Ecuador itinerary thoughts please?

[Deleted]

Okay, finally booking our Galapagos cruise!  I have some questions about before/after and airlines.

The cruise will be from Saturday to Saturday.  My thought is the following -- can you let me know if this makes sense/is what you'd do?

Thursday: Depart on Thursday, fly to Quito.  Arrive at 5:30 or 8:30 depending on the flight we go with.
Friday: Tour Quito 
First Saturday: Fly from Quito to Galapagos
Saturday through Saturday: Cruise
Second Saturday: Cruise ends; fly from Galapagos to Guayaquil; spend afternoon and night in Guayaquil
Sunday: Fly home from Guayaquil

The reason why we'd leave on Thursday instead of Friday is because we'll be going in the dead of winter, so that would build in some cushion if there are flight delays.  Is that smart or paranoid?  Is Quito a nice place to spend a day?  (Or should we not worry about delays and/or go to Guayaquil instead?

The reason why we'd stay in Guayaquil at the end of the cruise is because flight times to the US are godawful and if we flew home on "Saturday night," it would be a 12:15 am flight.  No need for that -- agreed?  It would be better to spend a few hours wandering Guayaquil and leave the next morning?

Airline question (so I'm tagging emilyinchile) -- There are no direct flights to Quito.  I've looked at two itineraries and it looks like the best options are on either LAN Ecuador (AA-operated and business class on the way down with a connection in MIA; LAN Ecuador direct coach home) or TAME (connection in GYE down; direct home).  LAN is a few hundred dollars more, but both itineraries are more reasonable than I would have thought ($1000-$1400 for to/from Ecuador plus the to/from Galapagos segments).  Any reason to avoid or prefer one of these or another?

Thanks so much!

[emilyinchile]

I've never heard of TAME (and had to Google to see that it's Ecuador's national airline), so I would stick with LAN. I am always a little wary of random airlines and tend not to choose them unless the price or schedule is significantly better. When you add in the going business one leg and getting oneworld miles, LAN is the clear winner for me.

I have friends who've done a few days in Quito and liked it. As well as what sfgal mentioned, they enjoyed the colonial buildings in the downtown area. I'm sure you could fill a day there.

Personally I have no problem with a 12:15 am flight because I just get on and then sleep until we land. I think you have trouble sleeping on planes though, right? So given that plus the freak chance of there being any delay getting back from Galapagos, just getting a nice hotel and chilling until the next morning sounds like a good plan.

[frog]

I lived in Ecuador for about a year. I would definitely spend the time in Quito rather than Guayaquil if you can swing it. Guayaquil is just a dirty big city, there's really not much there. Quito honestly doesn't have a ton, but a day or so should be just fine!

[marytini]

I too was underimpressed with Guayaquil, but also didn't spend much time there.
Basically ditto everything frog said.