Ecuador Travel Guide

Ecuador is nestled between Colombia and Peru on the Pacific side of South America. The country’s capital, Quito, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fun and worthwhile city. The Galapagos Islands are the main attraction in the country with most people just jumping from Quito to the islands to revel in the amazing wildlife spotting opportunities. But there is much more to Ecuador than the Galapagos. Adventure lovers will be keen to explore the Ecuadorian Amazon or to climb one of the country’s volcanoes, including the world famous Cotopaxi Mountain. This tiny country packs a lot of punch and this travel guide can help you make the most of your trip.

Destination Guides for Ecuador

Typical Costs

Accommodation Accommodation is inexpensive here. A private room in a hostel will start at $10 USD per person, and a dorm will be about $8 USD per night. Budget hotels are only slightly more expensive at around $18 USD per night.

Food Meals typically cost between $3-5 USD for cheap local food. You can find food stalls on the street for around $1-2 USD. Western style meals will cost around $10 USD. By eating from the market, you can expect to spend around $15 USD per week.

Transportation Long-distance buses typically cost from $1-2 USD per hour. Inside the city, a local bus ticket is usually around $0.25 USD. Taxis in Quito have meters and short trips generally don t cost more than $3-4 USD. For longer trips expect to pay around $10 USD.

Activities Aside from a trip to the Galapagos Islands, activities are pretty cheap in Ecuador.  A ride on the Devil’s Nose train will cost $25 USD roundtrip, while entrance to Ingapirca and most museums costs $6 USD. Day trips to volcanoes and mountain hikes is typically around $30 USD. A trip to the Galapagos Islands is pricey about $1,400 USD for 10 days, plus the $100 USD park fee but if you have room in your budget, it s incredible.

Money Saving Tips

Hospedajes These family run guesthouses are all over the country and have rooms for just a few dollars per night. They are very affordable accommodation options

Eat at the markets This is the place to do your food shopping. 20 bananas and a kilo of apples (2 pounds) works out at just $1.50 USD. You can find meals for just a few dollars. It s the best way to eat cheap in the country.

Almuerzos Many restaurants have almuerzos, cheap lunches from the set menu for a couple of dollars that even include a drink!

Carry small change Forget about carrying any bills over $20 USD as you’ll have trouble changing them and even $20s can be difficult to break in small towns.

Book last minute tours Galapagos Island cruises are can expensive. By booking your cruise in Quito last minute, you can save up to 40% off the cost of the trip.

Top Things to See and Do in Ecuador

Galapagos Islands There are few places in the world which offer wildlife spotting opportunities as good as those on the Galapagos Islands. The islands lie 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador and are the most popular attraction in the country. My trip here was amazing everything people say and more. I ve never seen so much wildlife in my life. Simply breathtaking. Here are my pictures of the Galapagos Islands .

Quito Ecuador’s capital is beautiful, historic, and energetic. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would actually. Head to the city’s Old Town to see its historic colonial past.  The churches and old buildings are beautiful, and the Plaza Grande is sure to instill a feeling of patriotism in all visitors. The city’s largest and oldest church, Monasterio de San Francisco, is also pretty great.

Otavalo Market Otavalo is Ecuador’s most famous indigenous market. Handicrafts, jewelery, necklaces, musical instruments, and clothing are just a few of the things you can buy at this expansive market.

Baños This small town lies high in the Andes and on the hillside of Ecuador’s most active volcano, Tungurahua.  Besides the fantastic volcano treks, visitors also flock to Baños to experience the healing powers of its hot springs and to give thanks for miracles performed at the Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water. It s also the country s adventure capital, with lots of biking, bungee jumping, ATV rentals, and a circuit of beautiful waterfalls to visit.

Cotopaxi Mountain Cotopaxi is Ecuador’s second highest mountain and was the world’s highest volcano for years until the Chilean volcano Tupungato erupted in 1986. This 12,500 foot tall snow-capped monster lies just 35 miles from Quito and is popular with hikers and mountain bikers.

Amazon rainforest Approximately half of Ecuador is covered in Amazonian rainforest and a tour is a great way to get to grips with what is possibly the world’s most bio-diverse area. Over 1000 species of animals can be found in the forests and lagoons of the Ecuadorian Amazon, for example, tapirs, monkeys, jaguars, and ocelots.

The Devil’s Nose One of Ecuador’s most famous tourist attractions is the world famous Devil’s Nose train.  Dubbed as “the most difficult train ride in the world,” the journey begins in the town of Riobamba and makes its way through the cliffs to the city of Alausí. You kind of feel like you are going to fall off any second. It s not for those who dislike heights.

Ingapirca Ingapirca is Ecuador’s premier Inca site and is located in the Canar Province, near the country’s Pacific coast. The crowning glory of the site is the Temple of the Sun, which is a circular building made of intricately carved stones so as to fit together without mortar. There is also a burial site and a series of low walls which are ruins from various other buildings on the site.

Cuenca Cuenca is Ecuador’s third largest city. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cuenca has colonial buildings, churches and cathedrals that are beautiful and extremely photogenic. The city is also thought to be Ecuador’s intellectual capital and has been dubbed the “Athens of the Andes”.

Montañita This surfer’s paradise is a relatively new addition to Ecuador’s list of attractions, although its reputation for pristine beaches and perfect waves has been growing steadily over the years. This is a proper backpacker s paradise with laid back beach parties, live bands, and inexpensive accommodation.

Go Whale Watching in Puerto Lopez   One of the many tourist towns that lies along the coast is Puerto Lopez. Not so much of a surfing spot, it s known instead for its great whale watching season. Come and witness the humpback whales in action, and then check out the blue footed boobies (a very rare bird species) at La Plata island. Combined tours (whale watching and island visit) cost $35 USD, plus the $15 USD national park fee. This ends up being a full day activity.

Visit or volunteer at an animal refuge  Puyo, the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon, has a number of animal rescue and rehabilitation centres. These make for an interesting and educational visit. Some places (throughout the country) offer volunteer opportunities if you re interested in getting involved on a different level.

Ibarra About 90 minutes outside of Quito, is Ibarra. There is a lot of community tourism here as well as adventure travel and indigenous visits. Consider rafting, swing jumping, trekking, climbing, kayaking, and more.

Learn spanish As the national language here, Spanish is everywhere you go. There are hundreds of places to take a language course in this country. If you are going to visit for a prolonged period of time, it might be a good idea to take a couple.

Explore the lava tubes North of Puerto Ayora, there are tons of underground tunnels that have been formed from molten-lava. For $1 USD, you can take a self-guided tour or go with a guide for more money. It s pretty freaky being in these huge lava tops but pretty amazing too.