Things to Do in Ecuador

About Ecuador

The morning bus from Quito climbs through clouds thick enough to taste like burnt sugar, then drops you into Otavalo's Saturday market where Kichwa women stack pyramids of cherimoya next to hand-woven alpaca shawls that take three months to complete. This is Ecuador's secret: everything happens in the space of a single day.

In Quito's San Blas barrio, colonial doorways open into courtyards where grandmothers serve locro de papas for $2.50 while the cable car up Pichincha volcano swings over red-tiled rooftops at 4,100 meters. The coast at Montañita smells of diesel surf buses and grilled corvina at 10 AM, while three hundred miles east in Tena, the Napo River carries the sound of howler monkeys and the damp rot of ceibo trees.

The Galápagos flights from Guayaquil cost $420 roundtrip and the islands will ruin every other beach destination for you. But mainland Ecuador has the same blue-footed boobies on Isla de la Plata for a $35 day trip from Puerto López. The altitude hits some people harder than others, Quito sits at 2,850 meters, so your first ceviche might arrive with a side of mild headache.

That's the trade. What you get in exchange is a country where you can stand on the equator at sunrise, surf Pacific breaks by lunch, and still make it to the Amazon for dinner where the stars look close enough to touch.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Forget the tourist shuttles. The Quito-Guayaquil bus on Trans Esmeraldas runs every 20 minutes, costs $8.50, and the mountain switchbacks will test your stomach. Book the ejecutivo class for $12, the leather seats recline almost flat and they serve hot coffee at 3 AM. For Galápagos flights, book LATAM through their Ecuador site (latam.com.ec) rather than the international one, domestic prices run $180-220 instead of $400+. In Quito, the Ecovía bus rapid transit costs 25 cents and moves faster than taxis during rush hour. But download the Cootranslaba app first, most drivers won't take cash anymore.

Money: Ecuador uses US dollars. But coins are Ecuador-minted and won't work in US vending machines. ATMs dispense $20s, break them immediately at any bakery for water and empanadas. The real trick is getting to the bank before 2 PM when they close for siesta. Most restaurants add 12% tax and 10% service automatically, so that $12 almuerzo costs $14.64. Carry small bills everywhere, taxi drivers and market vendors claim they can't break $20s, and half the time they're telling the truth.

Cultural Respect: Shoes off when entering homes in the Andes, even if your host insists otherwise. In markets, touch produce with your eyes first, vendors will hand you what you want to examine. Learn 'mashi' (friend) in Kichwa markets around Otavalo. But stick with 'amigo' in Spanish-speaking areas. The indigenous women in embroidered blouses aren't photo opportunities, they're running businesses. Ask first, buy something small, then maybe ask. When drinking chicha in indigenous communities, accept the first cup even if it tastes like fermented corn, refusing is worse than bad manners.

Food Safety: Street food in Ecuador isn't dangerous, it's just different. The cholitas grilling morcilla blood sausage in Quito's La Floresta have been using the same grill for thirty years. Look for crowds of locals, not expats. That said, avoid lettuce and unpeeled fruit from street carts, stick to cooked plantains and ceviche from places that turn over fish fast. The real food poisoning risk comes from high-altitude water in places like Baños, buy bottled. Most mercados have 'jugo naturales' stands where fresh juice costs $1.50, but specify 'sin hielo' (no ice) unless you see them using purified water.

When to Visit

January through May brings daily afternoon rains to the highlands, Quito sees 70°F highs and afternoon thunderstorms that clear by 5 PM. Hotel prices drop 30-40% during these months, making it prime time for budget travelers. The coast stays dry and hits 85°F daily; Montañita parties get messy in February. June through August is peak season, dry days, crisp 65°F mornings in Quito, and Galápagos boat tours at premium rates (expect 50% price increases from June-August).

September and October shoulder season offers the best balance: 70°F days in the Andes, dry coast at 80°F, and Galápagos trips at shoulder-season rates. November marks the return of highland rains, pack layers and waterproof everything. December brings the Quito Christmas markets and the famous 'migajones' festival, but expect 100% hotel price surges.

For Amazon lodges around Tena, visit April-May when the Napo River runs high enough for deeper canoe access. But pack serious rain gear, 500mm monthly rainfall isn't a typo. The Galápagos are year-round, but January-April brings warmer water (75°F vs 65°F) and active marine life, while August-October offers cooler temperatures but better wildlife viewing on land.