I have completed planning for a fall trip to Colombia and Ecuador. I had originally planned to take this trip next fall (2018), but I will have a guest in October then, and I don't want to postpone it until 2019. Since fall is the best time for the trip, I rushed the planning and will go this year. Except for my departure and return dates (which are set because I have bought my air ticket), it remain a tentative schedule. I do not plan to make reservations far in advance for each stop. I want the flexibility of making adjustments along the way in case of strikes, weather problems, transportation disruptions, illness, or just a wild-haired idea that comes to mind!
Tentative Schedule by Dates for Entire Trip to Colombia and Ecuador
Tues., Aug. 15--Fly to Cartagena
Wed., Aug. 16--Cartagena
Thurs., Aug. 17--Cartagena
Fri., Aug. 18--Bus to Santa Marta
Sat., Aug. 19--Santa Marta
Sun., Aug. 20--Tayrona National Park
Mon., Aug. 21--Tayrona National Park
Tues., Aug. 22--Return to Santa Marta and take 13:00 bus to Mompox
Wed., Aug. 23--Mompox
Thurs., Aug. 24--Mompox (Night bus to Bucaramanga)
Fri., Aug. 25--Continue by bus to San Gil (Day Trips from here to Barichara and Socorro)
Sat., Aug. 26--San Gil
Sun., Aug. 27--San Gil
Mon., Aug. 28--San Gil
Tues., Aug. 29--Bus to Villa de Leyva
Wed., Aug. 30--Villa de Leyva
Thurs., Aug. 31--Villa de Leyva
Fri., Sept. 1--Bus to Bogota
Sat., Sept. 2--Bogota
Sun., Sept. 3--Bogota
Mon., Sept. 4--Bogota
Tues., Sept. 5--Fly to Medellin (or take 7-hour bus trip) (Day Trips from here to Santa Fe and Guatape)
Wed., Sept. 6--Medellin
Thurs., Sept. 7--Medellin
Fri., Sept. 8--Medellin
Sat., Sept. 9--Medellin
Sun., Sept. 10--Bus to Pereira (Day Trip from here to Salento)
Mon., Sept. 11--Pereira
Tues., Sept. 12--Pereira
Wed., Sept. 13--Bus to Cali
Thurs., Sept. 14--Cali
Fri., Sept. 15--Cali
Sat., Sept. 16--Bus to Popayan
Sun., Sept. 17--Popayan
Mon., Sept. 18--Bus to Pasto
Tues., Sept. 19--Bus to Las Lajas Sanctuary
Wed., Sept. 20--Cross Border to Ecuador/Continue to Ibarra
Thurs., Sept. 21--Ibarra or Otavalo (Day trip on Tren de la Libertad I . Then move to Otavalo?)
Fri., Sept. 22--Bus to Otavalo (Unless moved here late yesterday)
Sat., Sept. 23--Otavalo (Otavalo Market Day)
Sun., Sept. 24--Bus to Tena (with change in Pifo)
Mon., Sept. 25--Tena
Tues., Sept. 26--Tena
Wed., Sept. 27--Bus to Banos
Thurs., Sept. 28--Banos
Fri., Sept. 29--Banos
Sat., Sept. 30--Bus to Riobamba; Stay overnight or continue to Alausi, if necessary. (Must try to get 7:00 regular train from Riobamba on Sunday to Sibambe or get to Alausi in time to catch the 11:00 Devil's Nose Train!)
Sun., Oct. 1--7:00 Regular Train to Sibambe (which includes the Devil's Nose route), then buses back to Alausi, then Cuenca; or early bus to Alausi for catching the 11:00 tourist Devils Nose Tren (Buy in Advance?) to Sibambe and back followed by a bus to Cuenca.
Tues., Oct. 3--Cuenca (Day Trip to Cajas National Park while in city)
Wed., Oct. 4--CuencaThurs., Oct. 5--Cuenca
Fri., Oct. 6--Bus to Loja
Sat., Oct. 7--Bus to Vilcabamba
Sun., Oct. 8--Vilcabamba
Mon., Oct. 9--Bus to Guayaquil via Loja
Tues, Oct. 10--Guayaquil
Wed., Oct. 11--Bus to Montanita
Thurs., Oct. 12--Montanita
Fri., Oct. 13--Montanita
Sat., Oct. 14--Bus to Guayaquil/Fly to Quito
Sun., Oct. 15--Quito
Mon., Oct. 16--Quito--Start going to boat companies to try to get a last-minute discount to Galapagos (7-day cruise if can be arranged; otherwise, 5-day)
Tues., Oct. 17--Quito--Continue searching for Galapagos trip and touring Quito
Wed., Oct. 18--Quito--Continue searching for Galapagos trip (if necessary) and touring Quito
Thurs., Oct. 19-Friday, Oct. 27--Make Galapagos trip and/or side trip to Quilotoa Loop. Note: If Galapagos doesn't work out, stay longer in Quilotoa area and/or consider Mindo or other destinations for final days.
