the activity to be. The activities that are more available to island-hoppers are: hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Cruise-based excursions tend to be wildlife-focused, and you have more limited time for activities on land (such as hiking). They don’t include as wide a range because of scheduling limitations, but also because activities have to accommodate all passengers (and not everyone has the same comfort level or physical ability to participate).

Trip duration: Typically, cruises are 4,5,6,8, or 15 days long (there are very few in between). For reference, a semi-loop of the archipelago is 8 days, and a full loop is 15 days (but these terms can mean different things for each travel company, so be sure to ask about that). Island-hopping allows you to be more flexible in choosing the duration, although most agencies have set itineraries that you can request to customize if you so wish. Another thing to consider is that cruises do maximize your range of visit on a shorter time frame — that is, you’ll get to see significantly more on a 4-day cruise than on a 4-day island-hopping tour.

Want to island hop on a budget? See our 5-day Galapagos island hopping tour and our other Galapagos packages.

Should you choose island hopping or a cruise in 2026?

Choose island hopping if your budget is under about $2,500 per person, you get seasick easily at night, you want free time on beaches and in town, or you plan to dive or surf. You will see sea lions, turtles, penguins, marine iguanas, giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies without a cruise.

Choose a cruise if you have more budget than time and want remote sites like Genovesa or Fernandina. Book 8 days if you can, since the price per day is usually lower than on short cruises, and check whether your cabin is on a catamaran if you worry about motion.

Either way, fly into Baltra or San Cristóbal from Quito or Guayaquil (round trips usually $350–600), buy the $20 transit card at the airport and carry cash for the park fee. Our Galápagos on a budget guide has a full cost breakdown.

Related guides

• Galápagos on a budget: real 2026 costs
• Best time to visit the Galápagos Islands: 2026 season-by-season guide
• Things to do in the Galápagos Islands
• Galápagos Islands: what they are and how to visit
• How much does a trip to Ecuador cost in 2026?

Plan it with us

Our office is at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo in Quito, next to Community Hostel, and our local team plans Galápagos trips every week. Message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832 or write to info@communitytravel.ec with your dates, and we will send current prices for flights, hotels and tours.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht Galápagos Island Hopping vs Cruise Tours: 2026 Comparison verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: we added current transport times and costs, the best season by water level, what a typical tour includes, 2026 tour prices and corrections to the reserve’s size and a few older claims.

If you want the step-by-step logistics, read our new guide to doing a Cuyabeno tour from Quito, or book the Cuyabeno Jungle Tour with our team.

The Ecuadorian Amazon, one of the country’s most treasured ecosystems, is the epitome of what we stand for: adventure. It is a place that engages the thirst for adrenaline as much as it does the jitters for its unexplored depth. The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve holds it all in one corner: the small critters, the big reptiles, and of course, the thrill of experiencing it yourself!

The Amazon’s importance for Earth’s biodiversity has been particularly emphasized in our current struggle against climate change. As the world’s largest tropical rainforest, it holds more plant and animal species, fresh water, and biodiversity than any other place on the planet. All of this has become conventional knowledge; people associate the Amazon with life itself, with animals bigger than humans, and abundant wilderness. But the Amazon is spread across 9 South American countries, meaning the diversity within its borders is greater than it seems on a large scale, and far greater than we can begin to understand.

Ecuador’s largest mainland region, the Oriente, is made up almost in its entirety by the Amazon: it envelops six provinces, including Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios, and Zamora Chinchipe. Even though Ecuador’s share of the Amazon is small, it is a rich host to some of the highest concentrations of trees, birds, plants, and species on Earth. With the objective of protecting and sharing this biodiversity with the world, Ecuadorian national parks and reserves work alongside the region’s indigenous communities to promote sustainable ecotourism. Thanks to these efforts, visitors can witness one of Ecuador’s most rich and plentiful ecosystems in a guided way that also considers the communities that have been living there for millennia.

Despite its share being small in comparison to other countries (Brazil has nearly two-thirds), Ecuador’s Amazon has one of the best infrastructures for ecotourism, giving visitors an accessible, affordable (at least relatively), and fun opportunity to experience the Earth’s cradle first-hand. Amazon tours are relatively similar in the types of activities they offer. However, distance from Quito (and other transportation hubs) and length of tour do affect cost. It’s worth noting that most Amazon tours generally depart from the three hubs below, meaning you’ll have to factor in a trip from Quito or any other city to these hubs in the Oriente. Most tour operators include this in their itineraries as a bus trip, but flights are available and you’ll have to inquire about them specifically if you’re interested:

• Lago Agrio – Capital of the Sucumbíos province, Lago Agrio is also Ecuador’s northernmost hub in the region. This is the connecting hub for the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, which differ in infrastructure and cost-effectiveness (Limoncocha is less developed and thus, more affordable). A trip from Quito to Lago Agrio by bus between 8-10 hours. Amazon tours departing from Lago Agrio then take a truck or van to the mouth of the reserve/river, and then begin a two-hour canoe ride to the lodges.
• Coca – Located in the Orellana province, Coca intersects both the Coca and Napo Rivers, and is about a 10 hour bus ride from Quito. It is the connecting hub for Yasuní National Park, the Huaorani Reserve (also known as the Huaorani Protectorate), the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, and some parts of the Cuyabeno Reserve (although these last two are more commonly and easily reached via Lago Agrio). Generally, because of its proximity to Yasuní, lodges around this transit point tend to be more expensive.
• Tena – Capital of the Napo province, Tena is generally considered less remote than the other transportation hubs mentioned here, but the city’s infrastructure is considerably more developed. Many visitors using this transit point to the Amazon take day trips, as opposed to staying at remote lodges for multiple days (such as in Cuyabeno). This day-trip experience is understandably less remote, diverse, and also less abundant in wildlife, but it is an option nonetheless. Tena is a connecting hub for the Jatun Sacha Biological Station, the Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, and Puerto Misahuallí.

All that to say, you have many options for choosing our Amazon tours from Quito or any other tourism hotspots in Ecuador. Whether you want to “rough it” for a few days or really need hot showers and high-end meals, the Ecuadorian Amazon will have something that suits you. So, why do we highlight the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve? Well, for starters, we think if you have the chance to visit Ecuador’s Amazon at its depth, you should take it. Cuyabeno offers that, in addition to a concentration of lodges that range from affordable to fancy, and more in between. But most importantly, because we’ve experienced it first-hand and can attest to its lush charm and the thrilling adventure that awaits you there!

ABOUT THE CUYABENO WILDLIFE RESERVE

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is spread across 6,034 km² in Ecuador’s Napo and Sucumbíos provinces, and it is most easily reached via the transit hub of Lago Agrio. The Cuyabeno River, its tributaries, as well as the Aguarico and San Miguel Rivers make up Cuyabeno’s water sources. Additionally, Cuyabeno has a system of 14 lagoons called Imuya that is especially full during the wet season and surrounded by igapó forest (meaning it is primarily black-water flooded). Laguna Grande, its biggest lagoon, is a green oasis surrounded by lowland rainforest, and you can enjoy one of the most stunning sunsets on Earth at its center

Cuyabeno’s natural endowment owes itself to its evolutionary history: once a part of the Pleistocene refuge, the evolution of its wildlife and plants has been continuous, even during periods in which surrounding areas were frozen still. As a result, biological diversity in Cuyabeno (and in Ecuador, generally speaking) is one-of-a-kind, and an abundant concentration of tropical richness and allure. Cuyabeno is home to over 500 species of birds, 350 species of fish, and 100 species of mammals. Among them, 10 different species of monkeys are especially amusing to spot, as well as an entire cosmos of fascinating critters such as the zesty lemon ant.

But the full story of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve included, is not all kumbaya. Cuyabeno was designated a protected area in 1979, but its boundaries were subject to many changes afterwards, due to the oil boom and the push to extract as much petroleum from the area as possible. This attack on Cuyabeno’s biodiversity, and that of the Amazon in general, was met with resistance from its indigenous communities and various NGO’s. But even though this resistance stirred the conversation towards sustainability, the region continues to battle exploitation in many forms.

CUYABENO’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Before we get into depth about the wildlife that abounds at the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, we believe its human inhabitants merit a formal introduction and some recognition. The Ecuadorian Amazon’s indigenous communities are few among the Amazon’s nearly 200 communities (or better said, nations), but their presence is threatened and growing ever more important as the area suffers from invasion, extraction, and climate change. They are the real gatekeepers of the rainforest’s secrets: its rhythm, its animals, its plants, and its collective history.  In recognition of the wisdom only they can offer, and to honor their right to activity on their land, many lodges are involved with the indigenous communities to offer more responsible tourism.

CUYABENO’S WILDLIFE

If your idea of a jungle tour involves iconic animals, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is for you! The sheer concentration of species in the region is astounding and will keep you on the edge (of your canoe, that is) for the duration of your stay. Moreover, the variation within species will overwhelm you — who knew there were more than 500 types of tropical birds in one space?! There are also 350 species of fish, in addition to the more common creatures like the capybara, tapir, and the many, many monkeys – 10 species of monkeys, in fact!

Below are some of the most beloved animals of the Cuyabeno, all of which you are likely to see if you pay attention to your guide and look close enough:

• Between 500-600 species of birds (including scarlet macaws and toucans!)
• Pink freshwater dolphins
• Caimans
• 10 species of monkeys (including the red howler and squirrel monkeys, and the only nocturnal monkey in the world!)
• Lowland Tapirs
• 350 species of fish (including paiche and piranhas)
• Snakes (tree boas and anacondas)
• River otters
• Frogs and toads
• Turtles

Watching these animals engage with their natural habitat, and each other, is surreal. Nothing beats spotting the tiniest monkey in the world (the pygmy marmoset) sucking sap from a tree, listening to the synchronized croaking of frogs and toads at night, and feeling your canoe sway to the rhythm of dolphins following schools of fish. Not to mention the world of critters among the trees: ants, grasshoppers, spiders, lizards, they will all make it so that your walk through the rainforest is as noisy as it will be enchanting!

It is quite possibly the only place in the world where an igapó – the Portuguese word describing the blackwater-flooded root forests found only in the Amazonian jungles — is located at the foot of a mountain range, resulting in a wide array of flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. This nearly permanent swamp hosts dolphins, two species of otters, two species of deer, piranha, and much more.

The Cuyabeno is also home to the more common species of Amazonian jungle wildlife. Countless rodents, bats, insects, and snakes scramble about the mosses, vines, and lichens beneath the jungle’s canopy of tropical trees and wide fronded plants. Boa and anacondas, jaguars and puma, and innumerable frogs and toads round out the incredible collection of the wildlife reserve.

Igapó accounts for less than 3% of the entire Amazonian ecosystem, making Cuyabeno one of the most interesting regions in the world. Biologists, botanists, wildlife enthusiasts, backpackers and hikers, and kayakers will revel in the sheer abundance of wildlife unique to the area, and bring back photos and personal stories filled with features found nowhere else on earth!

And, the Cuyabeno Park consists of several other geographical and topographical features that harbor hundreds of more species of protected plant and wildlife. The lowlands and highlands provide drier soil that sustains a wide array of trees not found in the swampier lands, while the River itself attracts every manner of creature in the area.

Wildlife Conservation

We have all heard the stories about the depletion of the Amazon Rainforest, which has sadly been going on for decades and continues to this day. The Amazon Rainforest is often called “the lungs of the world” due to its significant contributions to air quality and oxygen levels, and demands immediate action to preserve. The interaction of the climate and the rainforest is a complicated, and closed circuit, system of water and carbon dioxide filtering and exchange which cannot be replaced. Yet, almost nothing is being done to protect this precious region which accounts for as much as 20% of all the breathable oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.

Studies suggest that human activity has resulted in the loss of as much as 10% or more of the rainforest’s trees in the last 50 years alone! Given this widespread devastation, compounded with the pollution and industrial waste from across the globe, the carbon dioxide levels have risen to dangerous heights, which has lead to widespread disease, and can even be tied to the extinction of hundreds of forms of both plant and animal life.

Of course, it not only provides one of the essential components for human life, it is also home to several tens of thousands of insects, birds, lizards, mammals, and fish found in no other region on earth – most of which have yet to even be identified! Changes to this delicate ecosystem have resulted in massive ramifications to other localized ecosystems all over the globe, which has impacted both the world’s climate and weather patterns in what is accurately known as “The Butterfly Effect.”

Preserving this rainforest is paramount to protecting the earth, the environment, and quite literally all forms of life. But, decades of neglect and illegal logging, mining, and drilling have taken their toll.

By visiting the Cuyabeno Wildlife Park, tourists can not only record history as it currently stands (and hopefully will for many generations to come), but also be part of an emerging method of alternate, economic support for the area which now relies on logging, unsustainable industrial fishing, and drilling for oil. Hopefully, one day, tourism and other economic models based on ecological sustainability will replace those that are destroying the Amazon rainforest and damaging the environment.

Simply visiting the Cuyabeno Wildlife Park is a step in the right direction and provides much-needed funding to keep the rainforest and its wildlife thriving and protected.

CUYABENO LODGES AND ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES

The variety of ecotourism lodges in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve provide ample options for every kind of traveler. While they mainly vary in location, cost, and amenities, most engage the traveler in similar activities: animal spotting, bird watching, day and night jungle walks, leisurely canoeing, sunset watching at Laguna Grande (and swimming in it if you’re up for it!), and visiting the local communities. Most lodges have a structured itinerary with designated days and times for each activity, while also giving guests room to explore on their own (if your lodge has a bird-watching tower, this is a great solo activity!).

Our personal favorites are animal spotting and sunsets at Laguna Grande. The guides at Cuyabeno lodges are so experienced and knowledgeable, they can spot a bird from a mile away! They do a great job of engaging you in their graceful search for wildlife, often giving you hints about an animal’s location so you can experience the thrill of spotting it yourself. After long days walking through the jungle and learning more than you thought possible about all sorts of animals, most lodges end the day with a canoe ride to Laguna Grande, where you can enjoy the sunset and the harmonious buzz of critters transitioning into the night.

Below is a listing of Cuyabeno lodges we recommend. We suggest looking further into each for details that might influence your decision, and information to better prepare for your stay. Cuyabeno lodges are mostly built from ecological materials (wood, bamboo, straw) and each have multiple cabins with a variety of room arrangements (private and dorms). All are equipped with electricity and water, although each will vary in their availability (and how plentiful the hot water is!) Most offer tours from 3 days/2 nights – 5 days/4 nights.

• Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge ($260-330): Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge offers 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day tours. It is a 20-minute canoe ride from the Laguna Grande. From the hammocks at their pier, you can spot freshwater dolphins (hence the name!)
• Cuyabeno Lodge ($100-635): Cuyabeno Lodge was the first in the reserve, so it pioneered ecotourism efforts and prides itself on that. It is located right on the Laguna Grande. They offer 4-day and 5-day tours, with an option to also visit Papallacta on the way to Lago Agrio.
• Cuyabeno River Lodge ($220-300): Cuyabeno River Lodge offers 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day tours. They can arrange for a direct bus from Quito to Cuyabeno, which cuts travel time (but should be arranged beforehand and price isn’t included in the itinerary). In addition to many other activities, they take their guests on early morning bird walks upon request!
• Siona Lodge ($340-420): Siona Lodge offers 4-day and 5-day tours, and is known to have some of the best cabins in the reserve. Their main lodge has a spacious dining area, fully equipped with a bar, and their food is reputed for its quality!
• Guacamayo Lodge ($250-350): Guacamayo offers 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day tours. For the avid birdwatchers, they also offer a 6-day tour specifically tailored to spotting the world’s most fascinating bird species.
• Jamu Lodge ($262-406): Jamu offers 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day tours. They are located 15 minutes down the river from Laguna Grande. The heart of their lodge, their dining area, is spacious and also features a bar!
• Green Forest Lodge ($250-395): Green forest offers 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day tours. Their fourth day includes an opportunity to kayak the black waters of the Cuyabeno River, which you won’t want to miss!

Whichever lodge you choose, remember that your greatest companion will be a thirst for adventure and fearless exploration. Visiting the Ecuadorian Amazon is a one in a lifetime experience, and one that lives up to our globe-trotting ethos: travel, learn, and contribute to the preservation of the Earth’s most valuable ecosystem! See our Cuyabeno Jungle Tour!

What can you do in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

Ecuador’s celebrated Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is the second largest protected area in the Amazonian region, with just under 1-1/2 million acres! Located at the foot of the Andes mountain range, its unusual interior is almost inaccessible except by the narrow Cuyabeno River for which it is named.

However, recent roadways have opened up the area to tourists who can enjoy the park’s vast biodiversity, engage in unique activities, and study the cultures of the indigenous tribes that have remained isolated from the rest of the world until very recently.

Visitors should pack lightly, as the vegetation is dense and very wet, but bring a poncho or raincoat, a blanket for the cool evenings, and a camera or camera-ready device with plenty of backup batteries. Internet connectivity is spotty, at best, and electrical outlets are not plentiful, so one should also keep this in mind when putting together a backpack.

What can you do in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve During the Day?

As noted above, the river’s channel is so narrow that one can almost literally reach out and touch the teeming wildlife on either bank (but probably shouldn’t). Kayaking and canoeing is not just educational and enjoyable, it is necessary if one wishes to explore the interior of the park, as there are no other roadways.

The local cuisine is largely based on the many fish found in the rivers and lakes that make up the Cuyabeno Park, and includes recipes rarely found in the outside world. Boosted by the flavors of the indigenous herbs, mushrooms, and vegetables located nowhere but Amazonia, some dishes may challenge tourists’ palettes and even test the constitutions of their stomachs, but all are worth tasting!

It is also an opportunity to spend more time with the indigenous peoples of Amazonia and observe the culture and traditions of their everyday lives. While more and more people of the modern world take up Minimalism and seek to “declutter” their lives, these tribes have lived peacefully alongside one another for millennia, without electricity, telephones, Internet, or even plumbing, in some cases!

New roadways, telephone lines, and access to electricity and the Internet are certain to alter the region forever. While these advancements bring new opportunities, they also bring permanent change to an area that had remained unmolested until the late 20th Century. As industrial progress finds its way into the Amazonian jungle, now could be one of the last chances to visit this area and see it much as it once existed.

Sightseeing is a wonderful way to spend the day. Armed with nothing more than a camera and maybe an electronic tablet or notebook, one can while away the hours simply observing the interactions of the wildlife through the shadows playing on the leaves.

Many of the indigenous animals are diurnal and, despite the fact that it is often raining, the sun provides excellent lighting for capturing them in their natural habitat. Cinematic experiences await in the lush rainforest filled with brightly colored birds, multicolored snakes prowling amongst the glossy fronds, and mischievous monkeys swinging from vine to tree!

What can you do in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve at Night?

Many species in the Cuyabeno region are nocturnal, so they are rarely, if ever, seen during the day. The moonlit nights provide fantastic opportunities for what could be award-winning photographs! While the jungle’s canopy is difficult to penetrate, the starlit nights – unaffected by the pollution of large city lights – still illuminate the ground floor and its many inhabitants.

Average daily temperatures normally range in the 70°s (Fahrenheit), though it gets slightly cooler at night. Depending on where one is, a light blanket should suffice, and the sounds and surroundings of the Amazon jungle provide the perfect backdrop for peaceful sleep. Of course, the rainforest also provides the perfect conditions for as many as 8,000 species of insects, so a tent (and possibly some bug spray) will also come in handy.

What can you do in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve to Support the Local Community?

As mentioned previously, the Amazon Rainforest is classified as endangered due to rampant, and all too often illegal, corporate expansion and exploitation of the natural resources throughout the region. Sadly, these industries are too lucrative for both their owners and customers to be discontinued any time soon.

By promoting the local tourism trade, visitors are directly supporting the peoples and areas that matter most. If proven effective, this alternate economic model may one day replace even the most financially prosperous endeavors that ravage the jungle today. To those ends, choosing Cuyabeno for a vacation means taking a vacation with a purpose.

The local communities can also find means of supporting themselves through crafts and souvenirs, in addition to working as tourist guides for visitors, researchers, and sightseers. In particular, professional photographers, researchers, scientists, and explorers will find a wealth of information and subjects in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, including the peoples of the indigenous tribes and their way of life.

Learn About Indigenous Cultures

No fewer than eight indigenous tribes thrived in this region with almost no contact to the outside world prior to the 1980s (when the first roadways were built). These are the Sionas, Cofanes, Shuaras, Secoyas, Huaoranis, Quichuas, Achuar, and the Zaparos tribes.

Visitors will learn the traditional method for making cassava bread, recipes based on the local flora and fauna that have been passed down for centuries, as well as more about the spiritual traditions that have sustained the Sionas and other tribes for millennia. One or more of the communities’ shamans will speak to tourists about the traditions, history, and rich culture of the Siona Indian Tribe.

As mentioned, these peoples and their way of life has been disconnected from our modern world until very recently. Much of their culture, history, and traditions exists only in oral form. Recording these discussions for future generation of scholars could prove helpful in many forms of research, and possibly lucrative for budding and seasoned authors.

The Cuyabeno is unique for many reasons, but this particular opportunity is one of the most revered experiences for tourists to explore. Far beyond mere pictures, hearing the teachings of the indigenous tribes while being immersed in their traditional ways is priceless – even if it is for only a few days. These memories will last a lifetime and provide riveting conversational material for any occasion.

Relax!

There is little to no Internet connectivity in the midst of the Ecuadorian jungle, so it is the perfect place to turn off the phone, set your “Away” status, and simply relax.

Tucked deep in the verdant rainforest, far from the background noise of traffic, airplanes, and televisions, and surrounded by the unique sounds heard in few other places around the world, one can truly logoff entirely from the modern world and reconnect with Mother Nature.

Canoeing, hiking, ample opportunities for plant and wildlife photography – the Cuyabeno has more activities than you can fit into a lifetime, much less a week, and leaves no time for things like e-mails, newsfeeds, and snarky social media forums! Besides, once you return to your everyday life, you will have more stories, photos, and memories to share than anyone you follow.

But you do not have to be doing anything; the Cuyabeno is also the absolute best place to just be. Take the time to soak it all in and enjoy the peace of mind that only a place like the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve can provide.

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is not only a unique, absolutely one of a kind, vacation, it also supports the local economy, the Amazon Rainforest, and the environment. It is the perfect opportunity to actually enjoy doing one’s part for the environment, for others, and for one’s self.

How do you plan a Cuyabeno tour from Quito in 2026?

Almost everyone takes the overnight bus from Quito to Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja), leaving around 10:30 to 11:30 pm and arriving early in the morning. Buy your ticket at Quitumbe or Carcelén terminal the afternoon before. From Lago Agrio, the tour transfer takes you to the Cuyabeno Bridge, where the canoe leaves for the lodges in late morning.

Pick the tour length carefully. The first and last days are mostly travel, so a 3-day tour gives you one full day in the jungle and a 4-day tour gives you two. For most travelers we recommend 4 days. If you travel in January or February, ask about water levels, because canoe routes and swimming in Laguna Grande depend on them. Pack rain gear, a headlamp, insect repellent and binoculars, and check vaccine advice for the Amazon before you go.

Related guides

• Cuyabeno Amazon tour from Quito: costs, logistics and what to expect
• Cuyabeno vs Yasuní: which Amazon reserve should you visit?
• Tena, Ecuador: the complete whitewater rafting guide
• The complete Ecuador packing list, Amazon included
• Is Ecuador safe to travel in 2026?

Plan it with us

Our office is at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo, on the edge of Quito’s Old Town, inside Community Hostel. Drop by, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832 or write to info@communitytravel.ec, and one of our local guides will help you plan the Amazon part of your trip with current prices and departure dates.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve: Tours and Travel Guide (2026 Guide) verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: we added current bus details from Quito, 2026 activity prices, and corrected the butterfly farm figures and older restaurant and hotel details below.

Mindo at a glance (2026)

Top things to do in Mindo and what they cost

Prices change often in Mindo, so carry small bills and confirm at each gate.

Mindo is a small city in the Andean slopes of Ecuador. It also known as the Mindo Valley and attracts birdwatchers from different parts of the world. Mindo is home to more than 350 species of birds, making it a must-visit place for bird watchers. The golden-headed quetzal, cock-of-the-rock, and toucan-barbet are among the birds native to the town. The climate in Mindo is milder than other Andean cities. Temperatures usually range from 15⁰C to 24⁰C all year. There are no real dry or raining seasons, but the town tends to be driest from May to September.

Mindo’s tropical rainforest is packed with diversity. It only takes 2.5 hours from Quito (bus ride) to reach the forest. You can spend a few days here to enjoy your stay in Mindo to the fullest. One of the best things about it is that the trip to Mindo is a picturesque ride. You will see rainforest covered valleys and green hills. It’s usually humid and damp in town, so be prepared for inclement weather.

Almost 200,000 tourists visit Mindo every year to enjoy various activities like mountain biking, tubing, rafting, horseback riding, and trekking. The town is also home to lodges and private reserves known for their cloud forest biodiversity and waterfalls.

Things to Do in Mindo

One of the best things about Mindo is that everything within walking distance. Cheap taxis are also available for those who don’t want to walk. Transport is affordable and easy. Buses run from and to Quito daily. Here are some of the best things to do in Mindo.

Woodland Trails

The meandering paths of Casa Amarillo are a great way to see a diverse flora and fauna in its natural habitat. You can stroll along the Woodland Trails in the morning. The gardens around the trails house unique and brightly colored plants and flowers. The town’s exotic birdlife is very active in the morning, at around 6 am.

Ruta de las Cascadas

If you love hiking, you should include the steep road called Ruta de las Cascadas in your must-visit list. What awaits you after a long hike is the seven waterfalls scattered throughout the town’s forest. You can bring your snacks or buy some from the market in town and ride a taxi to reach a small cable car called Terebita, which will bring you to the heart of the forest. Don’t forget to take pictures of the hectares of vegetation below.

After exiting the Terebita, you can start your hike to the waterfalls. The waterfalls are marked on the map you get at the cable car. The entire trip to each waterfall can take up to 6 hours. It’s a great time to enjoy the peacefulness of nature, stroll along the dirt paths and capture the mesmerizing cascades of clear water.

Mariposario de Mindo

Mariposario de Mindo is a spacious greenhouse that is home to over 1,000 species of butterfly. Some of these species are already endangered. You can watch a short presentation that outlines the life cycle of butterflies and spend hours observing butterfly cocoons. Entrance fee costs $6. If you want to see butterflies up close, then you should visit Mariposario de Mindo.

Orchid Garden

Orchid Garden is a must-visit for those who want to see Mindo’s native flowers. Entrance fee costs $2. You will see more than 200 kinds of orchids and watch the small hummingbirds that fly around the garden. Orchid Garden offers accommodation as well. If you want to help in the conservation of orchids, you can join their volunteer activities.

Town Center

Downtown Mindo might be small, but it still offers a lot of opportunities for enjoyment. There are a lot of restaurants in Mindo’s town center that serve authentic Ecuadorian cuisine. Whether you are looking for rice dishes, fresh tropical fruits or hearty meat dishes, you can find it here. You can visit Cafe Mindo for a delicious cup of coffee or enjoy a traditional meal at Fuera De Babilonia or El Sitio. Gourmet Avenue is packed with eccentric restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.

El Quetzal Chocolate Tour

You can join one of the chocolate tours in town. Chocolate Makers is a popular chocolate company. The owner of the farm chocolate company organizes a chocolate tour. It’s an excellent chance to learn more about the history of chocolate and cacao. You will also learn how chocolate is made. The owner provides a tour of the garden where they grow Aloe Vera, coffee, vegetable, ginger, guava trees, and stevia.

Mindo Chocolate Makers does everything at El Quetzal except for growing the cacao. This is because they buy the cacao from small organic farmers. The tour will give you a closer look at the drying, roasting and of the beans as well as sorting through of the cocoa beans and their shells. After the tour, you can get to sample one of the company’s brownies as well as cacao and add ginger, sugar and chili pepper to adjust the chocolate to your taste.

El Quetzal de Mindo Coffee Tour

If you are a coffee enthusiast, you will consider joining the El Quetzal de Mindo Coffee Tour. You will learn how coffee fruit is turned into a delicious cup of coffee. The tour also allows you to taste different kinds of coffees as well as a dessert. This is an excellent chance to learn more about coffee plants. You can book a tour anytime.

Tubing Down the Río Mindo

Mindo River is surrounded by forests so that you will see different species of butterflies, orchids, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. If you want a more exciting adventure, you can try the class 3 section where there’s no flat water. Several tubes are attached to serve as a raft down the 3-kilometer stretch of water. This is a wild and fun ride that you will undoubtedly enjoy.

A guide will get the tube raft past the low hanging branches and protruding rocks. There are also areas where you can simply float and enjoy the scenery. So, wear a life vest and helmet, and you’re ready to glide through the forest on an inflatable tube. There are a lot of tour companies in Mindo. Book a short day river tour and enjoy what Rio Mindo has to offer.

Mountain Biking

Mindo’s terrain is perfect for mountain biking. There are companies in Mindo that rent out mountain bikes and offer guided biking tours. You can choose a short ride tour or go for a longer route. Booking a tour allows you to cycle through different ecosystems like the subtropical and highlands. You can also bike from Quito to Mindo. This journey will take three days, but you can relax after a day of biking and enjoy various activities in town.

Canopy Zip Lining Tours

Zip lining is perfect for those who want to try something new and thrilling during their stay in Mindo. You can try zip lining over the Mindo Cloud Forest to see the scenery from above. There’s a zip line tour with 12 lines and takes around 1.5 hours to get through the zip lines. Keep in mind. However, that zip lining comes with risks. You should do your research before choosing a tour company. It’s important to learn about the company as well as its safety standards.

Mindo Cloud Forest

Mindo is among the best bird watching spots in South America and Ecuador. The town consistently ranks in the world’s top 3 highest bird counts. Mindo Cloud Forest is a community in northern Ecuador, located in the Andes Mountains. The area’s slight isolation gives it a sense of solitude. Those who want to escape from traffic and the hustle and bustle of city life should include Mindo Cloud Forest in their must-visit list. You will see a wide range of bird species, gardens of orchids and butterfly farms around and in the cloud forest.

You can see the landscape from a cable car or tarabita. It can carry a small group of people over the Nambillo River to the top of a trail-covered mountain. You will see waterfalls as well. If you want to enjoy adrenaline filled activities, you should try zip lining through the cloud forest. There are relaxing activities too like hiking. As you hike through the lush landscape, you will notice a clean and crisp smell. The flapping wings of birds and the sound of cascading water will calm your mind and soul.

Trekking in the Cloud Forest

You can also trek through the Mindo Cloud Forest. Aside from getting a good exercise, you will also see the beauty of the town. You will ride a cable car into the hills above Mindo. Look out during your ascent and enjoy the landscape below. Don’t forget to wear proper footwear as there’s a lot of walking involved.

Birdwatching

Mindo is home to a wide range of birds. Locals claimed to have seen bears, monkeys, and pumas here. The town has won the yearly Christmas Bird Count of the Audubon Society six times. Birdwatching usually takes place from 6 am to 10 am. Most of the top flight birdwatching occur in privately-owned reserves that are scattered throughout the area. Aside from lodges and cloud forest reserves, there are other destinations that great for birdwatching. One of these is Rio Silanche Sanctuary. It’s located between Puerto Quito and Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Rio Silanche Sanctuary has a high concentration of birdlife. You may also want to visit Paz de las Aves. It’s a private reserve of the subtropical jungle that is just one hour from Mindo.

Another must-visit spot is Milpe Bird Sanctuary. It’s a 250-acre reserve that is located 15 kilometers west of Mindo. Pululahua & Calacali is a temperate forest that has an arid scrub. It’s a 50-minute drive from Mindo. San Lorenzo offers the most basic birdwatching excursion for beginners. Yellow House is a private reserve near Mindo. It is home to 360 bird species and 300 orchid species. You can see 39 species of hummingbird here. Admission fee is $6.

Mindo is home to the Andean cock-of-the-rock or Rupicola peruvianus. Male cocks-of-the-rock have orange or blood-red feathers. They gather at 6 in the morning and dance on branches, fight each other and squawk loudly to attract female attention. Drab-brown females usually don’t show up, but if they are lucky, one might join them and pick a mate. You can also hire birdwatching guides. Most guides charge around $50 to $75. Depending on the particular reserve and the number of people in the group, you might be charged $100 or more every day.

Where to Eat in Mindo

Here are some of the best places where you can eat delicious meals in Mindo.

Fuera de Babylonia

Fuera de Babylonia is a private hostel/bar/restaurant that serves delicious and healthy food. It has a decent vegetarian menu as well. The rustic atmosphere of the place is paired with good tunes like reggae music.

Los Colibries

Los Colibries doesn’t only serve good food. You can also see different species of hummingbird here.

El Nómada

If you’re craving for some pizza, you will definitely like El Nómada’s handmade pizza. They also serve pasta and cocktails on weekends.

El Quetzal de Mindo

El Quetzal de Mindo serves sumptuous Ecuadorian dishes and American food. The ingredients they use are harvested from their organic gardens. There are freshly made vegetarian options as well. You can choose from fresh fish, pork and beef dishes. They also serve homemade ice cream and delicious brownies. El Quetzal de Mindo roasts Ecuadorian coffee on site. You can pick from lattes, espresso, lattes mochaccino, cafe Pasado and cappuccino.

Mimi’s Bistro

Mimi’s Bistro is a rustic and spacious place that offers international and local food made with fresh local produce. You can try their homemade pasta dish, desserts, and freshly-brewed local coffee. There are herbal infusions as well. Hummingbirds, tanagers and other bird species are usually in the garden, and you can easily see them through the large windows.

Birdwatcher’s Breakfast

Birdwatcher’s Breakfast serves English breakfasts. You can get grilled tomatoes, sausage, fruit, eggs, toast and a cup of good coffee. Birdwatcher’s Breakfast also provides a great view of Volcan Pichincha. You can take a stroll along the trails or garden paths and see Mindo’s diverse flora and fauna.

Where to Stay in Mindo

Mindo Biohostal

Mindo Biohostal has 14 large rooms, each with a comfortable bed, private bathroom, hammocks, free Wi-Fi, computer and a small area upstairs for relaxing and reading. Bedrooms are clean and well-lit. Mindo Biohostal is far from the traffic of the town, but only a few minutes’ walks from the town park and bus station. Since it is right beside a butterfly farm, they can advise on birdwatching, waterfall visits or hikes as well as organize trips.

Hostal El Rocio

Hostal El Rocio is a rustic backpacker hostel in Mindo that can accommodate large groups of people. They have private, single and double rooms. Hostal El Rocio has shared and private bathrooms with a spacious balcony for enjoying the forest or simply hanging out. You can also see a lot of squirrels and birds from the balcony. There’s a patio/gazebo with barbeque grill in the forest, which is just a short walk from the hostel. Groups that require more privacy can book one of the separate houses on the area.

Mindo Real

Mindo Real is a campsite and hotel/lodge located 1 kilometer from the town center. Guests can access a swimming pool with deck chairs. The hotel offers single rooms with breakfast included. Breakfast consists of bread, fruit, empanadas, juice, eggs, coffee and hot milk/water. Mindo Real also offers free Wi-Fi. The camping site has toilets, eating area, showers, and BBQ area.

Casa Divina Lodge

Casa Divina Lodge offers spacious living quarters, rooms that have a private porch with hammocks and bathrooms with bathtub. Guests are given access to unlimited filtered water, coffee, and tea, breakfast and evening meal. Each room is capable of accommodating 1 to 4 people. There’s an observation deck on the third floor of the main house. Casa Divina Lodge offers various tour packages for photography, bird watching and adventure. It’s also possible to see hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and quetzals from your window. You can go on short self-guided hikes to explore the area.

Birdwatcher’s House

Birdwatcher’s House provides comfortable and clean rooms with hot water and private bathrooms. It’s a great place to relax where you can enjoy the sound of singing birds and smell the fragrance of flowers. Birdwatcher’s House offers bird watching tours and bird watching guides as well. You might see up to 50 species of birds in the gardens of the hostel. Birdwatcher’s House also offers laundry service, restaurant service, and cafeteria.

La Casa de Cecilia

La Casa de Cecilia offers free luggage storage and a delicious breakfast. They also provide shared showers, a communal kitchen, and a hammock deck. Be reminded that the rooms are not completely closed off, so it can get quite loud if the guests are having a conversation.

Hostal La Tranquilidad

Hostal La Tranquilidad is a budget-friendly option for those who want to enjoy their stay in Mindo. They provide Wi-Fi, towels, and rooms with a private bath. There is also a kitchen, and consistent hot water is available.

Rubby Hostal

Rubby Hostal is known for its hearty breakfasts and basic finished wooden rooms. There are a water dispenser, hammock balcony, and clean shared bathrooms. Rubby Hostal has a beautiful attic room that can accommodate up to 7 guests.

El tio colón

El tio colon is a 5-minute walk from the town center. It offers western-standard rooms that provide access to towels, warm water, and mosquito nets.

Hosteria Quindepungo

Hosteria Quindepungo is a rustic restaurant and hotel located next to Mindo River. It offers picturesque views of the ponds, gardens, and river. Hosteria Quindepungo is an excellent spot for nature lovers and for those who want to relax. You can choose from fully furnished suites and economical style rooms. Hosteria Quindepungo has plenty of nature trails as well. There’s a private island where you can see butterflies, birds and other kinds of wildlife.

Mindo Coffee Lodge & Spa

Mindo Coffee Lodge & Spa has comfortable and clean rooms with balcony and private bathroom. The balcony offers a great view of the Cloud Forest. Mindo Coffee Lodge & Spa is a 5-minute walk from the town center. There’s a tree house with king bed size and indoor Jacuzzi. The tree house can accommodate up to 6 people. Mindo Coffee Lodge & Spa also offers spa massages, heated pool, and beautiful gardens. They serve vegetarian, Ecuadorian, international dishes outdoors or indoors. The restaurant and coffee-bar are open from 7 in the morning to 10 in the evening.

El Quetzal de Mindo and Mindo Chocolate Factory

You can choose from the spacious rooms with queen and king size beds. Each room has a private bath and offers picturesque views overlooking Mindo. The rooms also have an uninterrupted supply of filtered water from the tap. There’s a restaurant on site that serves organic foods and healthy desserts. They also serve organic coffee. A guided chocolate tour is offered as well. You will see how chocolate bars and beans are made and taste brownie and chocolate samples.

Mindo is a great place that offers a lot of exciting adventures and fun. Plan your vacation ahead of time and enjoy your stay to the fullest.

How do you visit Mindo from Quito in 2026?

By bus, go to Terminal La Ofelia in north Quito (a taxi from the Old Town takes 30–45 minutes, or take the Metrobus-Q north to La Ofelia). Buy your Cooperativa Flor del Valle ticket at the window on the day. The ride takes about 2 hours and costs around $3–4. Morning buses (around 8:00 and 9:00) give you a full day. Check the last return bus when you arrive, because times change often and weekend buses fill up.

A day trip is possible, but Mindo is best with one night. Birds are most active from about 6:00 to 10:00, which is before the first bus from Quito even arrives. Bring a rain jacket at any time of year and cash, since not every business takes cards.

Related guides

• The best waterfalls in Ecuador
• Hiking in Ecuador: trails for every level
• Things to do in Quito
• Ecuador itinerary for 7, 10 or 14 days
• What to pack for the cloud forest and beyond

Plan it with us

Questions before you go? Stop by our office at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo in Quito, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832, or write to info@communitytravel.ec. Our local guides answer every message and will tell you honestly whether a tour or the bus makes more sense for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht Mindo, Ecuador: Things to Do and How to Get There (2026 Guide) verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: we grouped the 20 ideas by region with the tour or guide that fits each one, and corrected outdated details on the TeleferiQo, Mitad del Mundo, Cotopaxi, the Devil’s Nose train and Galápagos fees.

For being such a small country, Ecuador provides every type of experience that you could possibly imagine. Ranging from exhilarating hikes in the Andes, to beautiful beaches for lounging and one of a kind Amazon experiences. With the perfect mix of culture, history, cuisine and four worlds packed into one country. Whether you are traveling solo or with friends Ecuador’s rich diversity will fulfill all your needs.

20 things to do in Ecuador:

Hit the streets of Old Town Quito & New Town

Come and join us on our Free Walking Tour to get a full Historic Center experience, come and learn about the colonial plazas, traditional food markets, the historic churches of Quito that are lined with gold. Take in the panoramic views from the towers of the Basilica.

The north part of the city is also a bustling metropolis waiting to be explored, explore the gardens in beautiful Parque La Carolina or duck into some quaint cafes for a recharge.

Ride up Pichincha Volcano on the TeleferiQo

Take the Gondola up to 4,100 meters above sea level and enjoy the views of Quito and if you are lucky the neighboring volcanoes. If you are feeling up to it there is an additional hike from the Teleferico to the summit of Rucu Pichincha, it is about a 4-5 hour hike to the summit where the views are even more spectacular. During the winter season it is best to go in the morning before the clouds roll in.

Check hours & pricing.

Mitad del Mundo

When in Ecuador, what better to do than  visit Latitude Zero. Here in Quito we have 2 locations to mark the equator. The Museo Inti ñan is the GPS calculated line where you can defy gravity and bust some myths. At the museum you will have the opportunity to learn about the history of Quito and how they knew that we were on the equator, also see some of the solar clocks used by the indigenous communities. Just 200 meters around the bend is the historic monument called Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, at this location you can get a picture with the widely recognized monument and explore the shops of local goodies (more information about the Mitad del Mundo).

Mitad del Mundo is about 45 minutes north of Quito by taxi, ride-hailing app or public bus.

Take in the beautiful sights and colors of Otavalo

Otavalo is highly recognized for its Plaza de Ponchos which is the largest outdoor artisanal market in Ecuador. For around  85 years of history the Saturday market in Otavalo is a must see and do while in Ecuador. All of the various communities from around the area come to the market to display and sell their handicrafts, you can find anything and everything here: artwork, clothes, ceramics and even local food.

The market is not the only wonder that Otavalo and its province have to offer, if you are able to stay in the area and explore you won’t be disappointed. There are scenic hikes around Cuicocha lagoon and the thundering Peguche waterfalls are all great areas to explore around Otavalo.

Check out our Otavalo Market Tour.

Explore the beauty and nature of the Cloudforest Mindo

Mindo is a beautiful, small village nestled in the north part of the Andes in Ecuador with a subtropical forest climate which is home to a great diversity of flora and fauna. If you are a avid bird-watcher then Mindo is the place for you, with over 400 different exotic bird species you will not be disappointed. But you will not only find birds in Mindo, there is also an abundance of butterflies and orchids to apease the nature lovers. For the more adventurous folks there are plenty of options; zip-line though the canopy of the cloud forest, ride the “tarabita” across to the waterfalls and hike, or tube down the river to cool off, taste the divine Ecuadorian chocolate at the factories.

Whether you want nature or adventure Mindo is a great place to escape for a couple of days (more information about Mindo).

If you are on a limited time schedule and want to explore Mindo in one day see our Mindo Cloudforest Tour.

Get lost in the Amazon in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Have you ever imagined yourself swimming in the lake in the middle of the jungle as the sun sets around you? If you answered yes then Cuyabeno is right up your alley. The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, is  an oasis of peace and adventure in the Ecuadorian Amazon, it is truly one of the country’s best treasures.

Among the various experiences travelers love about this area is the spontaneous sighting of the reserve’s flora and fauna – birds, monkeys, caimans, frogs, bullet ants, turtles, pink river dolphins, electric eel, boas, and if you’re lucky, an anaconda. The guides in Cuyabeno are all native and very knowledgeable about the species you will encounter, so you will learn about the region’s botany and the intriguing properties of your surroundings.

You can plan a 3, 4 or 5 day experience to the Cuyabeno with us: Cuyabeno Jungle Tour.

Stand above the clouds at the top of Cotopaxi

One of the top things to do when beeing in Ecuador: Have you ever imagined yourself walking above the clouds? If so then you are in luck!

Cotopaxi volcano is Ecuador’s second highest peek, if you are an avid mountain climber and want to challenge yourself this is the one for you. The summit sits at 5, 897 meters above sea level and if you do reach the peak you will be rewarded with the most spectacular views imaginable. The ascent to the summit takes about 2-3 hours, and for those who don’t want to reach the summit but just explore the beauty of the National Park you can do a smaller hike up to the refuge at 4,600 meters.

A popular way to visit Cotopaxi is on a Hike and Bike tour for one full day.

Check out our Cotopaxi Bike and Hike Tour.

Loop around the Quilotoa Crater Lake

When it comes to breathtaking, must see landmarks in Ecuador; the Quilotoa Crater lake is one of them. You have many options when it comes to Quilotoa which sits at 3, 814 meters, you can hike down to the turquoise, sulphuric water. There is a path laid out to hike from the rim down and you can even kayak in the lake, to get back up you can challenge yourself to a straight uphill hike or rent a mule to do the work for you. If you are more avid hiker you can tackle the 5-6 hour hike around the rim of the crater lake, or do the infamous Quilotoa Loop which is about a 2-3 day hike around Quilotoa to all the small towns that neighbor the national park. No matter how you do it, make sure you check Quilotoa off your bucket list.

If you only have 1 day to visit, check out our Quilotoa Tour.

Baños de Agua Santa, adventure or party?

One of hte highlights of Ecuador: If you are the kind of person that loves adventure and extreme sports, then Baños is the perfect place for you. This small(ish) city is jam packed with activities, from the thundering waterfalls that surround Baños to the gravity defying swings if you want to take the leap of faith. Some of the most popular attractions in Baños are the Casa del Arbol, where you can swing into the most amazing views of Tungurahua Volcano. And out of all the waterfalls in Baños, el Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) is definitely the most grand with its roaring water surrounded by lush vegetation, make sure you have a poncho or raincoat as you will get soaked! Or if you want to take a more relaxing approach you can visit one of many spas and thermals in Baños.  If after all of that you are not tired, Baños has an excellent night life where you can dance till dawn.

White water rafting in Tena and its surrounding areas

If you are looking for a shorter Jungle experience then Tena is perfect, located in the center of the amazon region. If you are a water sport junkie then look no further than the great rapids of Tena, one of the best destinations for white water rafting in all of Ecuador. You will have a variety or rivers and categories to choose from.

While in Tena you can also visit the Amazon, Puerto Misahualli is just off the Napo River and you can get a feel for the jungle. With the capuchin monkeys living freely around you and also visit a Kichwa community native to that area. Also in that region you will find the Caverns of Jumandy which are not extremely well known but definitely worth the visit. Inside the caves you can see the underground water currents and the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over the years.

Take a ride into the Devil’s Nose

One of the most unique wonders of Alausi is the Devils Nose Train, this zigzag path into the Chanchan river gorge climbs 500 meters in only 12 kilometers. Don’t let the Devils Nose scare you, it is one of the most beautiful train rides in Ecuador. Even though Alausi is a small town nestled in the Province of Chimborazo, it has plenty to offer. From the delicious, traditional food in the market to the wondrous sights of the Lagunas de Ozogoche. You can also trek up to the statue of San Pedro to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the town.

Our hostel is located right in front of the Alausi train station, so hop on over the tracks and purchase your ticket: Community Hostel Alausi.

Visit the Ruins of Ingapirca

The largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador are Ingapirca or translated to english would be “Inca Wall”, located in the town close to Cañar. The most significant building of the ruins is the Templo del Sol its elliptically shaped building or whats left of it was constructed in the Inca way without mortar and hand chiseled to fit together perfectly. To see this spectacular sight for yourself you can take a tour from Cuenca for the day or if you want to stay near by there is lodging in the surrounding towns of El Tambo or Cañar. Or if you are a hiker/nature lover you can also tackle the 3 day Inca Trail hike that can start from Alausi and takes you though many sights until you arrive to the ruins.

Cuenca, our own little piece of Europe

Cuenca is the capital city of the Azuay province, and its largely recognized for its UNESCO world heritage sight city center. It resembles Spain due to its 16th and 17th century colonial architecture which is what makes Cuenca so popular. They are also well known for their textile industry, such as hats and shoes. It is also known as the city of 4 rivers, which surround the city and allow for walks along the riverfront such as the Tomebamba river which goes along the colonial center of Cuenca. Many people also choose Cuenca as their go to place to retire, so you know it must be beautiful and relaxing.

El Cajas National Park

Take a hike through the highlands of Ecuador,  in this park about 30 km west of Cuenca. With around 270 lakes and lagoons inside the park, it is home to to many endemic species of animals some of which are highly endangered. Even if you are not an avid hiker, El Cajas still has plenty to offer. You can go climbing, fishing, camping and bird watching. So if you are heading south in Ecuador make sure you take the time to stop in this national park, even if for only a day it’s a nature experience you can’t miss.

Eat your heart out in Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuadors largest city and the country’s main port, with nice hot weather year round to keep you sweating! While it does have lots to offer in term of landmarks, Guayaquil definitely stands out for its FOOD, honestly some of the best food in Ecuador. Basing heavily on seafood (which is obvious since they are on the coast), they also  have the best “menestra” around; which is rice, grilled meat and lentils or beans.

For all the foodies coming to Ecuador you have to make the time and room in your stomach to go and try all the varieties of cuisine in Guayaquil. If you want to walk off all that food you can stroll through Las Peñas and brave the 444 stairs up Cerro Santa Ana to the majestic white and blue lighthouse. You can also enjoy a walk along the Malecon which goes along the River Guayas and go up for amazing panoramic sights in the ferris wheel of La Perla.

Party like a beach bum in Montañita

Just 3 hours north of Guayaquil on the Ecuadorian coast line in most likely one of the funnest places to stay. Montañita is a true beach party town, it is just a small-town but jam-packed with thrills.

A great spot for surfing with consistent, strong waves always available and the most ideal summer weather year round. After all the water sports you can hang out in one of many beach bars and enjoy an ice cold beer or cocktail! It is very easy to get trapped for much longer than you planned in Montañita, it truly is a one of a kind place that won’t let you leave its sandy shores.

Explore the wonders of Playa de los Frailes

This white sand, crystal blue beach is truly one of Ecuadors most beautiful spots. Inside the National Park of Machalilla it is a great place to stop for the day if you are traveling the coast line. Since it is a national park there is no camping or accommodation at Los Frailes. So you are only able to visit for the day, but it is recommended to bring everything you will need with you. You can also go snorkeling along the half-moon shaped shoreline. Or if you are looking to scuba dive in Los Frailes you can pick up a tour from Puerto Lopez, since this beach inside the national park it is only accessible via private car or taxi.

Truly a place for all ages to come and enjoy, a sight you can’t miss!

Get a sneak-peek of Galapagos in Isla de la Plata

Sometimes known as the poor man’s Galapagos, Isla de la Plata is a part of the National Park of Machalilla and is just off the coast of Manabi.  Here on the island you can get a small taste of what the Galapagos islands have to offer, you can see 3 different species of the booby bird and some sea lions as well. You can pick up a tour to the island from Puerto Lopez to go out for the day, see the animals and do some hikes. So for those of you that can’t make it over to Galapagos this time around, try and make the trip out to Isla de la Plata!

Discover the uniqueness of Galapagos Islands

Prepare to be enchanted by the Galapagos Islands, a cluster of volcanic islands just off the coast of Ecuador; it truly is a once in a lifetime experience. Here you can lay on the beach next to the sea lions and iguanas who most likely will not get up and move to give you a spot on the sand. You will also get a chance to photograph many of the islands endemic species such as the giant tortoises, blood red crabs, the boobies, the Galapagos penguin and so many more.

You can dive in many places around the islands and get a glimpse into life under the sea, or if you want a more relaxed approach under the water you can easily get some snorkel gear and take the plunge. Another great way to see the islands is via bike, especially the volcanic coastline of Isabela Island.

Come and see for yourself why the Galapagos are Ecuador’s most precious treasure! See our Galapagos land based tours.

Always go local!

Finally this is just some of our personal advice for wherever in Ecuador you end up. Try, taste, hear and see the local ways. Sometimes the best foods are hidden away in the local markets in every city or town. The best way to really experience a country is by giving the food and culture a shot.

Even if it’s a strange animal part you never thought about eating, you might be surprised at just how good it is. Indulge in all the vibrantly colored fresh fruit that is offered. Skip the fancy restaurant for one night and go explore the streets cause it’s usually those hole in the wall food places that will have the best tasting food!

How do you fit these things to do into one Ecuador trip?

Ecuador is compact, but the roads through the Andes are slow, so pick regions rather than trying to do all 20 things. With a week, most travelers combine Quito with Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Otavalo or Mindo. With 10 to 14 days you can add either the Amazon or the Galápagos, plus Baños or Cuenca. Our new Ecuador itinerary guide lays out day-by-day routes for 7, 10 and 14 days.

Related guides

• Ecuador itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 days
• Things to do in Quito
• How much does a trip to Ecuador cost in 2026?
• Cuyabeno vs Yasuní: which Amazon reserve?
• Is Ecuador safe to travel in 2026?

Plan it with us

Want help choosing which of these 20 things fit your dates and budget? Visit us at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo in Quito, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832, or email info@communitytravel.ec and our local guides will put together a plan with you.

Frequently asked questions

Quick reference: Ecuador travel facts and figures 2026 · Ecuador travel glossary · About Community Adventures Ecuador

Het bericht 20 Things to Do in Ecuador, From Quito to Galápagos (2026 Guide) verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: this 2017 article was first written for people thinking of moving to Baños. We added current transport, entry fees and the volcano’s status for travelers, and flagged the older prices below.

Baños at a glance (2026)

As seen on: Huffington Post

By Suzan Haskins, InternationalLiving.com

This article comes to us courtesy of InternationalLiving.com, the world’s leading authority on how to live, work, invest, travel, and retire better overseas.

She’s a wanton woman with a feather beneath her skirt, cause for her constant state of libidinous arousal. Men and women alike are smitten with her overpowering beauty and limitless energy. But she has a temper, this one. When her flirtations are not returned, her anger boils and she quite literally blows her top like nothing you’ve ever seen.

So goes the Quechua legend of “Mama” Tungurahua, the hot and bothered volcano that regally rises from lushly-forested terrain about a three-hour’ drive south from Ecuador’s capital city of Quito.

Perched just five miles from Mama’s summit on her northern side is the town of Baños (population about 20,000). As the lore goes, Baños is Mama’s love child, and she protects it. She’s certainly passed on an inheritance, for—thanks to Tungurahua’s hot temper—Baños is blessed with an abundance of thermal waters. Those waters, and the stunning natural setting, have made Baños a popular spa and outdoor-sports town, as well as home to a small community of expats.

The town’s full name is Baños de Agua Santa: the holy water Baths. (And note, Baños does not mean “bathrooms.” It means “baths,” like the kind you soak luxuriantly in.) The name gives tribute not to Mama, of course, but rather to the town’s other famous patron, the Virgin Mary.

Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa—our Lady of the holy water—is said to have appeared at nearby waterfalls from time to time, and it’s believed she protects those who invoke her name during times of crisis. “Our lady watches over us,” a local man said in a television interview, speaking of the Virgin after Mama’s most recent pyroclastic fit.

The neo-Gothic Basilica Reina Del Rosario De Agua Santa—built to honor the Virgin—is a local pilgrimage site, and is decorated with graphic artwork of the many miracles she’s credited with. Appropriately enough, the Basilica, which sits in the heart of Baños, is constructed of volcanic rock from Tungurahua.

For many visitors, though, Baños’s thermal baths are miracle enough. You’ll find several places to soak away to your heart’s content here, in pools of varying degrees of delicious heat. The most popular public baths are right in town at the base of the 260-foot waterfall called Cascada de la Virgen, where Nuestra Señora allegedly once appeared. A shrine there is dedicated to her and her healing waters.

For certain, water is plentiful in this part of Ecuador. More than 60 waterfalls cascade into the surrounding countryside from the slopes of the volcano. The entire province, called Tungurahua in honor of you-know-who, is fully and self-sufficiently powered, thanks to the Tungurahua hydroelectric facility located just outside Baños.

The surrounding landscape is crisscrossed with steep bluffs, deep river gorges, and expansive plateaus. With all this natural beauty, it’s no wonder that Baños, cupped in a small valley at about 5,900 feet above sea level, is a thriving tourist town, equally popular with both Ecuadorian and international visitors. And with more than 100 hotels and hostels and a nearly continuous round of parades, festivals, and special events throughout the year, the mood in Baños is always festive and
upbeat.

You’ll find just about any outdoor activity that exists: hiking, canyoning and rappelling, bungee jumping, zip-lining…how about a breathtaking ride in a tarabita (cable car) that swings from a mile-long cable across 500-foot-deep gorges? You can go mountain biking, horseback riding, rent an ATV or dirt bike, or just kick back in one of the many spas offering massages, facials, and more.

Water sports are popular, too, of course. Kayaking, white-water rafting, and more can all be enjoyed within just a few miles of Baños. The town, considered one of the safest in Ecuador, is also known as the “Gateway to the Amazon.” Just 30 miles downhill from Baños is the town of Puyo, the country’s largest jungle town. Puyo sits on the banks of the Puyo River, which eventually dumps into the vast Amazon River.

Still, for all its near-perfect, year-round weather (temperatures average 55 F at night up to about 80 F during the day) and wealth of activities and attractions, Baños is not high on the radar for expats looking for retirement destinations.

There is, though, a small and fairly active group of Canadian, European, and U.S. residents in Baños. Mountain-biking enthusiasts Jim and Marshia Redd had traveled to the area many times from their home in Chicago before they decided to purchase La Posada del Arte in 2004.

The hotel has been a successful venture for them, they say. A couple of years ago they bought an adjacent property and expanded to double the hotel capacity. “This has been a fantastic investment,” Jim says. “It pays for itself every two years.”

Additionally, Marshia is president of Fundación Arte del Mundo, a non-profit foundation that operates an after-school library and theater for local children. They’ve opened the Stray Dog Brewpub with their son, Jason.

Likewise, Canadians Rob Tiessen and Robyn Moulyn had traveled all over Ecuador before finding themselves in Baños six years ago with their then-teenaged children. An artist who specializes in wildlife, Robyn fell in love with the natural surroundings and awe-inspiring vistas. (See her website here.) She recently finished the illustrations for a book and is making her own art paper from abundant local banana stalks.

Rob still works in the oil industry in Canada. Even with traveling back and forth for assignments, they say that by living in Ecuador, they spend less money and enjoy life more.

“What I find fascinating about Baños,” Robyn says, “is that, for being such a small town, it’s very much aware of its international appeal and caters to that with its friendliness and care of the tourists. And did I mention the variety of foods available? From vegetarian to French cooking. We have it all.”

All the attributes, in fact, that make Ecuador an attractive retirement destination can be found in Baños. The cost of living is low…a couple can live comfortably just about anywhere in Ecuador on $1,500 to $2,000 a month. The average furnished rental costs $300 to $500 a month.

A local mercado (farmers’ market) just two blocks from the basilica is open every day. There you can find all the fresh local produce you might want, and at a fraction of the price you’ll pay in the States, where it’s all imported, of course.

Health care in Baños is adequate, as you might expect in a town that caters to adventure tourism. And a new hospital is being built. For now, though, for anything of a serious nature, you’ll need to travel an hour away to the larger city of Ambato, or to Quito.

Certainly, don’t go to Baños expecting to find a mature real estate market. While there are certainly properties for sale, there is only one official real estate company. You’ll need good Spanish chops to communicate with the proprietor and his staff. The website listed on the business card they gave me doesn’t work, making it hard to get a handle on area prices.

But with a bit of digging, we found one 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, one-bath house in a typical local neighborhood selling for just $47,000. It’s perfectly habitable but will certainly require some upgrading to make it something I’d personally appreciate.

Another more likely candidate is near the Río Pastaza. A red-brick house of 2,600 square feet with a red-tile roof, it has four bedrooms and five baths and is selling for $90,000. Two nearby lots that border the river, each 1,700 square feet in size, are listed for $8,000 each.

And on a quarter-acre lot with a view of Mama Tungurahua herself, a 3,550-square-foot house, with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and even a small pool, is selling for $120,000. It’s lovely inside, with tile floors and cantilevered wooden ceilings, and will require little, if any, improvements.

A Quick Guide for Taking the Cure in Baños

How to Get There:

Catch a bus to Baños from Quito’s Quitumbe Station for $3.60, or via a door-to-door shared van for $20 per person plus $5 for a large bag. To reserve, call 022-082-165 / 099-048-9374 / 098-752-9599. A private taxi from Quito will cost $70 to $80.

Where to Stay:

You won’t have trouble finding accommodation in all price ranges in Baños. We’d recommend La Floresta at $58 for a double or La Posada del Arte at $65 to $70 for a double. Both include breakfast. For upscale accommodation in hotels with private thermal pools and up-close views of Tungurahua, check out Luna Runtun or Hotel Sangay.

Where to Eat: There are many excellent restaurants in Baños. Popular Café Hood is owned by U.S. expat and longtime Baños resident Ray Hood. (Not to be confused with Casa Hood, also good.) We also had a most enjoyable meal at the antique-filled Café Mariane.

Don’t Miss:

A visit to the Basilica is a must. And for $6 per person, take the full-day, double-decker bus excursion that will take you to the most famous sites. These include waterfalls and canyons where you can ride the cable cars or go zip-lining. (Be sure to reserve a seat on the top deck and don’t forget your rain gear. And definitely try the empanadas!)

Related Articles:
The Top 5 Cultural Experiences In Ecuador
Ecuador’s Natural Weight Loss Plan…
How Much Does It Cost To Live In Ecuador?

How do you visit Baños from Quito in 2026?

Take a taxi or the Trole south to Terminal Quitumbe and buy a ticket to Baños at any of the company windows. Buses run roughly every hour, the ride takes 3–3.5 hours, and fares are about $4–5 as of 2026. Give Baños at least two nights: one day for the Ruta de las Cascadas and Pailón del Diablo, one for the Casa del Árbol and an evening soak at the Termas de la Virgen.

Baños sits on the Avenue of the Volcanoes, so it pairs naturally with Cotopaxi and Quilotoa on the way south. We do not run a Baños tour ourselves, but our two-day trip covers the two highlights most travelers try to fit in before or after.

Related guides

• The best waterfalls in Ecuador, including Pailón del Diablo
• Hiking in Ecuador
• Cotopaxi and Quilotoa: the complete guide
• Tena whitewater rafting guide
• Ecuador itinerary for 7, 10 or 14 days

Plan it with us

Questions before you go? Stop by our office at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo in Quito, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832, or write to info@communitytravel.ec. Our local guides answer every message and will tell you honestly whether a tour or the bus makes more sense for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht Baños, Ecuador: Hot Springs, Waterfalls and Getting There (2026 Guide) verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.