Ecuador

banos

THINGS TO DO

Chivas Tour: Open air bus tour (similar to tuk tuks) that’s an easy way to see hot spots and waterfalls along the famous Ruta de Las Cascadas.

Ride Bikes Along La Ruta de Las Cascadas: If you are up for an active day, rent bikes in town and head to Pailón del Diablo. The route is breathtaking and not too challenging. Unlike the Chivas tour, you are able to go at your own pace. You can rent bikes in town (don’t pay more than 5 dollars) and at the end by Pailon del Diablo take a bus back up. Spend time ziplining, pulling off for photo ops, grabbing drinks, and quick hikes! This was a favorite day of our whole trip — highly recommend. 

Pailón del Diablo: Climb the winding steps and crawl up the “Crack to Heaven” to get close to this massive waterfall. 

Casa del Arbol: Swing over the valley at this famous tree house. The photo-op alone is well worth it. There’s a lot of ‘cheesy’ Instagram sculpture areas, but this one is the best. 

Termas de la Virgen: Local thermal baths. Extremely relaxing and theraputic.

El Refugio Spa: Affordable, revitalizing spa treatments with a beautiful view.

Bungee jumping: Or, “puenting,” on the bridge for $15. Find it nestled along the waterfall route. 

Canyoning trip with MTS Adventure on the Rio Blanco.

Rent Go-Karts: Rent in town then ride to the top of the mountain.

Whitewater Rafting: Not for the faint of heart, these rapids can be pretty intense.

Luna Volcan Spa: You can get massages (couples packages or available) or pay 15 dollars to use their pools overlooking the city for the day. Worth it to explore the grounds as well! 

 

PLACES TO EAT

Cafe del Cielo: Amazing view on the Luna Volcan property. 

Arome Cafe: Intimately-sized cafe that serves fluffy pancakes! Get them with chocolate or honey if you are a lover of sweets. The toppings are generous.

 

PLACES TO STAY

Airbnb in Lligñay: Fairly priced and safe option, do your research on well-reviewed hosts.

Hostel Erupción: Backpacker hostel in the heart of town and the restaurant upstairs serves pretty good food.

La Posada del Arte: Cheap, colorful hostel. It sits in a great location with a view of the waterfall. The restaurant serves decent food as well. Home to a funny, calm bulldog. 

Luna Volcan: if you’re down to splurge, head up to Luna Volcan for a spa day and take advantages of their beautiful pools overlooking the city. 

Montanita

THINGS TO DO

Relax on the Beach: Can rent beach chairs/umbrellas for$5 — no need to bring or buy your own.

Crepe Stands: Nothing better for late-night drunk food. Will soak everything up and leave you full for sure. 

Ceviche Stands: Easy, quick meal. All of the fish is extremely fresh.

Jaja Pizzeria: Casual pizza spot on beach with happy hour everyday.

Lost Beach Club: High-energy electronic club on the beach. Doesn’t get popping until 12 a.m.

Enjoy a Cocktail (or 4): There are plenty of Coctelerias and bars around, so take your pick. Beware of the sugar intake though, or you’ll be headed for a gnarly hangover.

Learn to Surf: One of the best places in Ecuador to surf and it’s easy to get lessons. Runs about $15 an hour.


PLACES TO EAT

Crepe Stands: Nothing better for late-night drunk food. Will soak everything up and leave you full for sure. 

Ceviche Stands: Easy, quick meal. All of the fish is extremely fresh.

Jaja Pizzeria: Casual pizza spot on beach with happy hour everyday.


PLACES TO DRINK

Coctelerias: This chain of bar carts line the streets. A few favorite stands were Pedrito and Gisse!

Tiki Limbo: Relaxed bar with an easygoing vibe.


PLACES TO STAY

Hostal Esperanto: Cheap, clean, and close to town without being in the midst of the crazy party street.


GENERAL TIPS

BEST PARTYING IN ECUADOR: This venue is tiny and rowdy. It’s a hippie place, so extra-circulars are not far away, plus the nightlife is crazy. Go on a weekend if possible.

No cars are allowed on the streets, so you walk to get around.

Street vendors are everywhere and the food is always gratifying. Definitely eat a fruit salad for breakfast while you’re here.

You may see people going skinny dipping at night and may want to join. Beware. People steal things off the beach and you can get a hefty fine from police.

TENA

THINGS TO DO 

Tena is on the outskirts of the Amazon rainforest. It’s easily accessible from Quito or Banos, so it is a perfect addition to your trip if you have time

Prebook an Excursion Through the Jungle: We recommend Gary of CasaBlanca and the multi-day trip included

Caving: Not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart, but is a memorable experience. You’ll climb on your hands and knees, then wade through waist-high water. Stalagmites and stalactites are everywhere and you will see scorpion spiders and bats, but don’t worry, they won’t bother if you you don’t bother them

Hike: Stroll over to waterfalls like La Cascada de Latas

Visit Misahuallí: Worth visiting to eat at one of their local joints. The ladies outside were cooking and serving chontacuros — worms that are supposedly good for your lungs. Don’t fret, they kind of taste like bacon

Feed monkeys: Find these rambunctious friends  in the Misahuallí Town Park, they love grapes.Lagoon Float: Go at dusk to see more monkeys and wildlife

Motorized Canoe Ride: Dive into the jungle for an interactive day learning how to make Chocolate and Chicha (traditional juice drink) & more about the fruits and plants in the forest.

 

PLACES TO STAY

La CasaBlanca: Extremely clean hostel owned by the nicest people. One of the owners, Gary, leads excursions through the Amazon. The water at this hostel is purified, a luxury and rarity in Ecuador. They also have a washer/dryer and provide laundry detergent — which you WILL need after the excursions. To boot, they provide a list of restaurants that are safe to eat at in town. 

QUITO

THINGS TO DO 

Calle La Ronda: Traditional place that Ecuadorians go for dinner and drinks. Most restaurants have live music. You could go here after checking out the Centro Historico sights. Best on Thursday-Saturday nights. Also, salsa dancing!

Centro Historico: It’s basically the “old city.” Scenic and cool to walk around. Make sure you check out La Basilica and El Panecillo. The former being a Gothic cathedral, and the latter a big statue of “the Virgin of Quito.” Be careful here, the walk up can be kind of dangerous with pickpockets.

Guapulo: This is the artistic/bohemian neighborhood. Nice restaurants complimented with a good view of the city.

Guayasamin Museum: He is Ecuador’s most famous artist. His paintings are usually based on the racism/suffering that surrounds the indigenous people of Ecuador. It’s somber, but fulfilling and interesting. The museum is his old house and it’s awe-inspiring.

Mercado Artesenal: Go here if you don’t go to Otavalo. See below section, “Around Quito.” It’s a mini-Otavalo and the place to get souvenirs.

Mitad del Mundo: Located at the center of the Earth and dubbed the equator monument. Cool to visit, but you basically just go for the picture.

Plaza Foch:  Hoppin’ plaza with tons of restaurants with favorable drink specials. Very commercialized/touristy but there is a giant sign that says “Foch Yeah,” similar to the LOVE statue in New York City.

Quicentro Area: There’s a big mall and it’s a safe area. Also, the Olympic stadium is here!

Teleférico: Gondola ride up Mount Pichincha to get a great view of the city at about 14,000 ft. elevation. There are donkeys & horses at the top that can take you further up, or you can hike it.  

 

PLACES TO EAT 

La Briciola: Fancy Italian.

La Oficina: Great dinner spot across from the secret Garden Hostel.

Rodriguez Tacos: Awesome atmosphere and has rooftop seating outside that overlooks Foch Plaza.

Taste of India: Might sound weird to eat Indian food in Ecuador, but, this place is DOPE. Highly recommend, seriously. 

Menestras del Negro: This is a chain and you’ll see them all over Quito. Go here for traditional meals with a meat/fish + rice and beans.

Zazu: Quito’s closest resturant to a Michelin star, with a beautiful 7 course menu. Our favorite place to try cuy! 

Panificadora Ambato: Bakery that’s perfect for a quick pastry breakfast. There are a few locations sprinkled around the city.

Urko: A locally sourced menu that changes every week. The value for an 8 course menu was phenomenal, as the owner, Daniel, also pairs the dishes with drinks. 

La Platea: Area of food trucks for any taste you’re feeling

Mercado Central: Large market with local cuisine (see below). 

ZFOOD: great place to eat fresh seafood, but in a casual setting. 

*We had the best luck wandering the streets and heading where the locals went! It’s easy to get a massive meal for under 4 dollars a person. 

 

Food to Eat:

 

Bolón con Queso: It’s basically mashed plantains formed into a ball with cheese. Also available with chicharrón (pork).

Canelazo: A hot spiced drink that’ll warm you up in the cool nights. 

Choclo Loco: Grilled corn covered in mayo and rolled with shredded cheese. Don’t knock it til ya try it!

Cuy: Guinea pig. It’s the country’s delicacy and will run you around $20.

Ceviche: Mixture of shrimp, peppers, tomato juice, and citrus juices. Quite popular around town and always a great option. Note that it is way different than Peruvian ceviche. 

Granadilla: Basically a passion fruit indigenous to Ecuador. Might feel weird in texture, but it’s extremely refreshing! 

Locro de Papa: Ecuadorian potato soup. 

Mora: a red blackberry that makes a delicious juice! 

Morocho: Corn pudding drink with cinnamon.

Muchines: Yucca stuffed with cheese. They can be found randomly at little stands.

Naranjilla: Means “little orange.” This is a big smoothie option and very refreshing.

Pan de Yucca: Yuca bread. Sweet and delectable.

Pinchos: Meat on a stick. Served in little stands everywhere. 

Tigrillo: This is more common towards the coast. It’s essentially plantain mash with an egg on top.

Tomate de Arbol: Means “tree tomato.” A personal favorite!

Tortilla de Papa or “Llapingachos”:  Simplified, it’s a potato patty. Unexpected, but ended up being a favorite.

Aguardiente: Sugarcane alcohol. Aguardiente is fairly common and worth trying but be weary, it’s a sure-fire hangover. 

Traditional restaurants will offer almuerzos (lunch) for around $2.50. It comes with a soup, usually a meat of choice, rice, yucca or something similar, and a juice.

 

PLACES TO DRINK

Aladdin: Laid-back hookah bar with cool ambiance.

Bungalow: Go here for ladies’ night on Wednesday. You’ll drink for free until 10 p.m. and they will separate the men and women until then. It’s a weird concept, but it’s fun and gets wild.

Chupitos: Go here for pregame shots. There’s a burning shot that’s really popular.

Finn McCool’s: Trivia on Tuesday nights. There’s an awesome burrito place tucked away next door as well.

G-Spot: This is a  venue to hang out and watch sports. Solid tacos. Owned by Americans and a lot of expats hang out here. 

No Bar: This is an ideal bar to casually pregame or end up later at.

Plaza Foch: Touristy, but a lot of two for one specials.

The Attic: Kinda sketchy, attracts different characters, but definitely a good time

Zinc: delicious cocktails!

 

PLACES TO STAY

Posada del Maple: Quaint and clean hostel located on a cute street with big elm-like trees and pale colored hostels. Only about three blocks from La Mariscal. The “mom” of the hostel was the sweetest and always makes sure guests are doing okay.

Secret Garden Hostel: Come here strictly for the views and low price. Also great if you want to head to Secret Garden Cotopaxi after. 

Masaya: super beautiful hostel (that doesn’t feel like a hostel) with massive solo rooms and in the heart of the historic district. They also have a cute courtyard. 

 

TRANSPORTATION 

Major Bus stations

Carcelen: Northern bus station. Use to get to: Otavalo, Ibarra, Mindo, Esmeraldas, and other northern destinations.

Quitumbe: Southern bus station. Use to get to: Guayaquil, Cuenca, Ambato, Baños, Latacunga, and other southern destinations.

Take Metrobús all the way south to the big bus station and you can get on the buses to go long distances. Be careful in South Quito. It’s known to be more dangerous due to economic disparities.

Chivas: If you get the opportunity to do this with people you meet at your hostel or wherever, do it. It’s an open-air party bus that takes you around the city and provides alcohol. Then, it usually drops you back off in La Mariscal to go out

Taxis: We don’t recommend taking them. Take uber instead! 

The airport is pretty far away and costs 20-35 dollars. We recommend planning transport in advance or using Uber. 

Be careful on public transportation! Known for pickpockets, keep your head on a swivel, especially if you are obviously a traveler or are on your own.

Don’t carry too much cash with you in La Mariscal and don’t walk down any super dark streets (obviously).

Parks: Don’t go too deep in the parks. This is usually where we have heard of people getting robbed. If you go, stay around the edges.

 

DAY TRIPS FROM QUITO

Mindo

Only two hours from Quito but not a day trip. Dubbed “The Cloud Forest” it’s very chill. You can zipline here, waterfall rappel, jump off a 35 foot waterfall, and home to amazing hiking. Plus, a butterfly forest and a chocolate museum.

Otavalo

A couple hours away from Quito. This is a huge indigenous market. Will take hours to walk through it and this is where you’ll get your souvenirs. Also, check out Termas de Papallacta — they’re hot springs heated by a nearby volcano. Beautiful and relaxing. Good place to spend an evening.

Quilotoa

Vast crater-lake inside of a caldera volcano that erupted and collapsed. Offers incredible views and good hiking. You can also kayak in the lake and ride horses back up to the top after hiking down. Roughly three hours from Quito. This is also accessible from Latacunga (about two hours) but the town is pretty uneventful.Come here

COTOPAXI

THINGS TO DO 

Hike! Probably the most popular thing you can do. There’s lots of hikes inside the park and outside that you can get guides for where you are staying. If you plan to hike Cotopaxi (at 19,000 feet), prepare for at least 3 days of acclimation and to complete some of the hikes beforehand. 

Ride bikes: You can head up to Cotopaxi’s refuge basecamp then bike down the gravel road!

Horseback riding: Enjoy views of the park while on horse.  

PLACES TO EAT / DRINK 

Cotopaxi is extremely remote and this will most likely be dictated by where you are staying – most places provide 3 meals a day and snacks. 

PLACES TO STAY

Secret Garden Cotopaxi: This hostel is unreal! They have dorm rooms but we recommend staying in one of the hobbit homes or ‘bird houses’. They have nets to overlook the park, grow their own food, and its on the most beautiful grounds. Everyone dines together and there’s no wifi for a community feel! 

 

TRANSPORTATION 

Arrange this with your hotel. We recommend private transport!