ECUADOR TRAVEL GUIDE
Plan your trip to Ecuador
My road trip through Ecuador has definitely been one of my favorite trips so far. I decided to travel to Ecuador not knowing what to expect and ended up loving everything about this country. We spent more than a month road tripping through Ecuador. We had the opportunity to visit volcanoes, waterfalls, charming towns and some large cities. We ended our trip in Ecuador by visiting the Galapagos Islands, which is one of the most magical places on the planet.
The country isn’t as popular amongst tourists as its neighboring countries, Colombia and Peru, are. However, Ecuador is a country with incredible nature, coast, mountains and jungle. Also, being that it’s a small country, it is very easy and quick to get from one place to another.
LANGUAGE
Spanish.
CURRENCY
American dollar.
1USD equals 0.90 EUR.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Between December and May for the coast. Between June and November for the rest of the country.
TRAVEL TO ECUADOR
Basic tips
In this Ecuador travel guide you’ll find all my blog posts with information about the country. Thanks to the information and my experiences that’ll share with you, you’ll be able to plan your trip to Ecuador.
PLACES TO VISIT IN ECUADOR
Tips for every destination
Ecuador’s nature is diverse. You can enjoy beautiful coastline, mountains, jungle, and of course, the incredible Galapagos Islands.
The capital of Ecuador, Quito, is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Mountainous areas like Cotopaxi National Park, Chimborazo, Quilotoa, Baños, Otavalo, Cuenca and Loja are some of Ecuador’s main tourist attractions. In this region you can walk the streets of beautiful old towns, go on numerous hikes, visit incredible waterfalls and even climb volcanoes.
If you want ton visit the Ecuadorian Amazon, I recommend visiting the Cuyabeno area. In Cuyabeno you will find different lodges that offer stays with daily excursions included. You can also visit Puyo or Tena which are more accessible places.
If you want to enjoy a few days at the beach, Montañita, Puerto Lopez and Manta are some of the best coastal towns in Ecuador. Do not miss Playa de los Frailes!
As you may already know, the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador. The islands are located 906km west of continental Ecuador. It is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life. This archipelago is known worldwide for its incredible marine biodiversity. It is one of the best places in the world for snorkeling and diving. Snorkeling in Galapagos is awesome, it’s hard to put into words how incredible it is!
Below you can find a few blog posts about the different areas in Ecuador.
QUITO
Quito, Ecuador’s capital, will probably be your starting point when you visit Ecuador. The old town is definitely one of the best places to visit in Quito. Did you know that the historic center in Quito is the best preserved historic center in all of Latin America? Don’t hesitate to stroll through its amazing streets. I also recommend visiting La Carolina Park, Virgen del Panecillo and going on a ride in Quito’s cable car.
On the other hand, the outskirts of Quito are full of interesting places to visit. You can visit places like Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Pasochoa, Papallacta or Mindo.
OTAVALO
Otavalo is a small town north of Quito with a well-preserved indigenous culture. It is known for hosting the most famous indigenous handy craft market in America, the one held in Plaza de los Ponchos that is.
Otavalo also has amazing nature surrounding it. I recommend visiting Peguche Waterfall, Cuicocha Lagoon, Mojanda Lagoons and San Pablo Lake.
BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA
Baños de Agua Santa is one of the best places to visit in Ecuador. Imagine an Andean town surrounded by huge mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls. That is what you can expect to see in Baños, Ecuador. Some of the most popular activities are, hikes to waterfalls, visiting the swing at the end of the world and relaxing in the hot springs.
During your visit to Baños de Agua Santa, you should consider visiting Puyo which is a gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
If you want to visit a unique place on your trip to Ecuador, I recommend visiting the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos is one of the most incredible places on the planet. You can expect incredible marine life and endemic land animals.
Can you imagine soaking your head in the ocean and seeing large sea turtles, rays, sharks and hundreds of fish? You can do just that in Galapagos. Not to mention interacting with the charming sea lions, marine iguanas or giant Galapagos tortoises. The Galapagos Islands also have some of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador. Tortuga Bay, on the island of Santa Cruz, was my favorite.