11 Best Places to Visit in Ecuador

Ecuador is an underrated travel destination in South America that is continually growing in popularity as it is home to some of the best places to visit in South America. From the incredible Galápagos Islands to the bucket list worthy Amazon Rainforest, there’s plenty of places to visit for a variety of travel preferences. Most would be surprised to hear that Ecuador uses the United States Dollar as currency, but prices are are still quite low, making it a great destination for budget travellers and backpackers.

In my opinion, travelling around Ecuador feels much like Costa Rica, but it is far less expensive and less over saturated with tourists! The country is filled with incredible adventure activities much like Costa Rica, such as white water rafting, canyoning, and hiking through the rainforest. There’s also the luxury of escaping to some of the most beautiful beaches in South America.

Continue reading this post to check out some of the best places to visit in Ecuador!

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Best Time to Visit Ecuador

I am guilty of failing to research weather and best times to go places before I book my trips. But, depending on what time in the year you go to Ecuador and where you are headed, you’ll definitely have a different travel experience due to the varying weather. Ecuador is known to have fairly unpredictable weather, and many travellers joke that you can experience “four seasons in a day”.

The wet season in Ecuador is from October to May. During this time, you can expect rainfall most days during the afternoon. But, there is still plenty of time to explore in the mornings and during the evening.

The dry season in Ecuador is from June to September. This is when you can experience the warmest days and clear skies for the most part.

The time of year you decide to go is up to your personal preference, and also depends where you are going. If your main destination is Galápagos Islands, the best time to visit is from December to May. If you’re visiting the coast, it’s best to avoid visiting from May to November as the weather is often overcast.

Best Places to Visit in Ecuador

1. Quito

When flying into Ecuador, you’ll likely land in either Guayaquil or Quito as these cities have the two major airports in the country. I prefer to fly into Quito as it is a great base to go on some incredible day trips around the area. The city itself has plenty of fun things to do, including:

• Immersing yourself in the culture of Old Town
• Taking the TeleferiQo up a volcano
• Visiting amazing restaurants and bars
• Learning about Ecuador’s history at one of the many museums
• Admiring stunning architecture around the city
• Visiting local markets and indulge in delicious fruits

2. Salinas

Salinas is home to some of the best beaches on the coast of Ecuador. The miles of sandy beaches offer fantastic relaxation days, or you can opt to try surfing in the ocean. As the city is on the water, you bet it has amazing seafood as well, with an Ecuadorian flair. Salinas is a great place to relax after enduring hikes at Cotopaxi National Park or Quilotoa Loop!

3. Cotopaxi

If I had time to visit Cotopaxi National Park multiple times, I definitely would have! I opted to take a day hike up Cotopaxi Volcano. I was warned by the guide that even the most fit hikers become extremely short of breath as you rise in altitude. This is because the viewpoint destination is almost at an altitude of ~4,800 m (16,000 ft)! I, of course, didn’t believe the guide when he told us. At around 3/4 of the way to the top, I ended up having to stop every minute or so because the air was so thin. Boy did the guide prove me wrong!

After what seems like hours because you have to keep stopping, you reach the viewpoint. You’re way up in the snow covered peaks and on a nice day, you can see for miles. And better yet, you get to brag that you hiked up to 16,000 feet! After you relax, you can start your descent. Quite a few tours bring bikes for you to ride all the way down, so it is much easier on the way back. Beware though, the roads are very rocky and can be quite dangerous on a steep downhill descent!

Definitely make sure to bring proper shoes, a good bag, snacks, and plenty of water for the hike!

4. Center of the World

When visiting Ecuador, you have to visit the Center of the World! Here lies a monument that claims to mark the Equator, but it is a bit off. That doesn’t deter the tourists, though. A couple hundreds meters from here lies the real thing! At either spot, there is a line denoting the Equator. You can have one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern Hemisphere!

5. Otavalo

I HAD to visit Otavalo because it’s home to South America’s largest outdoor market, which is definitely one of the best places to visit in Ecuador. On Saturdays, a large portion of the downtown is closed off to cars and the streets are filled with colourful clothing, artisan crafts, jewelry, and so many more items. The prices are quite cheap, but as with any market in South America, it is best to wander around and gather intel on prices from other booths. You can definitely haggle on items too, but prepared to be given higher prices if you are a tourist! From here, I bought a hammock, scarves, pillow cases, a blanket, and so many trinkets. It is hard to stop shopping once you start there because everything is quite well priced!

6. Guayaquil

As I mentioned in the Quito section, Guayaquil is home to one of the two main airports in Ecuador, making it a great spot to start your travels through the country. The city is a major port city, offering great views of the water and relaxing waterside walkways to explore. In the city, you can take a ride on the biggest Ferris Wheel in South America, take a river cruise, visit many museums, and explore the beautiful architecture in downtown.

7. Quilotoa Loop

Along with Cotopaxi, another hike I highly recommend is Quilotoa Loop. This hike lasts multiple days, starting or ending at Quilotoa Lake. Along the way there are plenty of small towns, so you can rest overnight in hostels without having to carry hiking gear. It is a fairly strenuous hike, but along the way you’ll admire incredible scenery from all different perspectives.

Quilotoa Lake is a water-filled caldera in a volcano within the Andes Mountains. If a multi-day hike isn’t for you, you can opt to take a day trip to Quilotoa Lake. Here, you can admire the lake from above, or hike down to the water, where you can rent kayaks. The way up can leave you short of breath, but there are plenty of locals around offering donkeys to take you up for a fee!

8. Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands is a must for anyone who enjoys experiencing wildlife in their natural habitats and hiking through diverse terrain. If you haven’t heard of the Galápagos Islands, they are an archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador. Each island presents it’s own unique landscape and scenery, from volcanic rocks to beautiful sandy beaches. At these islands, travellers love to go scuba diving, hike, kayak, volunteer, and so much more! This destination can definitely be pricey to visit, but there are great ways to plan a trip to the Galápagos Islands on a budget!

9. Baños de Agua Santa

Baños (Baños de Agua Santa) was one of my favourite places I visited in Ecuador due to the numerous adventure activities you can try here. Here, there are plenty of tour shops where you can rent off-roading go karts, go white water rafting, canyoning, visit the Amazon, and so much more. The town itself is quite quaint, with a lovely church and mountain views in the distance. As you wander around, you can admire waterfalls that are right in the town before stopping at one of the local restaurants to indulge in Ecuadorian cuisine.

10. Cuenca

Cuenca is a lovely city filled with colonial streets and historical areas. The city is known as the “Athens of Ecuador”, and the main historic center is one of three of Ecuador’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here, travellers visit local markets, explore historical buildings and museums, indulge in local cuisine, and so much more!

11. Amazon Rainforest

Last but not least on my list of best places to visit in Ecuador is the Amazon Rainforest. Although the part of the Amazon that is in Ecuador is quite small, it still makes an extraordinary place to visit. The luscious greenery and diverse species of birds and animals make for great photos and enjoyable hikes. You can take a day trip to visit the Amazon, or opt to stay in a jungle lodge for a few nights. Either way, the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest is a must-have on your list of places to visit in Ecuador!

What are your recommendations for the best places to visit in Ecuador? Let me know in the comments!

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