Take our advice: don’t skip Ecuador if you’re travelling from Colombia to Peru. Ecuador often gets overlooked by travellers in South America, but it is worth stopping by this little country. We honestly loved it. Expect friendly locals, cheap Spanish classes, verdant green countryside, mountains surrounding the cities and amazing wildlife in the Galapagos Islands.
The easy to explore capital city of Quito makes a great base for mountain hikes and day trips. The Quilotoa Loop is an unmissable 3-day hike to the famous Quilotoa Lake. The Amazon rainforest is easily accessible for a weekend trip. And, of course, the Galapagos Islands are considered one of the world’s best destinations for wildlife.
“Dolphins!” shouted the captain, as he banged on the side of the boat. Everyone, including the crew, rushed to the front of the boat in time to see an enormous pod of dolphins launch themselves out of the water. We were grinning from ear to ear as we watched these beautiful animals flying out of the waves and nine metres into the air.
Cuenca is the prettiest city in Ecuador. Expect curved, narrow streets dotted with cute cafes, more patisseries than you’ve seen in the rest of Ecuador put together, and historic churches and squares.
Quito’s UNESCO-listed old town is a sight like none other. Distinctive green and gold domes, grey-faced churches with glittering baroque interiors, indigenous street sellers with stacks of avocados, cherries, mangoes and blueberries and endless buses spewing petrol fumes combine to make a heady cocktail.
Eating out in Ecuador can either be dirt cheap or surprisingly expensive, as restaurants seem either to be holes-in-the-wall or high-end. Our favourite local dishes were quinoa soup and llapingacho (a potato, cheese and egg concoction), as well as arepas often prepared in hole-in-the-wall joints owned and run by the Venezuelan community.
The Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is an adventure you’ll never forget. Take the spiralling mountain road from Quito into the deep, lush Amazon rainforest for a weekend or longer. Lace up your walking boots and find yourself immersed in dense vegetation, kapok leaves fringing the clouded sky. Find yourself surrounded by rainforest, abuzz with the sounds of wild parakeets, howler monkeys and tanager birds.
Hike your way through the Andes mountains, around the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador. This 36km winding track takes you through green valleys as clouds descend on the mountain tops, past fluffy alpacas (though more sheep and cows than alpacas) and through traditional mountain villages.
Otavalo is home to Ecuador’s most famous market and it is the place to shop for ponchos, jumpers and other textiles in Ecuador. This highland town has a strong indigenous community who earn a living making and selling their beautiful textile products.
We’re Charlie and Luke — UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. We travel slow and write about sustainable travel. We want to make responsible travel choices and help you do the same. Get to know us.
