Top Things to Do in Ecuador
As I wrote on my last Post 10 Best Travel Tips Ecuador, I will give you the Top Things to Do in Ecuador if you have a month or only a week, it doesn’t matter, you absolutely need to check those Top Things to Do in Ecuador. Read also our post: Make a Change Being Volunteer in Ecuador
The first time you heard about Ecuador you thought;
– What is it? I heard about the Equator line, but it’s also a country!
– Where is it? South America, okay I see.
– How big is it? So small compared to Colombia, Peru or Brazil! but it could be a great place to start to know about South America…
In this small country, Ecuador, you have so many things to DO and to SEE that if you plan a trip of 2 weeks, it will be short but even if you plan to come a month you will say “It was not enough time to see all I wanted to see and I need to come back”. It is the first comment we hear from our customers when they have to return, and you know why? The main reason is simple: Ecuador has 4 worlds, The Coast, the Amazon Rainforest, the Andes Highlands and the Galapagos Islands. It’s like visiting 4 countries in 1!
Top Things to Do in Ecuador when you Travel
We will start by the Andes Highlands of Ecuador, its best Treks’, most beautiful cities to visit and our recommended top things to do in Ecuador.
1. Quito, Historic Center
I start by Quito as it’s the first International Airport of Ecuador and the main entrance door of Ecuador. The Historic Center of Quito is a UNESCO Heritage as it’s the well-conserved Colonial Center in South America and you have a lot to See and Do. Starting by a visit from the San Francisco Church and its place, then the “Basilica” largest Gothic Church in South America. You can spend a night in the street “Calle La Ronda” with a lot of typical restaurants and bars or in the “Mariscal” District or “Plaza Foch” Place that is the nightlife centre of Quito.
2. Mitad del Mundo
Ecuador is situated in the equator line and I recommend you to visit the official “Middle of the World”, Intiñan Museum, the original centre point (because the monument they built was done only as tourism attraction). We include the visit to the middle of the world in our Mindo Adventure Tour.
3. Mindo Cloud Forest
Mindo is a little town located 2 hours north of Quito, the best place for birdwatching (with more than 500 species of birds) and adventures (with 10 km zip lines, canyoning, and tubing). But also the visit of the Organic Chocolate Fabric and beautiful butterfly and orchids Farms. Have a look at our special Adventure Trip in Mindo in the best sustainable Eco Lodge near Mindo.
4. Otavalo Market and Cotacachi
Otavalo, situated 2 hours north of Quito, has the biggest Indigenous Market in South America, the place to go if you want to buy gifts for your friends and family. Cotacachi is only 15 minutes from Otavalo and produce one of the best quality leather in the World at affordable prices, but has also the most beautiful Crater Lake in Ecuador, Cuicocha Lagoon. Have a look at our Excursion to Otavalo Market and Cuicocha.
5. Cotopaxi Volcano
The Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the highest Active Volcanoes in the World, with its 5’897 meters (19,347 ft). The Cotopaxi National Park was created in 1975 as a protected area for the volcanoes and lakes within it. You will be fascinated by nature at its most extraordinary in the most visited national park in Ecuador. You will need to enter the national park with a guide (~$30). And if you want to Climb the Cotopaxi Volcano, Contact us, we have a partnership with the best agency.
6. Quilotoa Loop
Quilotoa Loop is the best self-hiking trail that passes through some remote Andean villages in Ecuador. It usually takes 3-4 days and the main attraction is the beautiful Quilotoa Crater Lake situated 2 hours by bus from Latacunga (a city between Quito and Riobamba). The best way to enjoy the hike is by doing it from North to South starting from Isinlivi (2hrs from Latacunga). It takes 4-5 hours to hike from Isinlivi to Chugchilan, descending to the bottom of the valley to cross the river and then hiking up on the other side to Chugchilan. Stay the night in Chugchilan, then hike up to Quilotoa Crater Lake on next day and enjoy this beautiful spot as you can stay a night in one of the many hostels near from Quilotoa. If you want to do a Day Trip to Quilotoa, Contact us, we have a partnership with the best agency.
7. Chimborazo Volcano and Riobamba
If you are an advanced Climber, the Chimborazo Volcano should be one of your main objectives as it is the highest mountain in Ecuador and its location along the equatorial bulge makes its summit the farthest point on the Earth’s surface from the Earth’s centre with its 6’268 meters (20,564 ft.). You can also visit the 1st and 2nd Refugees and the Lagoon and feel the high altitude (5’200 meters), but you will need a guide to enter the National Park (~$30). If you want to Climb Chimborazo or do a Day Trip to the Chimborazo National Park, Contact us, we have a partnership with the best agency in Riobamba. Riobamba was the first capital of Ecuador and it is the capital of trekking in Ecuador as you can start most of the Best Ecuadorian Treks near Riobamba.
8. Trekking El Altar Lagoons
El Altar Volcano with its 5319 meters (17,451 ft.) is one the most spectacular mountains of Ecuador. The Incas called it Capac Urcu – sublime mountain. There is a special Trek to El Altar and where you can see some of the most beautiful Lagoons of the Sangay National Park as the Yellow Lagoon (El Altar Crater Lake), the Star Lagoon, the Mandur Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon, the Black Lagoon, and the Green Lagoon. Contact us, we have a partnership with the best agency for this Trek.
9. Baños
A little town between the Andes and the Amazon, only 1.30 hours from Riobamba, ideal for adventurers, nature lovers to relax. You are so close and can have a great view of the Tungurahua Volcano (the most active volcano in Ecuador) that is a steep-sided stratovolcano with a perfect cone reaching 5’016 meters (16,456 ft.).
10. Bucay
Bucay is the new Baños and located between the Andes and the Coast exactly in the middle of the way Riobamba and Guayaquil! It’s a great place to do Canyoning, Rafting, and some great adventures, you can also discover the Waterfalls of Bucay. We work with the best agency of Bucay, so if you need information about Bucay or for the best lodging, a resort with a swimming pool in Bucay, feel free to contact us.
11. Ingapirca Inca Ruins
Ingapirca is an archaeological site and the largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador. The most significant building is the Temple of the Sun, an elliptically shaped building constructed around a large rock. The building is constructed in the Inca way without mortar in most of the complex. But the Incas were not the first inhabitants of Ingapirca. It had long been settled by the Cañari indigenous people. Check our 360° Picture of Ingapirca Ruins. From Riobamba take a bus to Cuenca until the town “El Tambo”, then you can take a taxi that will drive you to the Ingapirca ruins. You can also do the Trek Ingapirca Inca Trail (2 or 3 days), contact us, we have a partnership with the best agency for this Trek.
12. Cuenca
Cuenca is the 3rd city of Ecuador and has a beautiful colonial centre. It is a really nice city to visit, with a lot of Museums, Churches, Monuments, parks and a great point of View “Turi” where you can see all the city! From Cuenca, you have to visit the Cajas National Park with its breathtaking landscapes and several lagoons.
13. Loja
Most of the People pass through Loja in their way to Vilcabamba, but you have some great things to see in Loja too. Loja’s historic town, while is not Cuenca, worth a visit. There are several cathedrals and city squares and a number of interesting museums, including the Music Museum and the Central Bank Museum. You may also want to walk down Calle Lourdes, Loja’s oldest street, which is filled with colourful building in their original architectural style; the street is lined with a few small cafés and artisan shops.
We will continue by the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador, its best Jungle Excursions, most beautiful town to visit and our recommended top things to do in Ecuador.
14. Cuyabeno Reserve
We highly recommend the Cuyabeno Reserve if you want to take a tour in the Ecuadorian Amazon. As it is the best spot for Wildlife Observation in Ecuador, with the chance to see a lot of animal species. We work with the Best Eco Lodge in Cuyabeno that provide great Jungle Expeditions, book a tour to Cuyabeno Reserve!
15. Yasuni National Park
One of the most famous places in Ecuador but not because of its real beauties. I explain myself, Yasuni National Park was a huge Protected Area with the Uncontacted Tribes Tagaeri and Taromenane and has the most diversified Fauna and Flora per squared meter in the World. But in 2013, Ecuador’s President has scrapped plans to protect the Yasuni National Park, from oil drilling, despite widespread opposition from the nation.
16. Misahualli
Misahualli is a little port in the middle of the Amazon only 45 minutes from Tena. It is really a great place to relax and one of the reasons I recommend it would be for all the non-adventurers that want to enjoy the Amazon Rainforest without entering deep in it.
Then we will go to the Pacific Coast of Ecuador, to see its best beaches, the authentic towns to visit and our recommended top things to do in Ecuador.
17. Canoa
I think that you were expected to see Montañita at the first place of the Coast spots, but as you can read a lot about Montañita in the web, we will give you some more authentic places that we like a lot in the Coast. For example, Canoa is the best example of those authentic places, with great beaches and also a great nightlife on weekend and good waves to learn Surf in Ecuador. You can find good hostels at a good price as the Canoamar Hostal and the best seafood traditional meals. You have a lot of good restaurants and bars directly on the beach, but also in the small town. Just a little advise, be sure to have cash because there is no ATM in Canoa, you have to go to San Vicente (15 minutes by bus). You can visit the Mangrove Island tunnels of the Isla Corazon, near San Vicente.
18. Puerto Lopez
Puerto Lopez is a small fisherman town between Manta and Montañita and it is a famous place for Whales Watching and the “Isla de la Plata” Island Tours. It is ideal for families as the town is pretty quiet during the week, but with good ambience during the weekends.
19. Mompiche
Mompiche is a little surfer town in the Esmeraldas province, the best way to get there is from Atacames ask for busses that goes inside Mompiche and that not let you outside of town. You will find also great seafood and little hostel where you can relax and surf during your days.
20. Guayaquil
Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador and also its economic capital, if you read on travel books you will see that they say it’s a dangerous city and most of the time people don’t visit it. I would say that is the same as every big city around the world, we need to be careful in any meaning. You need to visit the centre with the “Malecon 2000” and “Las Peñas” neighbourhood and its beautiful traditional houses and lots of bars and disco to enjoy the best Latin music on the 465 stairs leading up Cerro Santa Lighthouse and its pretty view from all the city. If you want to stay near the Malecon I recommend you the best lodging in Guayaquil, the Hostal Manso.
After the continent, we will take a plane and go to the Galapagos Islands, the possibilities you have to travel there and our recommended top things to do in the Galapagos Islands Ecuador.
21. The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands is a world itself with all the endemic Fauna and Flora but also because they are Volcanic Islands. Most people think that you can only do Expensive Cruises to the Galapagos Islands, so I will tell you the truth – NO – you can also do Island Hopping taking a flight from Quito or Guayaquil to one of the main airports there and then travel from Island to Island on Day Trips or on a Island Hopping Trip. Write to us for any request, we have some options to travel the Galapagos the cheapest way possible.
These are some of the Top Things to Do in Ecuador and I hope that will help you to have the best travel possible to Ecuador, if you want more information or you want a Customise Trip to Ecuador, contact us HERE!
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