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Ecuador✨ 10 best things to do in Ecuador

Things to do in Ecuador

1. Sail the GalápagosSnorkel with sea lions and marine iguanas, and walk past nesting blue-footed boobies that barely notice you.
2. Explore Quito's old townWander one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, crammed with gilded churches and plazas.
3. Stand on the EquatorVisit the Mitad del Mundo monument and nearby museums north of Quito to straddle both hemispheres.
4. Hike the Quilotoa LoopTrek between Andean villages to the rim of a jewel-green crater lake.
5. See Cotopaxi up closeHike or cycle across high páramo grasslands beneath one of the world's highest active volcanoes.
6. Shop at Otavalo marketBrowse woven textiles, ponchos and crafts at one of South America's best-known Indigenous markets.
7. Go deep into the AmazonStay at a jungle lodge in the Yasuní or Cuyabeno region to spot monkeys, caimans and pink river dolphins.
8. Swing at the end of the worldRide the famous treehouse swing in Baños, then cycle the Waterfall Route past thundering cascades.
9. Stroll CuencaAdmire domed cathedrals, flower markets and riverside paths in Ecuador's most charming colonial city.
10. Watch whales off the coastSpot humpback whales breaching off Puerto López between June and September.

Ecuador🗺️ Where to visit in Ecuador

Where to go in Ecuador

• 
  QuitoCapital · colonial heritageA high-altitude capital with a UNESCO-listed old town, volcano views and a lively food scene.
• 
  Galápagos IslandsPacific · wildlifeA volcanic archipelago with unique, fearless wildlife that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution.
• 📍
  CuencaSouthern highlands · colonial cityA graceful UNESCO-listed city, a base for Cajas National Park and the Inca site of Ingapirca.
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  BañosCentral highlands · adventureEcuador's adventure capital, with waterfalls, hot springs, rafting and canyoning in a lush valley.
• 
  Cotopaxi National ParkAvenue of Volcanoes · hikingWild páramo landscapes and glaciated peaks, easily reached from Quito.
• 📍
  QuilotoaCotopaxi province · crater lakeA stunning volcanic lake and multi-day village-to-village hiking loop.
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  OtavaloNorthern highlands · marketsA town famous for its Indigenous market, set among lakes and volcanoes.
• 📍
  Cuyabeno & YasuníAmazon · rainforestTwo of the most biodiverse rainforest areas on Earth, explored by canoe from jungle lodges.

Ecuador🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Ecuador

Best time to visit Ecuador

Ecuador's climate depends more on altitude than season: Quito is spring-like all year, the coast is hot and humid, and the Amazon is warm and wet. The Galápagos has a warm season from December to May and a cooler, drier season from June to November.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Quito (approximate averages).

Ecuador🎉 Festivals & events in Ecuador

• June
  Inti RaymiIndigenous communities around Otavalo and Cotacachi celebrate the solstice and harvest with music and dancing.
• February–March
  CarnivalEcuadorians celebrate with water fights, foam and festivities, especially in Guaranda and Ambato's Fruit and Flower Festival.
• September and November
  Mama NegraLatacunga hosts a colourful festival blending Catholic, Indigenous and African traditions.
• Early December
  Fiestas de QuitoThe capital celebrates its founding with concerts, parades and street parties.
• 2 November
  Día de los DifuntosFamilies honour the dead with colada morada (a spiced berry drink) and bread figures called guaguas de pan.

Ecuador🧭 Ecuador itinerary ideas

How many days in Ecuador?

Ecuador🎒 Backpacking Ecuador – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $30–45 a day

• Buses are cheap and frequent across the mainland; keep valuables on your lap, not in overhead racks.
• La Mariscal and the old town in Quito, Baños and Montañita are the main backpacker hubs.
• Look for 'almuerzo' set lunches with soup, main course and juice – the cheapest filling meal in the country.
• Galápagos island-hopping by public ferry and staying in town guesthouses is much cheaper than a cruise.
• Spend a day or two in Quito acclimatising before strenuous hikes at altitude.

Ecuador🛡️ Safety & money in Ecuador

Emergency: 911

Ecuador🛬 Getting to Ecuador

International flights arrive at Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) and Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport (GYE), which also handle flights to the Galápagos. Land borders connect with Colombia and Peru.

✈️ Cheap flights to Ecuador: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Ecuador💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Ecuador

• The summit of Chimborazo is the point on Earth's surface farthest from the planet's centre.
• The Panama hat originated in Ecuador, where it is woven from toquilla straw.
• Ecuador was the first country to recognise the rights of nature in its constitution, in 2008.
• The country is named after the Equator, which runs just north of Quito.
• Ecuador is one of the world's largest exporters of bananas.

Ecuador❓ Ecuador travel FAQ

Ecuador travel questions