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Are you planning your journey to Ecuador and in search of an ideal itinerary for 7 days in Ecuador? On this article, I’ll share our itinerary for one week in Ecuador, visiting Quito, Mindo Cloud Forest and even the Amazon rainforest, the place we stayed for 3 nights in a lodge in Yasuni Nationwide Park. This 7-day itinerary for Ecuador is ideal for individuals who get pleasure from visiting a number of totally different areas and love nature and hen watching! Sounds fascinating? Maintain studying!
Earlier than we begin, right here’s a fast overview of our itinerary:
Our itinerary for 7 days in Ecuador (the overview)
Day 1: Arriving in Quito, driving to Mindo
Day 2: Birdwatching in Mindo, visiting Mitad del Mundo, night in Quito
Day 3: Flying to Coca, staying at Napo Cultural Middle in Yasuni (Amazon journey)
Day 4: Amazon rainforest
Day 5: Amazon rainforest
Day 6: Flying again to Quito, exploring town centre
Day 7: Quito within the morning and flying again residence (via Lima)
Fast hyperlinks:
I’ve been advised many instances that having an important hyperlinks in a single place helps to simplify the reserving and planning course of, so right here you go; listed below are an important hyperlinks talked about on this put up:
Mosquito-proof clothes for the jungle: Craghoppers Vary
Lodge for the primary evening in Quito: Ibis Quito
Lodge for the second evening in Quito: Lodge San Fransisco de Quito
Lodge in Mindo: Casa Divina
Tour 1 in Mindo: (Zip Line) https://viator.tp.st/OpAf1Rw5
Tour 2 in Mindo: (Hen Watching) https://tripadvisor.tp.st/cv4cauAx
Automotive rental: test availability
Jungle lodge: Napo Cultural Middle
Quito strolling tour: e-book right here
Is it protected to go to the Amazon Lodges in Ecuador?
Many individuals are questioning whether or not it’s protected to go to the Amazon in Ecuador and usually, it’s fairly protected. It’s truly method safer than I’ve imagined. By “protected”, I imply protected from lethal illnesses, parasites, bugs and snake bites. Yasuni Nationwide Park, the place we stayed, is free from Malaria, so that you don’t have to be too anxious about it. Nonetheless, there are many different tropical illnesses – you at all times have to be cautious and put on applicable garments.
What to pack for Ecuador (particularly the Amazon jungle half)?
Once you e-book your lodge in Yasuni Nationwide Park, they normally ship you a packing checklist and a few suggestions when it comes to clothes. In case you’re reserving a brief tour (4 days – 3 nights) identical to we did, you undoubtedly want 2 pairs of fast-drying pants or trousers (nonetheless you name them the place you’re from) – and no, you’ll be able to’t purchase them in Ecuador except you need to pay 2-3x the worth you’ll pay again residence. We discovered the identical manufacturers in Quito as those we had seen in Cotswolds Outside in London however for 2-3 instances the worth (over $100-120), so be sure to purchase them prematurely to keep away from disappointment!
I might advocate shopping for particular anti-mosquito trousers (they actually labored for me – I solely obtained 1 chunk on my leg) like these ones and long-sleeve anti-mosquito shirts like this one. I like to recommend bringing 3-4 shirts with you, because it’s actually scorching and everyone sweats quite a bit within the jungle!
Additionally, be sure to deliver lengthy socks with you, as you can be sporting rubber boots 90% of the time. Don’t trouble with bringing particular footwear, as you’ll principally be sporting supplied rubber boots and nothing else (aside from some sneakers or sandals when going to eat at a lodge restaurant)
Alright, now let’s begin with the itinerary for 7 days in Ecuador: Quito, Mindo and Amazon journey in Yasuni Nationwide Park
Day 1: Arriving at Quito Airport, driving to Mindo, an evening at Casa Divina
Quito airport expertise & selecting up our rental automotive
Quito airport border management expertise was fairly easy – not like the expertise, we had in Bolivia on our final leg of the journey (nothing main, nevertheless it took ages). It took us lower than 20 minutes to cross all of the border checks and choose up our luggage in Quito. Quito airport is fairly small, nevertheless it’s tremendous fashionable and really very good.
The one barely unfavorable expertise was our automotive rental expertise. We rented vehicles in Central and South America earlier than, and for some cause, the expertise is at all times fairly dangerous – you both get a a lot worse automotive than the one you booked with no refund below the pretence that your “booked” automotive isn’t out there and your solely possibility is to just accept this new worse automotive, or it’s important to pay additional. We at all times conform to a worse automotive – this time, we obtained a handbook as a substitute of an automated (though we booked an automated and paid additional for it) – our solely possibility was to just accept this handbook SUV or downgrade to a compact automated automotive which might not be capable of drive the place we would have liked to go. All automotive rental firms have horrible rankings and critiques in South America, so you must have some fairly low expectations. Ah, they usually needed to cost us an $8000 (USD!) deposit for this automotive though it was $800 in our contract, they usually solely agreed to cost us $800 once we despatched them the copy of our reserving affirmation – so be sure to have web entry, or you’ve gotten all of the paperwork printed, so that you don’t get tricked like that.
Driving from Quito to Mindo
After we picked up our automotive, we drove to the closest shopping center that had quick-drying and mosquito-proof clothes as we shortly realised that what we introduced with us (1 pair of anti-mosquito trousers and a couple of shirts every) was not sufficient for two days in Mindo and 4 days within the Amazon jungle. We discovered a number of shops promoting quick-drying tourers appropriate for the jungle, e.g. The North Face and so on., however all the things was far more costly than in London – e.g. the identical trousers we purchased within the UK for £50 ($65) have been $130 in Ecuador, so we regretted not bringing extra applicable garments with us! Lesson discovered!
Tip: Although it may appear logical to purchase jungle garments in Ecuador, it’s cheaper and simpler to purchase them in your nation and convey them with you.
After a fast lunch, we lastly began our drive in the direction of Mindo. Mindo is likely one of the most lovely locations in Ecuador and it takes round 1.5 to 2 hours to get there relying on the place in Quito you’re departing from and on the site visitors and climate situations. It’s truly quicker to get there from Quito airport than from Quito centre.
The highway to Mindo may be very scenic! You’ll cross very tall mountains, lovely forests and a number of beautiful views. There are additionally a few cafes on the best way; nonetheless, I might in all probability advocate consuming one thing earlier than beginning a journey to Mindo.
Exploring Mindo
Mindo is a small city well-known for its Cloud Forest – a really particular ecosystem, a tropical evergreen forest, which is residence to a really excessive variety of birds. Yow will discover Mindo on the high of worldwide rankings for hen recognizing. The city itself may be very small and unassuming. It’s not very manicured as effectively – the roads are unpaved, and lots of stray canine are working round.
Casa Divina
We arrived in Mindo round 4pm and whereas it was nonetheless mild, we determined to stroll and discover the paths of our resort, Casa Divina, after a fast check-in. Casa Divina is a tremendous family-run guesthouse based by an American lady and her Ecuadorian husband. Each of them and their youngsters work at Casa Divina and are very educated and pleasant. We had an evening jungle tour across the Casa Divina with the founder as effectively.
There are 2 quick trails on the territory of Casa Divina and we walked one of many trails (though one way or the other we managed to get misplaced and did a complete circle across the property and even ended up on one other path of one other property and spent an hour up within the forest as a substitute of quarter-hour).
The place to eat in Mindo
There are a number of good eating choices in Mindo. We had a fast dinner within the Persian Home, and the meals was pretty! Monmot Bistro and Fuera De Babilonia are additionally good choices for lunch or dinner in Mindo.
Day 2: Birdwatching in Mindo, visiting Mitad del Mundo, night in Quito
Birdwatching in Mindo
We spent your entire morning of our second day in Ecuador birdwatching. With the intention to see most birds, that you must get up very early. Casa Divina has a unbelievable rooftop terrace and a small spot the place they lay fruits each morning, so the birds come to the property for a morning feast. Whereas the terrace of Casa Divina normally opens at 7am, we requested to open it a bit earlier and went there already at 6:30 within the morning.
Within the subsequent 1.5 hours, we noticed many superb birds, together with toucans and guans! Whereas a few of them got here to eat fruits, some others have been simply flying round. At 8 am, we had breakfast downstairs, trying on the Colibri within the backyard, and at 10am, we left Casa Divina and went to our subsequent vacation spot.
One of the best issues to do in Mindo in 24 hours
Mindo Zip Line
Although Mindo is a tiny city, there are many issues to do. The very first thing on our itinerary was the zip line. The zip line in Mindo was superb. It’s normally fairly busy, so I like to recommend reserving prematurely. You possibly can e-book it on-line right here. The zip line consists of 10 totally different tracks of various lengths and issue ranges. The entire tracks have totally different views as effectively!
Mindo Cable Automotive
Mindo Cable Automotive can deliver you to the well-known Nambillo Waterfall, so that you don’t must hike there should you don’t really feel prefer it or don’t have sufficient time. The cable automotive can also be fairly superb – it has open cabins, so you’ll be able to simply observe the environment, take images and search for birds! You possibly can e-book your ticket prematurely right here.
Cocoa and chocolate tasting and excursions
Mindo has a extremely good local weather for rising cocoa beans and making chocolate. If you wish to study a bit extra about how cocoa beans are grown and the way chocolate is made, you’ll be able to e-book one of many cocoa and chocolate taking excursions like this one.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to go to a restaurant like Mindo Chocolate and check out chocolate there in addition to purchase some candies at the native retailer.
Butterfly sanctuary – Mariposas de Mindo
One other common attraction in Mindo is the butterfly sanctuary.
This one you’ll be able to go to with out pre-booking. It prices round $6 per individual to go to and even features a small tour. You possibly can see 3 varieties of butterflies there, and there are such a lot of of them, 1000’s or extra!
Take a birdwatching tour / see cock-of-the-rock.
Some folks come to Mindo to see the well-known and really uncommon hen, cock-of-the-rock. With the intention to see them, you truly must get up additional early and hike for some time. You’ll have greater probabilities to see cock of the rock should you go along with a information, and it could be the best choice even supposing the excursions are fairly costly. You possibly can discover out extra about these excursions right here.
Heading again to Quito, visiting Mitad del Mundo
We spent the primary half of our day in Mindo, visiting a number of the finest sights, then had lunch there and round 2:30 pm, we headed in the direction of Quito. On our method, we determined to cease at one other world-famous attraction, Mitad del Mundo!
Mitad del Mundo is a line which separates the North and the South Hemispheres. Properly, in actuality, the precise line is someplace 200 meters away within the village, however in Mitad del Mundo, you’ll be able to go to a museum, put a number of stamps you could stamp your passport with, eat one thing on the numerous eating places and purchase some souvenirs on the native shops. And, in fact, you’ll be able to take a number of images!
Spending a night in Quito
We arrived in Quito round 6pm, checked in at our resort Ibis and spent a while resting within the room. Then it was already time to go for dinner, and we discovered a really good road meals market very near Ibis Quito!
Days 3-5: Taking a flight to Coca, beginning our Amazon Journey at Napo Cultural Middle
Flying to Coca
The spotlight of our journey to Ecuador was our 4-day expertise at an Amazon Lodge positioned within the coronary heart of Yasuni Nationwide park. With the intention to get to Yasuni, we would have liked to take a flight to Coca Airport, swap to a speedboat, and spend one other 2 hours there to succeed in the lodge. Normally, the lodges prepare the speedboat, however they’ll additionally make it easier to with the flights. In our case, we simply booked flights to Coca immediately with Latam airways.
The flights to Coca normally depart within the morning and land in Coca round 9am or 10am. The flight is normally very quick – we solely had 5 minutes with the seatbelt log out – the remainder of the flight was both the accent or the descent.
Coca to Yasuni Nationwide Park
Upon arrival at Coca Airport, we took a taxi to the river port, the place all of the speedboats to lodges depart from. The taxis normally stand and watch for folks on the airport, so there isn’t a drawback to find one. Make sure that to deliver some money with you as there aren’t any companies like Uber or Cabify in Coca. The journey to the river port solely takes about 5 minutes.
On the riverport, our information was already ready for us! Nonetheless, we needed to wait for one more hour, as we have been scheduled to depart in the identical speedboat as one other couple, going to a different lodge (Napo Wildlife Middle). Maintain that in thoughts should you e-book your individual flights (most clients may arrive on the flights steered by the lodge).
The boat journey to our lodge, Napo Cultural Middle took lower than 2 hours and was very satisfying because it was a highly regarded and sunny day (it does get chilly on a speedboat when it’s wet or stormy, as we discovered on the best way again). We have been additionally provided a really pretty lunch field so we arrived to the lodge fairly full.
Napo Wildlife Middle is positioned 2 extra hours away, so the couple who went there, continued their journey by speedboat for 15 extra minutes after which modified to a kayak, the place they stayed for 1.5 extra hours.
Our expertise at Napo Cultural Middle – a tremendous inexpensive amazon lodge in Ecuador
After we arrived at Napo Cultural Middle, we have been greeted by the chief of the neighborhood, who provided us a number of snacks and refreshments. All through our keep at Napo Cultural Middle, everybody who labored there was unimaginable – very pleasant and well mannered! From our superb information to the chef on the restaurant and other people from the neighborhood, everyone made us really feel very welcome!
I wouldn’t go deep into our itinerary, because it differs relying on the season, the climate and the variety of folks within the group. We have been extremely fortunate to reach on the dates when there have been no different arrivals, so we just about had our information to ourselves – he was our personal information! There was just one different visitor on the lodge throughout our first two days – he got here there for a very long time for analysis functions and had his personal information.
Which actions to count on at Napo Cultural Middle
Just about on daily basis at Napo Cultural Middle follows a selected schedule. You get up normally fairly early within the morning (all of the hen exercise occurs within the morning). By 7:30am, you should have already completed breakfast and became an outfit match for venturing exterior the lodge. These early hours are at all times the perfect, for my part, as it isn’t so scorching but.
In the course of the morning journeys, you’ll be able to both go to the clay licks or to one of many statement towers if the climate permits. You may also keep on the lodge, go to the ladies in the neighborhood, and see them carry out their conventional dances and rituals.
Then you definitely normally return to your room for a fast change and head out for lunch within the widespread space of the neighborhood’s most important constructing. After lunch, you normally have an hour or two to relaxation to keep away from venturing out through the hottest hour of the day.
Round 3 or 4pm, you meet together with your information once more and enterprise out for a shorter stroll/journey to an statement tower or a stroll across the neighborhood’s territory to look out for birds.
Then you’ve gotten dinner round 7pm and after dinner, you’re normally free or it’s also possible to have some actions like an evening jungle stroll. There are not often actions after dinner, so that you normally get a while to relaxation.
What to pack for a keep in an Amazon lodge in Ecuador
After we have been planning our journey to Ecuador, we have been puzzled about what to deliver there, particularly in April, as April tends to be the rainiest month in Ecuador. We have been planning to deliver just one pair of fast-drying lengthy trousers and a few shirts every, however after a visit to Mindo, we realised that it’s undoubtedly not sufficient. As I discussed earlier than, purchasing choices for these clothes in Ecuador are very restricted, so bringing sufficient garments with you is significantly better and cheaper.
I like to recommend not less than 3 pairs of fast-drying trousers, 3 shirts and three pairs of socks for this itinerary. You don’t want a hat or cap as lodges like Napo Cultural Middle typically present them to you. As for garments, you can be sporting rubber boots 99% of the time. Additionally, you will be supplied with a raincoat by your lodge.
For fast-drying trousers and shirts, I like to recommend the model referred to as Craghoppers – they’re bought on Amazon worldwide in addition to in shops like Cotswold Outside. One in all their strains additionally has mosquito safety – and I can inform you that’s true; they’re already handled with some kind of mosquito repellent.
I additionally advocate bringing a water-proof backpack like this one and a water-proof case in your telephone. Attempt to deliver some binoculars and a few flashlights with you as effectively.
Did we get pleasure from staying in Yasuni Nationwide Park? What number of days are sufficient in an Amazon lodge in Ecuador
General, we actually loved Yasuni Nationwide Park and Napo Cultural Middle. It was actually an unforgettable expertise, one to recollect endlessly. Some moments have been completely surreal – for instance, seeing the rainforest “breathe” with water evaporating after a extreme rain storm or strolling round the area people and seeing a whole lot of essentially the most lovely birds! There have been additionally underwhelming experiences – e.g. not seeing any parrots within the clay licks, not with the ability to get to the second clay lick due to the storm, and getting completely soaked and chilly in a kayak – however even these moments have been distinctive and memorable.
It’s tough to say what number of days you must keep in an Amazon Lodge in Ecuador. All people has totally different pursuits and plans. I’d say that we have been glad we stayed 4 days and three nights – it was simply sufficient to have the ability to see all the things we needed to see! There have been shorter excursions – solely 3 days and a couple of nights, however contemplating an extended journey to the lodge, it sounds a bit too quick. 5 days and 4 nights could be a bit an excessive amount of for us already, as some actions begin being repetitive.
Day 6: Flying again to Quito, exploring town centre of Quito
The journey again to Coca
On our sixth day in Ecuador we needed to get up very early, round 5:30 am to have the ability to catch the velocity boat to Coca. Our information travelled with us – and identical to on arrival, they packed a pleasant breakfast for us, which was very considerate.
The return journey wasn’t as nice because the journey to the lodge. The climate was fairly stormy and one way or the other felt very chilly. That’s why within the packing lists steered by the lodge yow will discover a heat jacket. It’s arduous to imagine that you just may want a heat jacket in a rainforest near the equator, however sure, you truly do, particularly early within the morning whereas sitting in a fast-moving boat. Fortunately, we had hoodies and scarves ready for Quito (Quito isn’t very heat attributable to its excessive elevation), so we felt ready.
We arrived to the airport with a few hours to spare. Coca airport is tiny, there isn’t a lot to do there. Nonetheless, there are two cafes the place you’ll be able to eat one thing in case you’re hungry or simply have a cup of espresso.
Exploring the Historic Centre of Quito
On arrival again to Quito round 11:30 am, we now not had a rental automotive and needed to take a taxi. Uber works very effectively in Quito, nonetheless, taxis from the airport are a bit pricy. We paid round $30 to get to town centre (which took round 50 minutes due to site visitors).
We left our luggage at our resort – we booked Lodge San Fransisco de Quito. It was very inexpensive and seemed identical to the “Casita” from the Encanto cartoon! Nonetheless, if in case you have an even bigger price range, these two accommodations could be even a greater possibility:
Lodge Casa Gangotena or Plaza Grande Lodge
Quito has a number of the finest preserved and most spectacular historic centres amongst all South American and Central American cities. Town centre is big and has so many beautiful buildings. When you’ve got a chance, I like to recommend becoming a member of a strolling tour that may deliver you to the primary highlights within the metropolis. You possibly can test the costs and availability of a strolling tour round Quito right here.
The primary issues to see in Quito
In case you choose to discover Quito by yourself, I like to recommend seeing/visiting these locations:
- Basilica del Voto Nacional
- San Francisco Church
- El Panecilo
- Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús
- La Ronda road – there are a number of good conventional eating places there, plus the road may be very fairly
Additionally, a number of accommodations in Quito (just like the one we stayed at) have lovely terraces overlooking town. You possibly can normally take some superb images from these terraces! In case your resort doesn’t have one, you’ll be able to maybe go to a panoramic restaurant or a cocktail bar as a substitute!
There may be additionally a teleferico in Quito, and it results in a hill with some beautiful views! If the climate permits, undoubtedly head there as effectively!
The protection in Quito: find out how to be protected
Sadly, social inequality is sort of robust in Quito, and crime is on the rise within the capital. It isn’t suggested to stroll within the metropolis centre of Quito after darkish – a number of vacationers get mugged. In case you’re strolling there after darkish, you could be stopped by the police and escorted to the resort the place you’re staying. The accommodations additionally shut their doorways after darkish.
I additionally advocate being cautious within the metropolis centre of Quito, even through the day and ensuring you don’t stroll round together with your backpack or bag open, making you a simple goal for pickpockets.
Day 7 in Quito: breakfast and flying again
On our final day in Quito, we needed to get up fairly early, have breakfast and head to the airport to catch a flight to Bogota after which to Lima. The journey to the airport took round 40 minutes this time, a bit quicker than through the day because the site visitors wasn’t as heavy but. In case you’re departing through the day and even worse – between 5pm and 7pm, the site visitors could be very heavy. On this case, be sure to permit not less than 1 hour 20 minutes in your journey to the airport. In addition to, the airport in Quito may be very good, and you may simply spend some additional time having fun with the retailers and cafes within the airport.
Abstract of every week in Ecuador: Quito, Mindo and Amazon Lodge
I hope you loved our weblog put up about spending every week in Ecuador! This 7-day itinerary for Ecuador focuses on essentially the most spectacular locations for hen and nature lovers.
Throughout these 7 days in Ecuador, we had an opportunity to discover Quito, Mindo and head to Coca for Yasuni Nationwide Park and a correct Amazon Lodge expertise. Although 7 days feels like quite a bit, we weren’t capable of see another superb locations in Ecuador, like Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Banos and Galápagos Islands. To see all the things Ecuador affords, you’ll be able to simply spend 2 weeks in Ecuador. Nonetheless, this itinerary could be possibility should you solely have every week in Ecuador, particularly should you like hen watching.
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