All you need to know before visiting Ecuador

Budget

Prices in Ecuador are very affordable.

• In Quito, prices for private rooms for two start at 10 USD (8.6 EUR).

• Food prices are generally low. A budget dinner costs somewhere between 3 and 8 USD (2.6 – 6.9 EUR). To save money on food avoid eating in tourist areas.

• Transportation costs are low in Ecuador. Public transportation fares in Quito vary from 0.25 to 0.35 USD (0.21 to 0.3 EUR). A 12-hour international bus ride from Quito, Ecuador to Tumbes, Peru costs somewhere between 21 and 51 USD (18 and 44 EUR).

• Prices for a 4-day Amazon adventure start at 290 USD (246 EUR). Prices include a bungalow for two with a private bathroom, a bilingual (Spanish-English) tour guide, transportation (in our case: Lago Agrio – Cuyabeno – Lago Agrio), three meals a day, tea, coffee, and purified water (available all day), various activities and excursions, rubber boots and life jackets and a 24/7 assistance.

To save some more money, check out our Budget cutting tips.

Where to stay

You can find great accommodation options on Booking. Make sure to search for private rooms popular for romance. 😉 On Airbnb you can rent furnished apartments – those are usually cheaper than most hotels and they offer you the real Ecuadorian experience.

Best time to go

The weather in Ecuador varies by region and altitude. On the coast, high season is from December to April, in the Galápagos from January to May and elsewhere from June to September. Weather-wise, these are the best times to visit Ecuador. However, tourist places tend to get somewhat crowded and prices a bit higher this time of year.

Other information

♦ Planning and preparation: check out our planning routine here.

♦ Packing: check out the honeymoon adventurers’ ultimate packing list here.

If you are planning to take an Amazon jungle tour, make sure to pack a pair of sunglasses, a flashlight, a rain poncho, perhaps some zip-lock bags to keep your clothes/equipment dry, swimsuits, comfortable waterproof clothes and walking shoes, a strong mosquito repellant, long trousers and long-sleeve shirts to protect you from insects, biodegradable shampoo and soap, an extra water bottle, and of course sunscreen. Binoculars may also come in handy, to get the most out of your birdwatching experience.

♦ For other travel tips check out Travel like a pro, Travel for couples, Honeymoon styles, Honeymoon activities, Responsible tourism, and Travel resources.

♦ Language: The official language in Ecuador is Spanish. Check out the typical travel vocabulary (in English) here. Learn useful travel phrases in Spanish here.

♦ Currency: United States dollar (USD)

♦ Visa or other entry requirements: All visitors to Ecuador are required to have a valid travel document. Citizens of most countries do not require a visa to enter Ecuador for up to 90 days, but there are some exceptions. For more information check out their official website.

♦ Electricity standards: The power plug types in Ecuador are A and B, the standard voltage is 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.

♦ Time zone: UTC-05:00 in mainland Ecuador and UTC-06:00 in the province of Galápagos

♦ Immunization recommendations and requirements: There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Ecuador. However, it is recommended to get travel vaccines and medicines for tetanus, hepatitis B, typhoid, hepatitis A, rabies, yellow fever, and malaria. To prevent malaria avoid mosquito bites. Currently, Zika virus is a risk in Ecuador.

♦ Health and safety tips:

You should always make sure to follow the usual travel safety precautions:

• Leave your jewelry and other valuable belongings in the hotel safe.
• Keep your emergency cash apart from the rest of your money.
• Dress comfortably and carry only the items you will need for the day.
• Don’t carry a lot of money.
• Always make sure to lock your room before leaving the hotel.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Stay in well-lit areas.
• Try to maintain a low profile and do your best to fit in.
• Carry a travel wallet/money belt/money pouch for carrying money and documents safely.
• Avoid contact with potential scam artists.
• Avoid showing off valuable belongings (like cameras) in public.
• Don’t count your money in public.
• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times.

For other common safety concerns in Ecuador, check out Lonely Planet’s safety tips. For common health concerns check out Lonely Planet’s health tips.

To stay healthy while traveling, check out our health travel tips.

• Tap water in Ecuador is generally not safe to drink. Drink bottled or filtered water instead.
* Always make sure to reuse a water bottle to cut down on waste.

• Ecuador is an equatorial country – the sun is very strong there. Therefore, always make sure to use sunscreen.

♦ Local Customs: Ecuadorians are friendly, polite and conservative. Good manners go a long way in Ecuador. Address strangers with usted instead of tu. When entering a room, it’s customary to say hello to everyone (buenos días or buenas tardes). When meeting someone personally a friendly handshake is customary; friends kiss on one cheek. Solo female travelers tend to get a lot of male attention. There is no particular dress code required on the streets of Ecuador. Avoid wearing a bikini elsewhere than on the beach. Revealing clothes and sloppy attire may be frowned upon. Do not flush toilet paper down the toilet – the plumbing generally can’t cope with it. Pointing at people with your finger is considered impolite.

Check out top things to see and do in Ecuador, as well as top romantic experiences and adventures here.