Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Ecuador

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Dorm beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared bathrooms

Food & Dining

$8-20 per day

Street food, local markets, almuerzo (set lunch menus), basic restaurants, occasional self-catering

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Public buses, shared taxis, occasional intercity buses, walking

Activities

$5-25 per day

Free walking tours, public beaches, hiking trails, occasional museum entries, budget day trips

Eat almuerzo (set lunch menus) at local restaurants instead of tourist areas - typically 60-70% cheaper than dinner portions

Use public buses for intercity travel instead of tourist shuttles - usually 70-80% less expensive

Stay in smaller towns and day-trip to major attractions rather than staying in tourist centers - accommodation typically 40-60% cheaper

Buy snacks and water at local tiendas rather than tourist shops - generally 50-80% savings on basic items

Join group tours instead of private tours - typically 60-75% cost reduction per person

Travel during shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) for 25-40% savings on accommodation

Use local markets for breakfast and lunch ingredients if staying somewhere with kitchen facilities - can reduce food costs by 70-80%

Only eating in tourist zones like Mariscal in Quito or near the main plazas - typically costs 100-200% more than local neighborhoods

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the bus system - can cost 300-500% more for daily transportation

Booking Galapagos tours last-minute instead of advance planning - often 40-80% more expensive than early bookings

Staying only in major cities without exploring smaller towns - missing significant accommodation and food savings of 30-60%