Wildlife, Mountains and Rainforest
Ecuador, most famous for the islands where Charles Darwin made his big discoveries, but Ecuador has so much more to offer backpackers. With extremely kind people, mountains, rainforest and charming towns it is easy to fall in love with one of the smallest countries in South America!
This backpacking Ecuador travel guide gives you tips on activities to do, route suggestions, budget and safety tips to help you plan your trip to this tropical country!
How much time do I need?
For Ecuador you will need at least two weeks, and that is not including Galapagos. A trip to the islands should not be less than a week. Since most people come to Ecuador to visit Galapagos as well I recommend three to four weeks in Ecuador. This gives you time to explore several cities and enjoy at least a full week on the islands.
If you only go to visit Galapagos then plan a few days in Quito before and after to adjust and get rid of jet-lag.
Routes
Most people start their journey in Quito. Whether you’re coming from backpacking Colombia or flying directly into the country’s capital, it’s a good place to start. After spending some time on the half line of the world, this is a good time to fly to the Galapagos Islands since you can only fly from Quito or Guayaquil. Also Quito is a good place to base yourself out of if you plan on hiking Cotopaxi.
After Quito (and/or Galapagos), head to the border of the Amazon Rainforest by visiting the small town of Tena. After an immersion into Ecuadorian Rainforest head to Baños to relax and for an action packed few days. From there head to the coast to visit Montanita and Guayaquil if you feel brave, or head south to Cuenca. From there a quick night bus takes you to Northern Peru.
If you’re arriving from Peru you can easily do this route in reverse with first stop in Cuenca.
Top Activities
The best activities in Ecuador can often be very Galapagos heavy, but there are so many amazing places and things to do in Ecuador. Here are some of my favourites!
Galapagos Island
A bucket list item for many people and a must see if you’re in Ecuador. If you have the money, splurge on a cruise to make the most out of it. If you’re a true backpacker, fly over and do the hikes and snorkelling that’s for free! The streets are full of wildlife as well, and you can easily travel between the three main islands by yourself. Add day tours based on your preference and budget to maximise your visit.
Cotopaxi
Hike Cotopaxi, a volcano that can be hiked year round at peaks at 5897 meters above sea level. Most people book a hike from Quito, but you can also do it alone and find a hostel like Secret Garden to stay a night or two!
Mitad del Mundo
Mitad del Mundo is a place a little outside of the city centre of Quito. It’s very touristic but a fun day to see some demonstrations of the physics of the place. It’s a bit of a gimmick as it’s not exactly on Latitude 0.0.0 but still worth a visit!
Visit the Amazon
Visiting the Ecuadorian Amazon can be done in two ways. From Quito there are several tours that you can book through your hostel or with a travel agency. These will take you into the Amazon with different activities and possibly bring you back to Quito afterwards.
The other option is to take the bus yourself for about three hours to the town of Tena, a town on the border to the Amazon but still a part of it. Here you can base yourself and do different activities around the town or deeper into the rainforest. I recommend going there by yourself and then see what your hostel recommends or offer in terms of tours. They often do tailor made activities based on what you want out of your visit!
Baños
In Baños there are plenty of waterfalls to visit so rent a bike and make a day out of it! Baños is also famous for rafting so do check that out if you’re interested. In the town there are also cute little squares, lots of souvenir shops and old churches. After biking or walking around all day I recommend hitting the thermal baths for a relaxing time!
Baños is also home to a giant swing at the top of one of the mountains. Hike up and swing away while enjoying the views of the Ecuadorian landscapes.
Montanita
Visit this charming little party town by the Ecuadorian coast for a relaxing time with a beer or two in hand!
Cuenca
Cuenca is an old town and one of biggest in Ecuador. Here you have lots of shopping, old architecture, a giant park and a tram! One of the safest places in Ecuador as well. For nature lovers head to El Cajas National Park for a day in nature!
Budget
Ecuador is one of the cheaper countries in South America. Expect to get by on a budget of around $30. This includes staying in dorms, eating local food and using local transportation.
For bigger activities like visiting the Amazon, Galapagos Islands or multi-day hiking, I recommend adding extra money to your budget for those. Normal activities like visiting museums, city tours and most entrance fees to famous spots are covered by the $30 per day budget.
Food
Ecuador is famous for its guinea pig if you are feeling adventerous! If you want to eat a normal Latin American dish without breaking the bank, I recommend finding local restaurants that serve meals of the day. These places usually have a few options to choose from and the competition means you’ll get a soup, main dish (rish, vegetables, meat) and drink for as low as $2. Perfect for backpackers on a budget and delicious as well!
In places like Baños, make sure you try their famous hot chocolate as well. Depending on time of year, it’s a perfect drink on a chilly day!
Accommodation
Dorms are fairly cheap in Ecuador at around $8-10 per night. Many hostels also offer different activities each day and includes breakfast. Also a bar with food service is quite common in hostels in Ecuador. Since it can get quite cold in many Ecuadorian cities because of the altitude, hostels also offer plenty of blankets to keep you warm at night!
Transportation
Luckily Ecuador is a small country and moving between places is fairly easy. Local buses can take you anywhere and is very cheap. Buy snacks and drinks though, since a bus ride in Ecuador will take longer than expected. Locals hop on and off all the time, and many times people will enter to sell stuff as well. A four hour distance can easily end up being six.
If you plan on visiting Galapagos you will have to fly. Cheapest tickets I’ve found was around $350 roundtrip. When looking for tickets online make sure you don’t buy the cheapest option that is only for Ecuadorians, as they will make you pay the difference at the airport. By selecting your nationality when booking it should give you the right price though.
When to go
Ecuador has its dry season between June and November and December to May is the wet season. The dry season is also when you will experience the highest temperatures. During the wet season places like Quito can feel quite cold, while Galapagos maintains nicer temperatures and can be visited year round.
For Galapagos you might need to research in terms of animals and what you want to see when visiting! Depending on breeding seasons and where the animals spend their time, some periods of the year might be better.
Safety
Ecuador is fairly safe for backpackers travelling to the most touristic places. There’s been an increase of trouble in Ecuador in recent years, but this is mostly located in a few places in relation to Cartels from Colombia and Mexico. Therefore take extra precaution if you visit Guayaquil, or even other places along the coast. In Quito avoid certain areas in the city centre called Old Town at night.
Like most of the world you should always take a few precautions when travelling and never leave your home country without travel insurance!
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine in Ecuador, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Ecuador? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn commission from products or services I recommend. For more, see disclosure.
