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Avenue of the Volcanoes: Quito to Cuenca: 7-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 7-day version for July: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 6-day plan · 7-day plan · best time to go.
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7
days
650 km
distance
15.5 h
driving
16
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Preferred highland road-trip window: generally clearer and drier, while every park, road and volcano status still needs a current check.
- Light days: day 2, day 3, day 5 have one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill them — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Quito
- Transit
- 2h18
- Finish
- ~14:15
- Temperature
- 7.8°C–19.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 12.0h
09:00
Quito historic centre walk visitquito.ec map ↗
Walk a bounded public circuit through Quito’s historic centre while acclimatising.
120 min · Quito
11:10
Overnight: Cotopaxi National Park
e.g. Camp in Santa Ana del Pedregal · Refugio José E. Rivas
Day 2 Around Cotopaxi National Park
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~10:30
- Temperature
- 7.8°C–19.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 12.0h
09:00
Limpiopungo lagoon circuit ambiente.gob.ec map ↗
Walk the approved low-level lagoon circuit inside the current Cotopaxi visitor window.
90 min · Cotopaxi National Park · Protected-area terms apply
open: Mo-Su 08:00-15:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 3 Laguna Quilotoa
- Transit
- 2h37
- Finish
- ~14:10
- Temperature
- 5.4°C–15.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~9
- Daylight
- 12.0h
11:40
Laguna Quilotoa rim viewpoint ambiente.gob.ec map ↗
View Laguna Quilotoa from the rim without assuming the crater descent or multi-day loop.
90 min · Laguna Quilotoa · Protected-area terms apply
open: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00
13:10
Kirutwa maquitaturismo.com map ↗
60 min · Laguna Quilotoa · Coffee $2
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 4 Baños
- Transit
- 3h58
- Finish
- ~17:25
- Temperature
- 11.2°C–18.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~21
- Daylight
- 11.9h
11:55
Pailón del Diablo waterfall banos-ecuador.com map ↗
Use the signed visitor approach for a substantial waterfall visit.
120 min · Baños · Current site fee may apply
14:55
El Salado municipal thermal pools municipiobanos.gob.ec map ↗
Allow a real municipal thermal-bath visit rather than a brief photo stop.
90 min · Baños · Municipal admission
open: Mo-Su 05:00-20:00
16:35
Overnight here
e.g. Erupción Backpackers Hostel · Hostal El Recreo
Day 5 Riobamba & Chimborazo
- Transit
- 1h17
- Finish
- ~12:20
- Temperature
- 5.1°C–15.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~13
- Daylight
- 11.9h
10:20
Chimborazo lower reserve viewpoint ambiente.gob.ec map ↗
Visit the lower protected reserve and páramo landscape without treating it as a summit climb.
120 min · Riobamba & Chimborazo · Protected-area terms apply
open: Mo-Su 08:00-14:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 6 Cuenca
- Transit
- 4h55
- Finish
- ~18:00
- Temperature
- 7.4°C–15.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 11.8h
13:45
Cuenca historic centre walk cuenca.gob.ec map ↗
Walk a bounded public circuit through Cuenca’s historic centre.
120 min · Cuenca
16:00
Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes search
Discover pre-Columbian artifacts and pottery in a rich display.
50 min · Cuenca · $4
open: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00
17:00
Cafe Eucalyptus m.facebook.com map ↗
Savor tasty tapas and enjoy live music in a warm, friendly setting.
60 min · Cuenca
open: Wed 17:00-20:30, on Thu-Sat 17:00-2:00
Overnight here
Day 7 Around Cuenca
- Transit
- 0h24
- Finish
- ~13:40
- Temperature
- 7.4°C–15.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 11.8h
09:00
Museo y Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo m.facebook.com
Explore Inca ruins and vibrant birds amid lush gardens.
50 min · Cuenca · Free
open: Tue-Fri 08:30-16:30; Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-16:00
10:05
CIDAP (Centro Interamericano de Artesanías y Artes Populares) cidap.gob.ec
See a vast array of folk art and crafts from across the Americas.
50 min · Cuenca · Free
open: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat 09:00-16:00
11:10
12:40
El Mercado elmercadocuenca.com map ↗
Dine on elegant lamb chops paired with fine wine.
60 min · Cuenca
open: Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00, closed Sun
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.