Quick Guide to 4 Days in Ecuador
Ecuador is a country where the Andes meets the Amazon, where the land straddles between two hemispheres. Ecuador has so much to offer: the beach, the wildlife, the mountains, and the jungles. I spent 4 full days in Ecuador mid-May, the end of their wet season. Going in, I didn’t know much about the country except my desire to go to the Galapagos Islands, which I completely ignored. After weeks of research, I’ve compiled the best things to do in Ecuador in just 4 days!
Table of Contents
Getting Around:
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, therefore traveling from one end to the other end is not difficult. There is a generous amount of taxi drivers, buses, and tours. Due to my short time in Ecuador and how much land I wanted to cover, I hired a private guide. His name is Luis Gavilanes and he has been a driver for 15 years for the yellow cab, 10 years as a private guide/driver for LAG. He charged $150 a day to go anywhere in Ecuador. We started our day around 8am and ended the tour around 7:30pm. In other words, this rate is a steal! Tours can cost upward of $200/per person per day. Buses can be cramped and taxi drivers can be impersonal. Luis’ service was one of the best, he is native to the land, speaks English and can translate, and he built an itinerary fit for my adventurous spirit. (If you would like to get in contact with Luis, please message me for details).
What To Eat:
I enjoy eating with Luis because I got a glimpse of what the locals eat. He took me to a lot of tiny shacks, which is the reason why the restaurant names are omitted from my itinerary below. These are a few items I had during the week and you can find them at most restaurants. On a side note, most main entrées will include a side salad, fries, and rice. A community salsa is on every table and poured on everything (it’s very tasty).
- Aguado De Gallina – Chicken soup with rice, yucca, onions, vegetable, and your choice of chicken part.
- Arroz con Pollo – paella type rice with chicken
- Churrasco – thin sliced steak that is seasoned
- Cuy – guinea pig and usually served with potatoes.
- Fritada De Chancho – slow cooked pork
Currency:
In Ecuador, the United States Dollar is used as currency. Change in coins can be given in either Ecuadorian coins or American coins. It is very important to bring small non-torn bills; $20 are seen as $100 in Ecuador and torn bills are not accepted in most places. Do bring lots of $1 for parking and tipping. ATMS/Banks are not easy accessible unless you’re in the city. Make sure you bring or take out as much as you will need during your stay.
Hotels:
Each night, Luis drives us around to find a decent and affordable hotel. Our preference includes being in the city for easy access to restaurants and bars, a place that serves free breakfast, free wifi, and for a room that is less than $70, including VAT. A 14% VAT tax is included in all hotel/hostel stay along with a 10% service tax. Most hotels, if not all, serve free breakfast which usually includes, fresh fruits, eggs, bread, coffee, and juice. Most hotels are also equipped with free wi-fi.
When I ask the concierge for a room, I was escorted to a vacant room to decide if the room fits our criteria. After my approval, I return to the front desk to complete our transaction. Most hotels prefer cash. There is usually a 2% charge for debit cards users and 4% charge for credit card users.
Rooms will come with the bare minimum supply. There is usually 1 towel, 1 soap, and 1 shampoo. Remember to request for additional towels and toiletries before returning to the room.
Itinerary:
Day 1: May 26, 2017 [Purple]
Destinations:
- Quito – leave from Quito city.
- Cotopaxi – Cotopaxi National Park is where you can see volcanoes around you within the Andes mountains.
- Limpiopungo Lagoon – This lagoon is on the Quilotoa loop (including Cotopaxi).
- Quilotoa – The greenish crater lake that is a popular tourist destination.
- Baños – Spend the first night here in the city.
Where to Eat:
Lunch in El Chaupi before reaching Quilotoa: A side shop, $13 for 3 people
Dinner in Baños: $8 for 2 people
Where to Stay in Baños:
Hotel Donde Marcelo – $62 per room
Day 2: May 27, 2017 [Green]
Destinations:
- Baños
- La Casa Del Arbol – End of the World Tree-house Swing – $1/pp
- Cascada Manto De La Novia – Also known as the Avenue of Waterfalls
- Pailon del Diablo – Devil’s Cauldron is probably the most famous waterfall in Ecuador – $3/pp
- Puyo – Amazonian city about an hour away from Baños.
- Tena – stay in vibrant Amazonian city
Where to Eat:
Lunch By Devil’s Cauldron: Las Hortencias Restaurante – $36 for 3 people
Dinner in Tena: Cafe Tortuga – $15
Drinks in Tena: Iguana Restaurant and Bar – $8
Where to Stay in Tena:
Hostel Los Yutzos – $54 ($27pp for room with AC)
Day 3: May 28, 2017 [Blue]
Destinations:
Termas de Papallacta – A hot spring and spa resort in the middle of the Andes. – $22 hot spring/pp, $50 massage/pp
Quitsato Sundial, Cayambe Lat O°O’O” Equator – a sundial located exactly on the equator – $2/pp
Otavalo – known for their daily street markets. Staying the night here.
Where to Eat:
Lunch outside of Papallacta: $25 for 3 people
Snack in Pichincha: Bizcochos – $6 for 3 people
Dinner in Otavalo: El Jalapeño – $10
Where to Stay in Otavalo:
Hotel El Indio – $58 (4% credit card charge)
Day 4: May 29, 2017 [Orange]
Destinations:
- Otavalo
- Cascada De Peguche – A hike to the waterfall just outside of Otavalo. – $ Donation request
- Laguna De Cuicocha – A beautiful lagoon in Otavalo. Not very crowded and about a 45 minute hike around the lagoon.
- Mindo
- El Quetzal de Mindo – Chocolate making tour – $10/pp
- Mindo Canopy Adventure – Ziplining tour – $20/pp for the full tour
- Quito City
- Plaza Foch – Lively nightlife plaza that includes restaurants and bars
- Spend the night here
Where to Eat:
Lunch in Cotacachi: $15
Dinner in Quito: Azuca Beach – $35
Where to Stay in Quito:
Hotel Saint Thomas – $40 (cash only)
Cost breakdown for 2 people for 5 days:
- Transportation from Quito Airport to Quito City: $25
- Transportation/Guide: $600
- Guide Tip: $75
- Hotel for 5 days: $230
- Food for 3ish people: $170
- Activities: $215
- Parking: $7 (Most excursion parking costs $1)
Estimated spent for 2 people: $1322
click on dates for full itinerary.