Apr 24, 2025
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Tailored Ecuador trips

Ecuador

Travel Guide

Ecuador’s cities make colonial history come alive. In the Andes you can see glimpses of the indigenous culture, woven into the handmade textiles. We can find you guides to take you through wild national parks — venture through the breathtaking Sierra highlands and the steamy Amazonian jungles. Join a cruise to see the volcanic islands of the Galápagos, and see the land that inspired Darwin while traveling in style.

Destinations

Find your joy

Not sure where you want to go yet? Get inspired and browse the best places to visit in Ecuador

Quito

Quito

In Quito, you can walk down a sunny city street and take a step back in time. According to UNESCO, Quito’s Old Town is the “best-preserved historic center” in Latin America. Historic tours here will take you to some gorgeous Spanish cathedrals. Quito is Ecuador’s capital city, as well as a sophisticated metropolis with a thriving art scene and high-end cuisine. Travelers here are spoilt for choice with places to stay — browse collections from renovated colonial mansions or cutting edge contemporary hotels, along with plenty of options for families and budget travelers. Take a city tour that stops at the Mirador de Panecillo, which offers a sweeping view of the massive city. Just outside of Quito, you can take some of the country’s most breathtaking hikes to places like the Cotopaxi Volcano and the Mindo Valley.

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Guayaquil

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and, at first glance, the one most likely to overwhelm the senses. It’s a younger city than Ecuador’s colonial destinations, and brims with the potential of the next generation. Get your bearing with a stroll along the Malecón 2000, a waterfront walkway lined with a variety of modern shops and restaurants. Nearby, you can check out the local art scene in the Las Peñas neighborhood, where you can stroll past historic homes and browse attractive galleries. Leave from this port town for whale watching tours off the coast of Salinas. Guayaquil is also the setting off point for flights and cruises to the Galápagos. The majority of accommodations here are modern, upscale, and beautifully appointed.

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Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

If you're planning a trip to the Galápagos, chances are good that the bustling island of Santa Cruz is on your itinerary. But this isn't just a place to spend the night — it’s also home to some of the top attractions in the Galápagos Archipelago, like the tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station and the white-sand beach of Tortuga Bay. Santa Cruz’s landscape is full of surprises, like the sinkholes called “Los Gemelos” and the lava tunnels near the research station. Take a walk into the highlands, which are a different world from the tropical beaches. These contrasting environments in a relatively small area are part of what make the Galápagos so compelling. Just because you're on a volcanic rock in the middle of the ocean doesn't mean you can't splash out. This island is home to some of the most opulent accommodations you can find in the Galápagos. Of course, you may opt not to stay on shore for long — lots of cruises depart from here, taking you to the more remote islands where you can see the incredibly rare wildlife that make these islands famous.

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San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal’s main town, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is an easygoing port town that lets you visit a number of the Galápagos’ remote diving and birdwatching hotspots with ease. Staying here puts you a bit off the beaten path from the main traveler hubs like Santa Cruz. There are just 6,000 residents here, and meeting locals and frequenting local businesses gives you a bit more insight into what life in the Galápagos is really like. You can book pleasant accommodations along the waterfront, where you'll find most of the action in town. Besides the nearby attractions, the island has its own beaches and hiking trails that are easy to access from the city center. Popular tours that leave from the bay take you to places like Isla Lobos, which is known for its populations of sea lions, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Kicker Rock is one of the top diving and snorkeling attractions in the area, with its incredible diversity of surrounding marine life.

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Baños

Baños

Baños is named for the many geothermal baths at the base of the Tungurahua Volcano. Besides the many steamy pools, this area is surrounded by forests that rush with cascades and swift-moving rivers. Travelers come here for the spas as much as the zip-lining, rafting, and canyoning. Tours here can also introduce you to some of the indigenous community and a landscape unlike anywhere else. While you're here, you can also plan a hike along the Waterfall Route to see the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall. Find rooms here that feel like nicely appointed cabins in the woods. These offer a cozy place to retire from the lush, volcanic landscape.

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Trips to inspire

Browse some of our Ecuador itineraries

Get excited and browse our selection of our favorite hand made tours from Ecuador. From romantic honeymoons to family-fun; these are completely flexible and arranged to your needs.

7 days | $$$

Everything We Had Hoped For

I loved using Anywhere Ecuador for this trip! We had a fantastic time. I gave a four out of five because we had some logistical challenges with our day trips and getting back to the airport.

Everything We Had Hoped For
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9 days | $

Touch the Clouds, Trek The Amazons

Need a family adventure that will have everyone discovering the beauty of the world instead of looking at screens? You'll love this expertly crafted Ecuadorian getaway!

Touch the Clouds, Trek The Amazons
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9 days | $$$

Ecuador Unplugged: The Galapagos

Forget the digital world. This vacation is all about the natural world! Explore the Galapagos Islands; see countless plants and animals thriving as nature intended.

Ecuador Unplugged: The Galapagos
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9 days | $$$

Nature Off the Screen

If your travel goal is to show your family the natural world, then this is the vacation you need. You’ll get outside, explore amazing destinations, and see animals in their natural habitat.

Nature Off the Screen
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10 days | $$$

We Journeyed Together—Ecuador Bound

It's the first time in a while that our whole family got to experience new things and nature together. We’re blown away by what Ecuador has to offer.

We Journeyed Together—Ecuador Bound
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12 days | $$$

Slow & Steady Highlights

It was a great family vacation with our teenage son –– exploring the beauty of Ecuador and spending New Year's there too! We planned last minute but Anywhere saved the day!

Slow & Steady Highlights
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14 days | $$$

It Was Hard to Say Goodbye

Ecuador is a beautiful country from Quito all the way to the coast of Guayaquil. It is definitely a must. Percy was amazing in helping us plan our trip, as I must have changed my itinerary about a million times. Even when I had questions during our trip he was right there ready to help and took care of everything. Now, there are no words to describe our driver, (which we were lucky to have for 9 days) Ricardo. He was professional, friendly and went above and beyond to help make our Ecuador experience one to remember. It was sad to say good bye, but one thing is for sure when we plan our next trip to Ecuador we will be asking for Ricardo again.

It Was Hard to Say Goodbye
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About Ecuador

Ecuador is located on the northwestern edge of South America, between Colombia and Peru. And as the name implies, it’s right on the equator.

Ecuador has a diverse landscape, from its rolling alpine hills to dense Amazonian jungles, azure coastlines, and the Galápagos Islands. Nearly 400 species of mammals and over 1,600 bird species reside here. All of this fits into an area of 109,483 square miles (283,560 sq km), which is roughly the size of Colorado. Ecuador’s small size allows travelers to easily visit different environments during their stay. If you have time, include a trip to the 18 islands of the Galápagos, which are home to wildlife seen nowhere else in the world.

Cities and Towns of Ecuador

Metropolitan cities and quaint towns are scattered throughout the highland valleys and along the coast. Each major city has its own culture, history, and speciality commerce. The bustling capital city of Quito is at the heart of Ecuadorian history and tradition. Guayaquil is known for its nightlife, and Cuenca has a lovely array of colonial churches. No matter what parts of Ecuador you choose to visit, the breathtaking landscape and friendly people ensure that you’ll have rewarding travels.

Ecuador’s Geography & Terrain

Ecuador’s mainland divides into three distinct regions — the Andes, the Amazon Basin, and the coast. West of the coast you’ll come to the volcanic archipelago of the Galápagos. You’ll find that the climate varies widely from one region to the next.

Climates of the Coast and Sierras

Ecuador’s coastline spans 1,390 miles (2,237 km) from Peru to Colombia. The southern coastline has swaths of mangroves. Head north and the coast eventually transitions into a drier climate, with white sand beaches and intense surf. Temperatures can range from 75°F (23.8°C) to 85°F (29.4°C) throughout the year. December to April brings clear skies to the coast, while the rest of the year it is often blanketed in cloud cover.

The Sierras region is subdivided into northern, central and southern regions. In Ecuador, the Andean peaks gives way to majestic, widely spaced volcanoes. The surrounding foothills are likely where you’ll spend the majority of your time. Sierras have elevations ranging from 6,000–10,000 feet (1,828–3,048 m). Temperatures here range from 60°F (15.5°C) to 45°F (7.2°C). Generally, the higher up you are, the colder it will be. The Sierras’ rainy season lasts from January to June, and the dry season lasts from July to December.

Climates of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos

Further east is Ecuador’s Amazon basin, which has a hot and humid climate. The Amazon Basin is home to only 3 percent of Ecuador’s population, meaning much of the region is still regarded as a wild and uninhabited place. The elevation is considerably lower here, with few places higher than 1,500 feet (457 m). Temperatures range from 77°F (25°C) to 84°F (28.9°C). Because this region gets over 200 inches (508 cm) of annual rainfall, be sure to pack a rain jacket if you plan to visit the Amazon.

The Galápagos Islands lie 600 miles (965 km) off the coast of Ecuador. This archipelago has 18 islands and a handful of other rock outcroppings. The temperatures here range from 75°F (23.8°C) to 85°F (29.4°C), usually mirroring conditions on the coast. The dry season lasts from June to December, but both air and water temperatures are cooler during this time of year.

Historical Overview

Ecuador’s relatively small size and roughly 15 million inhabitants make it South America’s most densely populated country. As such, Ecuador has often struggled to balance its economic, social and environmental priorities. Its government has a tumultuous past, with over 80 major changes in the regime since the country gained independence from Spain in 1830.

In the last few years Ecuador’s government has seen some major improvements. Social spending has increased tremendously, with over $16 billion spent on education and healthcare. The poverty rate has dropped from 42 percent in 2005 to just 25 percent in 2013.

Society & Economy

Ecuador is a representative democracy. The current president, Rafael Correa, has enacted sweeping social reforms, focusing on welfare programs and education since taking office in 2007. He was re-elected in 2013, a victory that proved that his liberal spending policies were well-received. In recent years, relations between Ecuador and the United States have been strained, mostly because of tensions stemming from oil drilling by U.S. companies in Ecuador’s Amazon. In 2011, Ecuador expelled the US ambassador amidst accusations of corruption. Despite these tensions, the US remains Ecuador’s largest trading partner.

Powering Ecuador’s economy is a vast wealth of natural resources, the most important of which is oil. Other major exports include bananas and seafood products. Crude oil production accounts for roughly 30 percent of the GDP. This revenue has helped fund the public spending initiatives. Oil is, however, also a major point of contention in Ecuador. Environmental and indigenous-rights lawsuits are increasingly challenging drilling practices.

Cultural Makeup of Ecuador

Ecuadorian people come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Indigenous groups first settled the region some 15,000 years ago. In the 16th century, Spaniards arrived, mostly as conquistadors. Like many other South American countries, Ecuador’s population has a mix of Amerindian and Spanish heritage. This interracial, or mestizo, population makes up nearly 72 percent of the total population. Throughout the Sierras and in much of the Amazon, Amerindians make up 7 percent of the population. Along the coast, a prominent Afro-Ecuadorian population accounts for another 7 percent.

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