Can anyone help with suggestions for a 3 week trip to Ecuador?

Question

Will be in Ecuador over Easter for a total of 3 weeks.

Any suggestions for must-see places? Activities? Places to stay?
Interested in history, culture and off-the-beaten-track places.

Not planning on visiting Galapagos on this trip.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Otavalo is probably one of my favorite cities! They do have a market (that I actually did not visit) but they also have parades down the main streets that are a must see if you're into culture. My 2 friends and I were the only foreigners watching/participating so it was an incredible experience. Since you'll be there over Easter they'll probably have some sort of celebration on Sunday and if there's not you can always hit up the market!

Mindo is also one of my favorite cities because it's this tiny town nestled in the Amazon. The town is only a street but I could have spent 3-4 days there because there's so much to do. You can hike to many waterfalls where you can take a "refreshing" dip underneath. There's also a butterfly garden and innertubing that's fun. If you come in on a bus, make a left onto the main road and then take the next road left (I'm almost positive it's the next road) and walk past an equivollie court and into the forest a little ways until you see a gate with a hostel and a house on your right (it's a little hidden so I suggest going in the day). It was the nicest hostel I've stayed in and they make the best breakfast I had my entire time in Ecuador (well worth the $5/night)!

Everyone stops at Midad de Mundo (the equator) so if you do so I suggest going to the center of the park and find the travel agency. There's a nice tour to a volcano and later to some ruins that is really interesting. The ruins are not vastly impressive if you've seen lots of them but the guides are really knowledgable so it makes up for it!

If you stay in Quito there's always the historical part of town (you can walk around and see lots of churches, the president's house, and a few museums). Also I wouldn't miss Teleferiqo. Just ask a cab to take you there and you ride a gondola up to the top (warning, it's 14,000 feet above sea level so anything above a slow walk is REALLY difficult). The view is beautiful, just make sure you bring a jacket! If you don't get a chance to see traditional Ecuadorian dancing/clothing there's a cultural festival every Friday night at the mall in the Plaza Historia (next to the President's house, across from the church) that's not quite as good as Otavalo but still pretty good. The Bascillica is VERY impressive and if you aren't afraid of heights I recommend climbing to the very top. The ladders are a little scary but the views are well worth the trip! There's a main bus terminal that you can find a bus to nearly anywhere in the north part of town so before you pay a huge tour bus fee, check it out here (anyone at a hotel will know about the station and basic scheduling).

You can take an all inclusive trek to the Amazon that I enjoyed a lot! There are a ton of tourist agencies in Quito and other cities that offer about the same thing for the same price ($40-$90/day). It was my first jungle trek, but a jungle enthusiast on my tour said it was by far the best trip she had been on! Have fun and if you're ever searching for something to do, just go into a travel agency and find a trip. Some of them you can take yourself without paying the high prices so do a little research before you commit!

Answer 2

The problem with Ecuador is too many things to see!!
I also recommend Termas de Papallacta outside Quito - fantastic thermal baths, Mindo (cloud forest a few hours from Quito) is beautiful walking, bird watching. History/culture buffs should see the central bank museum and Quito colonial center with its churches and museums, the Panecillo in Quito. a bit more off the beaten track - Inca ruins at Ingapirca, petrified forest in the south, drive the Ruta del sol (route of the sun). In Guayaquil see the Malecon 2000 area and the refurbished barrio las peñas. From Guayaquil go to Salinas for the beach life (be sure to eat the seafood!), further north is Montanita a small surf / hippy / backpacker type of place. also see Lake Quilatoa (near Latacunga) - a lake inside an old volcano, the Otavalo market and the surrounding area. Rainforest tour in the Cuyabeno park. Visit Cotopaxi (glacier covered volcano) If you're here for easter look out for religious parades and festivities - there's a bunch across those dates. Hope this gives you some ideas for trip. Enjoy!

Answer 3

I LOVE Ecuador! My husband and I went there twice this year. We are bird watchers, so we do the eco-tourism lodges. There are some wonderful places near Quito. The Tandyapa Valley is gorgeous on the west slope. Mindo is a really cool place. Otavalo has an incredible market. Termas de Papallacta is a spa not far from Quito. The setting is gorgeous.

I would suggest getting the Lonely Planet guide. I used it extensively. Its well worth the price!

Answer 4

There are some buses that you can take to go to the beach - it's beatiful and the water is warm enough to swim in. You should also visit some volcanoes I know that in one place they have pools heated by the volcanoes it's very relaxing! Have fun!!

Answer 5

I think it's really a shame you're not including the Galapagos, it would be my first choice. That place is one of a kind. I know it's expensive, but if I were you, I would reconsider.