Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America. I was unsure what to expect other than volcanos and intrigued to find out why as the most biodiverse country on the planet Ecuador is often not considered worth visiting by backpackers.
Several things will leave you wondering such as why Ecuador’s currency is the US Dollar. Why they named the Panama Hat after another country, and how there can be 350 different kinds of potatoes. Your mind blown? So was mine! Here I got soaked by a waterfall, walked in jaguars’ footprints, dived with sharks, cooked yuca for the first time, and witnessed a volcano billowing out smoke.
Ecuador is not going to make it onto my list of favourite countries. People are nowhere near as welcoming or chatty as Colombians, and my bag was cut open on a night bus. However, putting that experience aside, I do believe that Ecuador is worth visiting.
Even if only for a couple of brief stops, as there is an impressive number of things to do. Ecuador has a vast number of volcanoes, surf spots, waterfalls, and a rich biodiversity in the form of the Amazon, as well as the Galapagos. Wondering what to do, how much time to spend in Ecuador, and what on earth Yuca is? Read on and find out.
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WHAT MAKES ECUADOR WORTH VISITING?
Ecuador Highlights.
Do you only want to cover the highlights of Ecuador? Then head to Quito for the Mitad del Mundo, or the Galapagos for swimming with playful sea lions. Baños for a bike ride to the El Pailon del Diablo waterfall, or spend some time in the countries surf town Montañita for endless partying. Are you more of a city person? Then visit Ecuador’s biggest city Guayaquil; or Cuenca for colonial architecture and an adventure park overlooking the city.
Adrenaline Junky or Adventurous?
Head to Mindo for thirteen ziplines in a cloud forest, or Tena for jungle nature trails and white-water rafting. Would you rather climb an active volcano or kayak in a collapsed volcano crater? Latacunga can be your base for Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Lake. Travel to Riobamba to hike volcano Chimborazo the place on Earth closest to the sun. Do you prefer to spend time at quite surf spots? Then Canoa and Olon are the ones for you.
Don’t Want To Be A Cliché Tourist?
Visit the country’s market town Otavalo for souvenir and Panama Hats shopping; or Coca to cook with locals and as a gateway to the Amazon. You can also travel to the beach town Puerto Lopez for the poor man’s Galapagos; Portoviejo for Tamarindo trees and handicrafts; or relax in the hippie town Vilcabamba.
Festivals.
If you find yourself in Ecuador for the 9th of October, you should head to Guayaquil to join their Independence Day celebrations. Visit Cotacachi in June for a week-long, Incan celebration of Inti Raymi.
On the 2nd of November, Ecuador celebrates the famous Day of the Dead and since Halloween is celebrated in big cities, most of the week is likely to be a continuous party. Quito turns to street parties and parades for the Foundation of Quito Festival on the 6th of December.
GOOD TO KNOW
Altitude.
Quito is known for its high altitude with an elevation of 2,850 m. If you haven’t acclimatised already, ensure to calculate approximately three days into your itinerary in case your body needs to adjust.
How Much Time To Spend In Ecuador.
I spent five weeks here, including a week in the Amazon and the Galapagos. If you can, Ecuador is worth visiting for six to eight weeks. Two weeks is enough time to cover the mainland highlights.
Where To Enter Ecuador.
Ecuador can be entered from Bogota or Cali, Colombia to Quito, or Máncora, Peru to Guayaquil. If you don’t mind spending 24 h on a bus then you could even travel directly from Lima, Peru to Guayaquil.
Best Time To Visit.
Ecuador is a country of many micro-climates. All year round is good to visit. Although the recommended time of year for visiting the mainland is from June to September, and the coast is December to April.
We had four days of rain in Montañita in November. January to May is high season in the Galapagos, due to calmer waters. Although the weather in November was good with only a few overcast days.
Safety.
Never keep any valuables unattended, especially your phone, and always count your change. I don’t consider Ecuador to be dangerous, but public transport is less safe than in other South American countries.
The night buses in Ecuador are notorious for theft. Having fallen victim myself although taking every possible precaution, I would suggest avoiding travelling at night unless your valuables fit into your jacket’s inside pockets.
Transport.
Ecuador is fairly easy to travel by bus. I was once left on the side of the road because the police arrested the driver, but this was an out of the ordinary scenario. Buses tend to be cold and action films are shown on full blast.
Anyone concerned about the safety on local buses can opt for the more expensive Ecuador Hop. The tourist bus operator’s only destinations are Quito – Baños – Montañita – Guayaquil – Cuenca.
Uber is commonly used, although local taxis are often cheaper. The Galapagos can be reached with budget airline LATAM from Quito or Guayaquil.
You can also take an extraordinary train journey past dozens of volcanoes from Quito’s Otavalo Station to Guayaquil. Do not worry there are several stops in between Ecuador’s two biggest cities. Alternatively, a shorter tourist service can be taken from Alausi past the main attraction, the Devil’s Nose. Trains only run on specific days.
ATMs.
My go-to bank was Banco de Austro. Its ATMs are prominent, and you can withdraw up to USD 300 for free.
Plugs.
Ecuador uses Type A plugs (North American).
Visa.
The 90 days visa is free for European, American, and Australian Nationals and will be granted upon arrival. Please check your immigration guidelines before entering the country. Airlines need you to able to prove that you have either a bus or flight ticket out of the country.
Did I do a good job of sharing why Ecuador is worth visiting? Also, did I mention that I cooked Yuca with an indigenous family? Still no clue what it is? Yuca is a root vegetable that is often eaten instead of potatoes in South America.
Now go ahead and explore! Try not to lose your towel.
