Ecuador Tours and Traveling in Ecuador

Step number 1

Experience Ecuador’s diverse regions. During your trip, you can visit the Amazon basin in the Eastern region visit the Yasuni ITT, trek in the Andes at Cotopaxi National Park, shop at the markets in the highlands near Otavalo, Cayambe, learn to surf on the coast at Montanita, Puerto Lopez, Machalilla and of course you need to visit the Galapagos Islands.

Step number 2

Book are alwasy a great help when you are traveling, get a guidebook. There are some like the Lonely Planet, have practical travel information, particularly if your Spanish is uncertain or rusty. For Ecuador, where tourist information can be scarce, the “Getting There and Away” section on each city is extremely useful. Consulting these sections will give you a basic understanding of connections and prices for buses, taxis, domestic flies to and from other popular destinations.

Step number 3

 It is a good idea to have some basic understanding of Spanish. Although many tourist establishments have English-speaking staff. In other hand taxi drivers, bus drivers, and the mayority of Ecuadorian citizens often speak only Spanish or limited english. If you are planning to be there for several weeks, try to take Spanish lessons in Ecuador; there are many spanish school  for one on one private lessons for about $4 to $6 per hour.

Step number 4

Build flexibility into your plans. Ecuador like other countries in the region of South America are a bit more flexible on their schedule, which means activities may or may not happen on time; this could include of bus schedules. Be prepared sometimes to be 1 hour off schedule.

Step number 5

Use flights for long-haul trips and buses for shorter journeys. Most of the transportation in Ecuador is done on buses that do not have bathrooms or air conditioning. It is adviced to take buses for the mayority of your traveling in Ecuador, for longer trips, for example Quito to Guayaquil, Quito to Cuenca,  buy an airline ticket, you can find very cheap flights on local airlines.

Step number 6

Learn about taxi fares. You could avoid being overcharged, just by asking your hotel staff about the standard rates. Before getting into a taxi, agree on a price with the driver, or you have to make sure the driver is using taximeter.

Step number 7

Find newer accommodations online. As Ecuador’s popularity is growing, newer hotels, hostals, Bed and Breakfast are being opened, so please use the internet to find great deals. Finally, in Ecuador “motels” are mostly used for romantic encouters, not for long staying.

Step number 8

Practice travel safety at all times. Even though the recent government is making big efforts to decrease poverty, you still need to be carefull. When sightseeing, go with minimal amount of cash. Place credit cards, passport, and other important items locked in your hotel’s safe, particularly in Quito or Guayaquil that are the largests cities. Keep a firm hold on your camera, and loop the strap around your wrist when taking photos. On buses try to keep your purse, bad, backpack in front of you, so you can hold it safely with your arms and try to sit by the window to ensure a disembarking passenger does not walk off with your luggage. On the bus, never place things in the racks above the seats, where they become an easy target for theft; instead, have your small bags in your lap all the time. Female travelers, especially those with blond hair, should be prepared for extra attention; guys are like in Italy and they will make comments of you at the street, so the best way to deal with unwanted comments is to ignore them.

Enjoy your travel