There are many different landscapes to visit in Ecuador, from beaches to the rainforest to thriving cities. The climate can vary widely, depending on your altitude (which is very high even in its capital Quito). If you aren’t doing serious mountaineering and the lowlands and valleys are more your speed, then you will enjoy a nice tropical climate which is suited to wearing lightweight clothing, like t-shirts and shorts.
Because of its location on the equator, Ecuador gets the same amount of sunlight all year round, so whenever you go will be exactly like any other time of year. You can expect sunlight from 6 am to 6 pm, which is pretty easy to get used to. If you’re visiting the city, be aware that almost all shops close down at nightfall. This gives you an excuse to go have dinner and relax before bedtime.
Ecuador is one of those places that you can easily find deals, because the economy is not strong and is very dependent on tourism (as well as their many exports). Airfare is really the only variable, so signing up for airfare alerts will get you the best fares.
Where to Stay
All over the country, you can stay in gorgeous hotels for a fraction of what you would pay in other countries. San Francisco de Quito is a great one that is recommended by many travelers, including me. Breakfast is included in your room rate and it is located right in the center of the city. They have a beautiful courtyard where you can sit in the sun and have breakfast, do some shopping or write emails on your laptop. There isn’t a lift, so if you take a lot of luggage, you might have a hard time. With the thin air and the possibility of being on the third floor there might be a lot of stopping to catch your breath.
The hotel has its own tour office and also a delicious restaurant called 1698 Camino Real. Even if you don’t stay at the San Francisco de Quito, it’s more than worth a trip to eat here.
Take advantage of affordable prices on lodging and try spending time in a mountain lodge, like the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Ecolodge in Otavalo. Each of their bungalows is the size of a house and can sleep six to eight people. Each includes a kitchen, a huge dining room, a big bedroom with two queen size beds, a shower big enough for five people and large picture windows to enjoy the view of the trees and other foliage. The rate includes three meals a day, free Wi-Fi, a drive into the town to see the markets and horseback riding on one of the days. All this for the same price per night as a nice hotel most other places.
Getting around the city
Taxis are amazingly inexpensive. If you would like someone else to do the driving, then taking a cab outside of the city center won’t set you back much. You can ride across town for only five dollars.
You can take a bus to almost any destination in Ecuador, but you will be on their schedule. If you prefer to rent a car, make sure to rent a GPS, unless you have your own with South American maps. Navigating the streets can be tricky and in some places, like Otavalo, many streets aren’t marked and it’s nearly impossible trying to find a map.
If you do take a chance on renting a car, it makes sense to rent it only for the few days that you want to do day trips. Also, make sure you don’t park overnight on the streets in Quito. While there is very little crime in the city that involves bodily harm, thieves will immediately target any car left on the curb. There are many overnight parking lots that you can park in for very reasonable prices.
Getting a deal on souvenirs
Haggle! If your Spanish is passable, there are many shops that are not retail stores. They will barter with you on prices to get you to buy more. This is how I ended up with two Panama hats and a hand-woven scarf made from alpaca wool for much less than I would have paid at home for two baseball caps and a cotton scarf. Just remember that these merchants depend on you for their livelihood, so it’s important to offer a reasonable price for their goods. If haggling isn’t for you, or you’re looking for something more commercial, the retail shops are quite affordable as well.
What to do in and around Quito
- Take a guided tour. We paid a very reasonable price for a half-day tour of Quito. It was just the two of us and our tour guide and he took us to the capital building, church, a museum and walked us along the street while giving us fabulous historical information about the city and answered our questions as well.
- Take the teleferiqo, a crazy cable car that takes you to the top of the mountain in the city and allows you to see all of Quito. This is a must-do. If you get there earlier in the day, you may be able to miss the early evening fog and you can spend the day at the Volqano Amusement Park next to it. If you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the attraction for you, but it is simply an incredible experience to travel almost straight up the side of a mountain. At the top you can buy souvenirs, take pictures, have a hot chocolate or just enjoy the view. There’s even hiking trails.
- Guayllabamba Zoo, just 25 minutes outside of Quito, has many different animals than you’ll find at other zoos, including kangaroos and Galapagos tortoises. It’s a good walk and can take up two to three hours of your time, depending on how fascinated you become by new species or if you have children with you. You might even witness an alpaca break-out like we did.
- Mitad del Mundo. It’s the middle of the world! Literally. Located on the equator, you can get your passport stamped here and witness the strange phenomena that can happen there. Balance an egg on a nail, watch water run straight down a drain without a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and learn how your strength can be different on the equator than anywhere else. There are even more things to see on the tour here, including the history on the natives of Ecuador.
- Explore the cloud forest, also known as the rainforest. You will see so many interesting plants and animals! Make sure you pack plenty of fresh batteries for your camera for photos.
- Check out the Otavalo Animal Market. You may find this a sad thing to witness, but it’s a fact of life in Ecuador. You need animals to farm and make food. An auction goes on here every weekend for livestock and on the outskirts, you can buy food from the cooking stalls or purchase handmade goods from others peddling their wares. After you’ve tired of watching Americans coo over baby ducks and pigs, walk down into main Otavalo for the street markets, where you can buy alpaca goods like sweaters and ponchos, Panama hats and also spices, flowers, vegetables and more!
Ecuador is a country that is easy to travel inexpensively in. Small bills will be good for everything and if you are driving on highways, it will be necessary to carry a handful of random change to make it through toll roads. Credit cards are not widely accepted, though there are plenty of convenient ATMs. You can use your American dollars and coins here, so you don’t have to waste time or money to exchange your cash. This will enable you to get to your vacation a little earlier, so you can enjoy all the country has to offer.
Whether you choose to visit the touristy beaches or the historic capital, you will surely be thrilled by how easily a trip to Ecuador can fit into your budget and even save you money to get a start on your next vacation.
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