ECUADOR Recommendations

QUITO
The 411 - This beautiful + well-preserved colonial capital, and Unesco Heritage Site, is an interesting place to wander by daylight though it's pretty sketchy at night. The new town is where all the evening action lays with dance clubs + international cuisine.

OTAVALO
The 411 - There's a great + totally photogenic local market where women from the countryside converge to sell their wares. Take a boat ride in the nearby volcanic lake + wander the surrounding countryside. I was even lucky enough to catch a village bullfight when I was there.

AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES
The 411 - You'll definitely need to make an acclimatization trek before attempting to summit any of the big ones. I chose to do a 3-day to the Quilotoa Crater area which was not much of a challenge, but incredibly scenic and could be turned into a longer, more relaxing village experience in it's own right. I'd recommend trying to get higher than this though (El Altar looks stunning and might be a good bet) as my Cotopaxi push was VERY tough and I made it with only 20 minutes to enjoy the summit. I'd do it again in a heartbeat though as watching the sun rise, illuminating mountains and volcanoes peeking above a sea of clouds in the distance was unforgettable! Once at the summit, the views of the smoldering crater of Cotopaxi itself at 5,987 meters with at least a dozen volcanoes and mountains visible from the clear 360 degree view was AWE INSPIRING, to say the least! Chimborazo base camp is also a possibility, and this even in just a day trip if you've been at any altitude. All gear + guides are available to hire in Latacunga and will save you money instead of booking in Quito.


THE AMAZON
The 411 - There are several possibilities here, but I opted for the Cuyabeno preserve near the Columbian border. We saw LOTS of different species of monkeys and birds on our many canoe rides. Also, an anaconda, caiman, pink dolphins, a few species of frogs, a tarantula in our camp, Indian villages, a local Shaman, learned alot about medicinal plants, caught a small piranha, swam in an Amazonian lagoon (very scary considering all the dangerous animals) and made a couple new friends. Pretty action-packed for a 3-day trip!

BANOS
The 411 - A small town in a pretty setting where you can enjoy walks, an erupting volcano, and relax in your pick of thermal baths.

RIOBAMBA/DEVIL'S NOSE PASS

The 411 - An unforgettable train ride that passes through some magnificent scenery that you admire from your rooftop perch.

CUENCA
The 411 - Another beautiful colonial city where you can easily while away a few days soaking in the architecture and strolling around.

VILCABAMBA
The 411 - This chill, little village in the proclaimed "Valley of Longevity" is a good base for day walks.


RECOMMENDED 2-3 WEEK ITINERARY -
Fly into Quito (2-3 days) to explore and book onward trips to the Amazon or Galapagos (3-5 days). Make sure to allow some time for Otavalo (2-3 days) for market day before continuing south to Latacunga, your base for jumping off into the Avenue of Volcanoes. You'll need extra time in the area to acclimatize + climb your peak of choice (5-8 days). After, enjoy some time soaking in the baths at Banos (2-3 days), or heading to the coast before heading back to Quito and home. Add in the Devil's Nose Pass (1 day) + Cuenca (2-3 days) if you have extra time.

APPROXIMATE COSTS (For Low Budget Travel)
Room - $3-8/1p
Meal - $1-3/pp
Beer - $1.50
Visa - 90 days FREE

What's to Like?
From stunning mountains to the steamy Amazon to the world-renowned Galapagos, there's action-packed adventure. Add with that a vibrant indigenous people and preserved colonial heritage and you'll get your fix of culture too.

What's Not?
The adventure trips can only be done through an agency and they use the U.S. dollar, so if you're planning on a few activities it'll cost you a bit more than do-it-yourself destinations. Don't let that frighten you away though because it's truly worth every dollar.

Will you Starve to Death?
Lots of potatoes again, but the quinoa is a nice change. Cities like Quito + Cuenca can satisfy every food craving and some do an exceptional job.

Will you Dig It?
Guaranteed.

Check the "link" for photos of Ecuador