Best Things to Do in Ecuador (Epic Guide) What to See and Do: All Regions
How are your Ecuador travel plans? Are you looking for great attractions, tips and recommendations? The best cultural and food experiences?
Great – you’ve found the right place!
How We Travel in Ecuador
We write about Ecuador travel from the perspective of a young family. We travel safe and like to sleep in a comfortable bed at night.
And while a little luxury is nice, it isn’t necessary. Sometimes we travel in our own car – other times we let an agency take care of all of the details.
Our goal is to see each place as it really is. To experience the culture and the local flavor. And to take lots of photos/videos.
Our site is for anyone planning on visiting Ecuador. If you are going to live in Ecuador, then you’ll have even more time to explore this amazing country.
As you plan your trip, you’ll want to know about these 23 Ecuador holidays. They can clog public transportation and fill hotels around the country.
Where Do You Want to Travel in Ecuador?
In this article, you’ll learn about the Galapagos, Quito, Cuenca, Salinas, and Guayaquil. At the bottom of the page, we also cover Ecuador’s food and animals.
Ecuador Travel: Galapagos Islands
There is no question that, of everything we’ve done in Ecuador, we have enjoyed traveling the Galapagos the most.
Even though we’ve been there three times – we can’t wait to go back.
There is just so much to experience. And so many things we want to do again. Things like swimming with sea turtles and sea lions, hiking volcanoes, and snorkeling with sharks.
More reading: Travelers Guide to Galapagos Islands Animals
Here are a few of the highlights (thus far):
- What’s the Best Galapagos Airport? (3 Options)
- A Week in the Galapagos Islands
- 6 Breathtaking Reasons to Visit Floreana Island, Galapagos
Some of our past Galapagos photos posts: Galapagos marine iguana, and (of course) the famous blue-footed boobies.
Check out our set of the top 17 Galapagos books!
Ecuador Travel: Quito
Quito is a modern city located in the northern sierra of Ecuador. Parts of Quito remind me of a North American city (like Toronto) while other sections are more like Cuenca.
Quito is a great landing spot for new visitors to Ecuador. The new airport is modern and there are lots of transportation options in the city.
Is Quito safe? Well, it’s a large city so you need to be careful. We haven’t had any problems but we are still careful – as we would be in any other large city.
Once, we thought that someone stole our camera in Quito. As it turns out, we had a lesson in human kindness and honesty.
Here are a few posts about Quito:
- 11 Things to Know When Visiting Otavalo Market
- See Quito – Ride El TelefériQo (Visit Parque Vulqano)
- Guide to the Best Things to Do in Quito
Something we love about Quito is all of the parks. Specifically Parque La Carolina and Parque El Ejido.
You should definitely check them out!
Parque La Carolina in Quito Ecuador (Video)
Ecuador Travel: Cuenca
Of all of Ecuador, we certainly know Cuenca the best. Since we moved here in 2009, we have seen almost all the areas of the city – although there are still lots of restaurants left to explore…
Cuenca is a great mix of the old and the new. It has a modern airport and a downtown full of old, and (mostly) restored buildings.
Cuenca has many large, well-maintained parks (Parque Paraiso and Parque de la Madre being our favorites) – and it even has a nice zoo.
Here are some of our favorite posts about Cuenca:
- Annual Weather Chart for Cuenca, Ecuador
- Why I Love Cuenca’s Parque Calderon
- Where Are the Dangerous Areas in Cuenca, Ecuador?
Getting around Cuenca is easy (and cheap) using city buses and taxis. Check the local news in one of Cuenca’s two daily papers.
Haines Family Casting Video (for House Hunters International)
This is a short video we created to showcase the best of Cuenca.
Cuenca’s Famous Flower Market (Video)
Just off of Parque Calderon is the famous flower market – one of our favorite places in the city.
Hiking in Cajas National Park (Video)
Just outside of Cuenca is the Cajas National Park.
Ecuador Travel: Salinas
Salinas is one of the top beach areas in the country. It is close to Guayaquil airport so it’s accessible by a quick flight (then drive) from anywhere in the country.
Salinas has two beautiful beaches. One is right on the Malecon and the other one is just past the yacht club (which is more private – but still open to the public).
We love the atmosphere on the beach.
There are food and souvenir vendors walking the beach. We’ve bought fresh seafood from a cardboard box and there are beach chairs and umbrellas to rent for a few dollars a day.
There are lots of hotels and vacation rentals located right on the main road, facing the beach. There are tons of restaurants (serving amazing seafood) and a couple of grocery stores in town.
You might also be interested in the taxi rates for Salinas.
Learn more about Ecuador’s beautiful beaches.
The Beach Malecon in Salinas, Ecuador (Video)
Ecuador Travel: Guayaquil
Guayaquil is the country’s largest city – both in terms of population and economic power.
While we have been through Guayaquil many times, we haven’t explored it like we want to. It is on our list and we’ll be covering it in more detail in the future.
Many of the international flights into Guayaquil arrive late at night – and many of the outbound flights (to the US) leave around midnight.
Because of this, having a great hotel – with a shuttle – is important. We stay at the Howard Johnson, which is very close to the airport.
Here are some posts about Guayaquil.
- Whats the Guayaquil Airport Like?
- Don’t Miss Iguana Park In Guayaquil Ecuador
- Things to do in Guayaquil Ecuador
Although it can be very hot, Guayaquil is definitely worth exploring. There are many cultural and natural attractions to experience. And the local culture and way of speaking are notably different than in the Sierra.
Ecuador Food
The food in Ecuador is amazing. It’s worth traveling here just to experience it.
The bakeries in Cuenca are incredible. And as a family, we especially love the seafood dishes from the coast.
Here are a few of the highlights of food in Ecuador:
- Encebollado: Fish (Tuna) Soup in Ecuador
- Corviche: Deep Fried Fish and Green Plantain
- Pork and Cuy: Street Food In Cuenca Ecuador
- Cuy in Ecuador: How to Eat Guinea Pig
- Yuca Bread, A Delicious Treat In Cuenca Ecuador
Freshly Made Yuca Bread (Cuenca)
Ecuador is home to many craft towns. Here are some of the best items produced in Ecuador.
Animals We’ve Seen in Our Ecuador Travels
During our travels in the Galapagos, we’ve seen marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions.
We still have lots of photos and videos to publish about our adventures in the islands. Stay tuned!
On mainland Ecuador, we’ve also seen lots of animals. Here are some of them:
- Meet Paddington Bear: 17 Facts About Ecuador’s Andean Bear
- Don’t Miss Iguana Park In Guayaquil Ecuador
- The Wild Horses of Southern Ecuador
- Ecuador Spiders: Tarantulas and Red Fanged Wolf Spiders in Cuenca
So there you have it – an overview of travel in Ecuador.
Hungry for more? You should check out our site map for a full list of every post we’ve ever published.
Two of our other popular sections are: Living in Ecuador and Ecuador real estate.
I am going to NapoWildlife Center in Yasuni National Park to teach staff English for 6 weeks. Is it safe to travel there from Quito. I’m concerned about political situation/crime but I believe that’s not an issue where I’m going. Any suggestions?
Bryan, the amazing amount of information about my native country constitutes a veritable Ecuador encyclopedia. Running into the first article about 22 beaches so well described, has allowed me to decide when and where to wrap up my life back there, as I approach my 79th BD next January.
Born in Portoviejo, I grew up in Manta, became fluent in English as a boarding student for 4 non-consecutive years in High School at the Mackay School, a private K-12 in Viña del Mar, Chile.
On September 1960 I landed in NYC, beginning my life in the US to this day, which finds me retired in Waterloo, Iowa.
I am thinking we are going to be in touch quite a bit in the next few days and months.
In fairness to the overwhelming amount and variety of information in your various articles, one mentions the size of this relatively small country as about the same in area as the State of S.Carolina. That State area is about 32,000 sq. miles, whereas the area of Ecuador is 109,000, better than three times that of SC. A more accurate comparison would be the state of Colorado, with a little over 104,000.
As I said, I am thinking we will be hopefully in touch from time to time, as I am totally intrigued and delighted to have run across your impressive writing. I am especially glad and thankful to see how you give full coverage to the Costa, as opposed to so many pieces that deal either with the wonderful Sierra or the Galapagos, as if the Coast almost did not exist.
Warmest regards for now, and I promise not to hound or impose overly on your time with too many questions,
Hi Carlos – thanks for your comment. And thanks for catching the comparison error. I found it here. This is a guest post and that fact was missed during editing.
We covered the size of Ecuador in this post about provinces. And you’re correct about it being close to the size of Colorado. In fact, it falls right between Nevada (slightly larger) and Colorado (slightly smaller).
All the best on your plans!
your website is a wealth of information…thank you. i will be traveling through ecuador for a couple of months starting late march with the intent to discern where i will relocate to in ecuador. i assume using a bus is the best way to travel from city to city but would appreciate any insight you have in this regard or websites you suggest will be helpful in planning the transport part of the trip. thx.
My wife and I will be returning to Cuenca for the third time, and at the end of our trip, will be taking on an Amazon lodge/tour of some sort for five days in the first half of July. There are several lodges listed at Happygringo.com, and we’re looking for any recommendations of a good lodge/tour that is reasonably priced. We saw Sacha lodge, but is on the expensive side. Do you have any suggestions?
Steve
Hey,
Just wanted to share my experience in Ayampe, Ecuador last month. I had a lovely trip & met this amazing Chef ‘Galvan’ the food was amazing and I made a little video about it. Check it out if you’re interested! https://youtu.be/mKyBT9AiOfQ
Regards,
Ryan
I spent 2 weeks traveling around this amazing country and I discovered its people are just incredible, Ecuador has stunning landsacapes such as Cotopaxi, Cayambe.
The province of Imbabura is one of the greatest cities with San Pablo lake and Yahuarcocha, Cuicocha. I found this operator Gulliver Expeditions in Quito they help me to plann my experience in Ecuador. Highly recommendit.
Ursula
I couldn’t find anything about Santa Marianita. It is kind of a hidden gem South-West of Manta. A small village with proud fishing families and barely any tourists. The beach is very very long and a local effect creates great winds to go kitesurfing. I stayed 2 months in a bamboo hostel on top of the hill overviewing the whole beach. The owners are local guy and his Belgium girlfriend. It was a great atmosphere. I can highly recommend it.
I want to visit the Galapagos Islands so badly. My wife and I are planning a trip to visit, but we never considered visiting Quinto. You had a lot of good information on the cities, thank you so much!
I got married two months ago and with my husband I decided to spend our honeymoon in Ecuador. It was just amazing!
We loved everything about Ecuador, the culture, the people, the food, the volcanoes, the landscape, the Galapagos Islands, just everything!
We looked for the most professional tour operators in Ecuador and found Gulliver Expeditions (www.gulliver.com.ec). They organized a perfect trip for us and cared about all our wishes and desires where we wanted to go.
My tip for you: When visiting Cuenca, don’t miss not only the view point and the church TURI, but also the swing in the little parc next to the viewpoint, where you get the feeling of flying over the city while you can take an amazing picture!
Hey what an interesting blog! I realy hope I can visit the Galapagos Islands some time, because everyone says that the islands are amazing. I have only been to Quito and I realy liked it.
Hello. I want to travel to Ecuador next year sometime…I was thinking between June-August? I know that our summer is their winter, which is essentially just spring. How hot does it get between these months? I will be staying with some friends (hopefully), but how expensive does traveling by bus/taxi get? And if I can`t stay with them, what are some cheap hotels you would recommend? I don`t want to do much touring, that isn`t a major point of my visit, but what is the usual cost to go the Galapagos Islands? Have you ever been to the Amazon Rainforest? If so, how expensive is it? What about the Octavalo Markets? I`d like to bring back souvenirs for friends…what can you recommend as far as quality and price?
I heard it isn`t too bad there for solo women? I am a teenage girl, and I don`t know if I`m going solo or if someone is traveling with me. Obviously be cautious anyway, but how rare is it for someone to be in potential danger…particularly a woman?
What about thieves? Medical insurance?
Sorry if I`m bombarding you with questions:), but I`d like to be as thorough as possible with my research.
Thanks 🙂
That beach (Malecon) doesn’t look appealing at all. Are there other, less developed beaches that you would recommend?
Yes, just travel north towards Manta. There are many beautiful, less developed beaches.
visit Los Frailes beach in Manabi, it is one of the best!
Hey Bryan, awesome down to earth website. I’m loving reading your articles.
I was wondering which of the above cities has the best social scene for single people in their 20-30’s. I’m a 24 year old American and I’m looking to live/work part time in Ecuador for at least 6 months. I’m interested in meeting locals and expats
Hi Fellow Gingos from Canada,
I have lived in Cuenca for one year and just love it. I am planning to move to a new apartment later this month and want to know if you can suggest where to obtain cardboard boxes for packing.
Thanks,
Linda
You can check with the supermarkets. You might have to pay for them, but they should be less expensive than new. When we moved, we just took up a bit of a box collection among friends to get them. Maybe some neighbors have some?
Hi there! I have 4 kids and we are considering to move to Ibarra or Santo Domingo next year. Cuenca looks amazing for my style but we don’t have a job offers there! I have kids ranging from 13 to less than a month old….. What do you know of these two places? Or Quito? Although we are looking for a smaller and more relax town. How are the schools? and private lessons like music lessons etc??? Also how do you get in touch with some foregin families living in the area???
Thank you!!
Some expat friends lived in Santo Domingo for a number of years and I don’t think they would recommend it for expats. Some Cuencano friends moved to Ibarra a couple of years ago and they love it. I haven’t been to either town but Ibarra looks beautiful.
Spent a week in Cotacachi in July. It’s about 30 minutes from Ibarra, small and relaxed, with about 2000 expats living there. There are reasonable rent rates (less expensive than Quito or Cuenca). Luis Guevara is an excellent, very personable guide, speaks excellent English, and can help you find a place in the area. You can contact him at foreverguevara@yahoo.com, call him when you arrive: 092 229 144 (or call from the US or Canada: 011 593 922 9144.
He and his wife also run a tienda right across from the bus station (on “Leather” street, facing the parking lot).
Hi, I am an native from Otavalo(an indigenous town and city on the north of Ecuador, full of customs, culture and music), And if you want someone to guide you, while you visit here, let me know my friend, I speak English(no too excelent) but I enjoy to share with people our way to live, doing little trips around the towns and showing and living a full experience. PD: I do not work for any agencie. jhon5eddy@hotmail.com I am working by myself on the beggining of this, the agencies are actually too expensive.
It is an illegal activity work, as indendiente guide and has sanction according to the reform of the Tourism Law in force in Ecuador. All tours must be exercised by travel agencies /tour operador.
That’s not true! You can get a license easily as a tourist guide this is a way of getting a personal approach to every place you visit and is cheaper…
No comment on travelling around Ecuador by bus? It appears you are avoiding that.
No, not avoiding it. We have a car so our experience with buses is limited. We did write about city buses and a bus trip we took a few years ago.
Hello Bryan and Dena, I’m new to this cite. We have never been to Cuenca and would like to visit. What do you recommend todo in the city? We are open to any suggestions. Is it best to stay at a hotel or a rental apartment on our first visit? Will two weeks be enough to explore Cuenca? What other areas surrounding Cuenca do you recommend? I would really appreciate any advice you could offer to help us on our first trip to Cuenca.
We are visiting Ecuador and are on our second week , we are leaving for Manta from Esmaralds taking our time down the coast any suggestions?
Scott- Mary
Hello!
We are an American family and we have been living in Costa Rica for almost one year. We are converting from Expats to Nomads this summer as we embark on a round the world trip, and our first stop will be in Cuenca for a 3 week Spanish intensive course for my children and husband. I have signed up for a call back with Simon Bolivar Spanish school, but I am concerned about finding a home stay that will take a family of four. Do you have any recommendations for affordable short-term places to stay for a family? I would appreciate any input to point me in the right direction.
Thank you!
Noemi
Sounds amazing. I don’t have contacts for homestays in Cuenca. Maybe another reader will be able to help.
All the best on your trip!
I’ve been enjoying your blogs. Am thinking of moving there upon retirement and want to do some exploratory travel there to get the feel. What do you suggest for an inexpensive (relatively) tour guide. I’d be more interested in seeing the “real” country than touristy attractions. What’s the best city to fly into? Is summer a rainy season?
Thanks
Bruce Allen Hutchins
It doesn’t really matter which city you fly into – it really depends on what you want to see. Both airports are very nice and have good services for national flights and hotel shuttles.
hi fellow canadian gringos abroad!
i absolutely love your blog and the fabulous photos and film clips you both include!
very informative and fun.
i have a question: what time of the year did you see the lively pink flamingos on the galapagos islands?
i did not know they feed there… now i want to go there too, i just added it to my “wish-list” of places to go.
also, the bush or tree the hummingbirds are on is an Abutilon. beautiful!
i spent 10 days in Ecuador on a garden tour 3 yrs ago. i love Cuenca, gave me a good feeling.
i know one day i will go back to this wondrous country. right now i am spending some time in mexico.
tineke
I understand that they live there year round (although I might be wrong…). They actually are feeding in a flooded gravel pit on Isabela Island.
Hi, I am an native from Otavalo(an indigenous town and city on the north of Ecuador, full of customs, culture and music), And if you want someone to guide you, while you visit here, let me know my friend, I speak English(no too excelent) but I enjoy to share with people our way to live, doing little trips around the towns and showing and living a full experience. PD: I do not work for any agencie. jhon5eddy@hotmail.com I am working by myself on the beggining of this, the agencies are actually too expensive.
Hi, i have a friend who moved to Equdor two years ago and likes it. He is on the beach. I would probably want to look at a cooler area. I was strongly looking at Cuenca until i read about the mold in homes. I have a huge allergy to black mold, aspergillus. So, any help you can give would be great.
I also have two dogs and a cat. Would it be difficult to find a place to rent? I want to live where i can hop the buses for transportation. I lived in Mx. For a short while and loved Oaxcca( sp?) , Mx. It was 5000 ft. In the mtns. I loved it. Since i lived in Santa fe and Albuquerque, i learned i liked the lower altitude of Albuquerque which was 5000 ft.
I presently live in North Fl. ( 30’s in the Winter many days…..but hot and humid in the Summer).Thanks for your help. Mary
Some homes that are poorly constructed have mold problems. The climate in Cuenca is dry – if you rent/buy a well made / ventilated home you won’t have any trouble.
Rentals that accept are not hard to find – only some of the security buildings have exclusions.
All the best on your plans!
Hi Mary,
I was worried about mold before we moved as well. None of the rentals we lived in (we’ve lived in a few) had any problems with mold. You just have to make sure you are renting in quality construction.
As Bryan said, the air in Cuenca is dry. It does rain often in the rainy season, but it’s not humid. We even had to buy a humidifier to help with the dry air https://storyteller.travel/ecuador/health-concerns-in-cuenca-dry-air/.