Ecuador travel guide

Find out what to see and do when travelling or backpacking around Ecuador.

Ecuador highlights

	Destination	Make a reservation
	Quito Quito is Ecuador's capital and a city with a magnificent colonial old town in the centre. Just wander around the colourful streets, vibrant with food stalls and music everywhere or visit the many old churches, convents and monasteries dotted around. Alternatively, use the teleferico cable-car to climb the nearby Pichincha Volcano and experience the views of the city.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Galapagos Islands Lying around 1000km west of Ecuador, these remote islands are famed for being Darwin's inspiration for his theory of natural selection. This wild archipelago is home to species such as Giant tortoises, iguanas, sea lions and many birds that make this barren land their home.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Ibarra Another colonial town, Ibarra is the perfect base to try activities like rafting, trekking and kayaking. There are several traditional villages in the area and the lake, Lago Yahuarcocha is close by where visitors can fish and enjoy water sports.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Banos Situated at the foot of the volcano Tungurahua and surrounded by many hot springs, Banos is well-known as Ecuador's adventure capital. Visitors flock here for mountain biking, trekking, canyoning and rafting in the day. By night, Banos is a party town with plenty of bars and restaurants to visit.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Montanita This laid-back town is the surfing capital of Ecuador with good breaks available all year round. There are several long sandy beaches in the area but the town itself is small but packed with restaurants, bars and rooms to rent. There are other options for non-surfers as well - there are several impressive nature reserves in the region.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Volcano Chimborazo This inactive volcano is the country's highest peak and is situated in central Ecuador some 150km from Quito. A variety of climbing routes are on offer for all experience levels.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Parque Nacional Machalilla This National Park covers 138,000 acres of coastline, beaches, forests, ruins and islands and with over 200 species of birds is perfect for hiking and exploring the various archaeological sites. There are some amazing snorkelling spots and the opportunity to view humpback whales further off the coast.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours

Map of Ecuador

Main travellers routes

• Quito and Guayaquil are Ecuador's two main international airports but there aren't any direct flights from the UK so travellers have to use the main South American hubs. Internal flights are generally cheap and reliable but if flying to the Galapagos Islands it is more expensive and recommended to book well in advance.
• There are overland routes into Ecuador through both Peru and Columbia and it is possible to use coaches going from Lima or Bogota to Quito. Not all the Columbian border crossings are considered safe due to ongoing smuggling and conflicts.
• Bus travel is easy in Ecuador as it tends to be the local's choice of transport so an impressive network services the country. Most towns and tourist areas are linked by bus routes.
• Another popular method of transport is to use the motorised canoes or water taxis that enable visitors to travel the various rivers of the Oriente. By using a combination of these larger boats and smaller canoes, it is possible to cover a large distance.
• Ecuador has land borders with Peru and Columbia.
• Many travellers prefer to get off the main routes with an adventure tour.

Capital and main cities

• Quito
• Guayaquil is the largest city.
• Other main populated areas: Cuenca, Banos, Riobamba.

Languages

• Spanish
• Some English in main tourist areas.

Currency

• Ecuador uses the US Dollar.
• Currency converter

Visas (always check with your embassy)

• British citizens do not require a visa for trip to Ecuador.

Foreign Office Advice

• Ecuador foreign office advice

Flights and accommodation

• Flight prices to Ecuador
• Hotel and hostel prices

Tours and day trips in Ecuador

• Responsible Travel in Ecuador - Trips and accommodation from the main tourist routes to off-the-beaten track places.

Next: Planning a trip to Ecuador

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