From the Galapagos Islands to the mountains and everything in between, Ecuador is a diverse country with so much to offer.
I spent three weeks in Ecuador as part of a much longer trip through South America. Despite three weeks in the country, I’ve just barely scratched the surface of what this country has to offer.
Let’s start planning your trip to Ecuador!
What to Do | Know Before You Go | Transportation | Budgeting |
Solo Female Travel & Safety
The Best of Ecuador
Quito | Cuenca | Cotopaxi | Mindo | Baños | Quilotoa Loop
Quito
Quito is the capital of Ecuador and you’ll find plenty of things to do inside the city. There’s basilicas, chocolate shops, walking tours, and even more. Beyond the city, you’ll find day trips to the equator and the largest artisan market in Latin America.
Cuenca
Cuenca gets my vote for the prettiest city in South America. This colonial gem doesn’t make it on to every itinerary through Ecuador, but I’m so glad I carved out a little time.
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi National Park makes it on to so many itineraries. Whether you spend the night or take a day trip from Quito or Latacunga, it seems no trip to Ecuador is complete without a visit to Cotopaxi National Park.
Mindo
Mindo is a laid back tourist town that’s just two hours outside of Quito. Here you’ll find all sorts of activities to get closer to nature. There’s bird watching and butterfly gardens, jungles and waterfalls, and so much more.
Baños
Baños is an adventure town in Ecuador. While many visitors just focus on things like ziplines, white water rafting, and other adrenaline filled activities, there’s more to Baños than just this.
Quilotoa Loop
So many treks in South America require you to head out with a guide. The Quilota Loop can be done independently as you hike from town to town through the mountains of Ecuador.
Know Before You Go
Currency – US Dollar (USD). Note that while Ecuador uses the US Dollar, they have their own coins that are mixed in with traditional coins from the US.
Language – Spanish. Learn some basic Spanish before you visit Ecuador. While you will likely be able to find English at your hotel (but it’s not a guarantee), it’s best to have at least a basic understanding of Spanish. Do not expect to hear a lot of English.
Power – 110 V and 60 Hz (same as the United States).
Water – In most of Ecuador, the tap water is not safe to drink. Either stick to bottled water or bring your a filter/purifier. I used a Steri-Pen for my trip to Ecuador and treated all of my water and didn’t get sick once.
Transportation
In general it will take longer than you might expect to travel within Ecuador. Distances are short, but the mountains add a lot of extra time to any journey.
By Plane – If you’re heading to the Galapagos Islands, you’ll almost certainly need a flight. For some longer distances, it might be worth looking into flying. Due to my route, it made more sense to fly from Quito to Cuenca to save a very long overnight bus ride.
By Bus – The good news is that buses in Ecuador are cheap. The bad news is that the bus schedules can be impossible to find. You’ll always be able to get to where you need go by bus, but don’t be surprised if you need to ask at the bus station. Buses will drop you off (and pick you up) anywhere along the route.
By Rental Car – You could rent a car in Ecuador, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Buses and flights can cover the larger distances and for smaller routes, it’s pretty easy to find a taxi to take you wherever you need to go. And if it’s somewhere a tourist wants to go, there’s always a tour option. Plus, I wouldn’t want to drive on Ecuador’s roads.
Budgeting
In general, I found Ecuador to be a very affordable place to travel. While it wasn’t quite the cheapest place I’ve traveled in South America (Bolivia gets that title…barely), it was still great on the budget.
Accommodations – Hotels were very budget friendly. I stuck to private rooms and averaged just $25 for basic (but still decent) hotel rooms. If you’re on a tighter budget, hostel dorm beds will be even cheaper.
Food – Food prices, like everywhere in the world, will vary wildly. You can find street food for cheap or sit down to a nice meal. In general though, I didn’t have too difficult of a time finding a reasonably (or even cheaply) priced meal for anywhere from $5 to $10 USD.
Transportation – I found transportation in Ecuador to be some of the cheapest during my five months in South America. My eight hour bus from Cuenca to Banos cost just $12 and many of my two to three hour buses were $3.
Activities – The price for activities varies greatly depending on what you want to do.
Solo Female Travel & Safety
I’ve spent just over three weeks in Ecuador as a solo female traveler. In general, I had no issues and felt completely safe. However, it should be noted that I don’t go out after dark and I don’t drink alcohol. The people of Ecuador are so kind and would often go out of their way to help the confused gringo. Use common travel sense, especially on buses, but in general, I felt very safe in Ecuador.