Advice on 2 weeks around Quito Ecuador and possibly beyond.

We enjoyed visiting Cuenca a lot. If you are going to spend any time in the Amazon and lower altitudes, check if you need Malaria prophylaxis.

I know there has been unrest in Ecuador recently. Check that out as well. The altitude bothered us more than we thought it would. What about visiting the Galapagos? It’s a wonderful place to visit.

Thanks for the reply Diane!
Galapagos is out of our budget. I started down that road but we are trying to not blow a lot of cash this summer as we have a lot of other things tapping our bank account, haha.
I am aware of the unrest in the country and have been monitoring it. We hope to not stand out too much and play it safe. I'll check out Cuenca and see what it has to offer beyond the history and cityscape of Quito.

And thanks for the tip on the Malaria issue. That's somewhere on my list as well.
Galapagos next time!

-Mike

Have you considered hiring a private guide or tour company? I speak some Spanish but using public transit adds a whole level of complication if you aren't fluent. I loved Ecuador and went to many of the places you did, but I was with a tour group and very glad I didn't have to try and figure out logistics.

I'm sure you are aware that some parts of Ecuador are in discord at the moment. I suggest reviewing the US State Department information about traveling there, including a current nationwide curfew and the areas designated by State Department as do not travel. I don't think your list of places is on the don't go list, but look closely. I'd also check other travel forums for up to date info about people who have traveled there very recently.

I would rather not hire a tour company for the entire trip but am looking into options for the couple/few destinations we plan to visit. From what I have heard, Uber works pretty well around Quito for transportation. Outside of that, we have to figure out the bus to and from Banos, and potentially one other destination.
I guess I need to take a crash course to up my Spanish ASAP! :)
A little adventure is OK, safety is paramount though.
Any feedback on the places I have listed and others that are not on the list?
Thanks for your reply!

The Galapagos Islands are amazing, consider taking a tour that includes at least 3-4 days there.

It's been almost 29 yearsnsi ce I did a DIY trip to Ecuador. My focus was Galapagos and birdwatching. Mindo for a day is a long trip. If I recall, 3 hours on the bus. You may want to look at an overnight. I spent several days at The Yellow House. It has a variety of accommodations from a hostel to apartments to more BnB type rooms. It had trails up into the hills as well as lots of feeders and plants to attract hummingbirds. It is still listed, but I didn't check its current offerings.
Amazon can get pricey, but the backpackers used to go to (I think) Tena by long bus ride for a taster of the Amazon. Much more affordable as you didn't have to fly in. I expect Lonely Planet or Rough Guides can direct you. Hacking my shelf, I used Lonely Planet guide book for my month long planning. I was in my 50s at the time, but a budget traveler. They should help fill you in with how to use public transport for Cotapaxi.
When I went the buses were a bit stressful. The bus lines wanted you to store the baggage underneath for insurance purposes, which I did one trip, but I was always watching at every stop so they didn't take out my bag.
Therenis a very organized their ring that gets on part way. They'll sit behind tourists. They are small and dexterous, so any bags in the floor get cut and valuables removed, or zipper opened and rifled. Make sure all carry on stuff is on your lap or in overhead in clear vision. Know the bus line doesn't cover any theft or loss for the main bus. Hopefully this has improved, but I want to mention it...particularly with teens.
Quito buses are also very bad for pickpockets. They are packed, so easy to not know why someone's touching your stuff. A problem even for locals.

In 2018, I used the tour company CarpeDM Adventures for a day tour of the city plus a trip out to the equator. I had a private guide/driver. They also offer day trips to the places you listed. Traffic in Quito is an absolute nightmare. I did use Uber in Quito but it was very slow going.

For reference, this is the Ecuador itinerary of the tour I took there (I combined it with a guided trip to Peru). It includes some notes about travel times that might be helpful to your planning. It also includes this warning about the Quito airport - many US flights arrive and depart in the late night/early morning hours:

Please note that the Quito international airport (UIO, Mariscal Sucre)
will be closed on the following dates for preventative maintenance on
the runway: May 11, 18, June 1, July 6, 13, 20, September 7, 14, and
21, 2024 between the hours of 2am and 12pm. The airport will also be
closed on June 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2024 between the hours of 2am and
2pm. For passengers flying in or out of Quito on these dates, please
double-check flight schedules with your airline in case of changes.

In the historic center we visited a number of churches (Saint Augustine, La Compañía de Jesús, Churches of San Francisco, Santo Domingo, and La Merced), the Plaza de Independencia, the Teleférico up to the overlook, the Panecillo, a museum, and Quicentro mall. We also went to the equator (La Mitad Del Mundo) and the monument at the original supposed equator. For towns, we went to Ibarra and Otavalo for its market. To get around outside the city we hired a driver through the hotel. Although we took the teleférico up to the overlook at the end of our trip, we both got a little altitude sickness.

We didn’t walk around at night due to the petty crime. If we went someplace we took official taxis. Always remain cognizant of your surroundings and of places you could go if you think you are in danger. Stay away from any demonstrations as things could get ugly quickly. As one person stated, there has been been much recent political unrest.

My husband was lived in Ecuador as a child and has visited a few times as an adult. He recalls the food, particularly beef, very fondly, as well as the friendly locals. Good advice here already - just to echo to consider the altitude. He got a medication from his Dr which he took daily starting a day or two in advance of the trip, and it really helped. Have a wonderful adventure.

Be sure to take Pepto Bismol with you. Maybe it's better now, but when we went years ago we were warned not to eat salads and other raw, unpeelable produce and of course the water. You should check with an authority(health dept, communicable disease dept at a medical school) about necessary vaccinations-I think we had yellow fever and typhoid shots as well as malaria pills. We took a boat trip in the Amazon, so the yellow fever and malaria pills may only be necessary if you go to the Amazon.

When we went, we stayed and were always accompanied by long-term missionaries who spoke Spanish well and knew where to go and where not to go, and there was not a gang war with the government as there is now. I would not go there now without a local person to advise you on safety. I would also want to stay in a trustworthy hotel rather than taking a chance on Airbnbs. People have trouble with those even in the US and Europe. Have you investigated the possible safety issues with buses? Sorry to be Debbie Downer, but I don't think Ecuador in its current state is a place to be traveling on your own. Be sure you have your passports with you at all times.

While the U.S. State Department is currently advising exercising increased caution if traveling to Ecuador, the Irish government is currently advising its citizens against all non-essential travel to Ecuador.
The U.K.Foreign Office has a detailed map of areas it deems relatively safe ( which Quito, Banos and Cuenca are) and areas along the entire Pacific coast that apparently are now not recommended for travel.