Otavalo, Ecuador – more than just South America’s biggest market!
One of the best Quito day trips on offer, Otavalo is an indigenous stronghold, famous for the Otavalo market, an everyday occurrence that’s said to be the largest in South America. Tourists flock in just to see this market in…
Puerto Misahuallí: An accessible slice of the Ecuadorian Amazon
Puerto Misahuallí is a small town perched on the point that Río Misahuallí meets Río Napo. It’s the perfect start-point for some Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest exploration; for a small point on the map, there is a fair bit to go…
If we only had 2 weeks: Ecuador itinerary
As this is a 2 week trip, we assume that you are beginning and ending your 2 weeks Ecuador itinerary in Quito. Please note that if you want to visit the incredible Galapagos Islands, we would recommend a bare minimum…
Top tips for before you travel to Ecuador
So many people told us to avoid Ecuador altogether and go straight to Colombia. For most, Colombia is so great that perhaps anything else is going to feel like a disappointment, and lots of people told us that whatever Ecuador…
Budget for 3 weeks in Ecuador
Ecuador isn’t as pricey as we expected.Our budget for 3 weeks in Ecuador was around £1000, but we spent a mere £860 ($1200) between the two of us. You can still find lunchtime Menu del Días in Ecuador for $2.50-3 which…
Our Ecuador Travel Itinerary
Our plans change a lot during our travels, thanks to transport issues, recommendations or having too much fun to move on yet, but here is our Ecuador travel itinerary, with the actual time we spent in each place during our…
Baños, Ecuador: Land of the countless waterfalls
How to pronounce Baños: BAN-yoss For most people visiting Ecuador, their favourite place is a toss-up between Montañita or Baños. For us, Baños had so much more to do and see. A town built up primarily by tourism (historically domestic…
Quito | Ecuador’s mountainous centre of the earth
How to pronounce Quito: KEE-toh The city of Quito is a colonial beaut. Though Cuenca set some very high standards, Quito’s architecture is truly amazing. A brief walk around the old town will have your jaw dropping. That being said,…
Montañita & Ayampe | Ecuador’s Surfing Paradise
Surfers’ paradise! Travellers flock to Montañita, Ecuador, for sun, waves and partying all year round. Parties flood onto the street & music pours out onto the beach until the early hours on Fridays & Saturdays, when long-haired travellers & local…
Gateway to the Galapagos: Guayaquil, Ecuador’s riverside beating heart
How to pronounce Guayaquil: g-why-ah-KEEL (or drop the ‘g’ for a super-local spin) We can’t lie, the vast majority of Guayaquil city is uuuuglyyyyyyy (please tell me you said that in the voice of the Lion King hyenas too?!). The…
Cuenca, where Ecuador’s ancestral roots & colonial culture collide
How to pronounce Cuenca: KWEN-cah What a gorgeous city! We really recommend a quick break in Cuenca if you have time, and if you have even more time, you can go further south to Loja where you’ll find eco-efforts and…
The Beer Guide: Ecuador
Ecuador can be roughly split between the Lowlands of the coast and the Highlands inland. These two geographies have produced very different ways of life and mindsets – which filters through into food and beverage too. Interestingly, the pretty, historical…
