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For the tourist in Ecuador, this article is designed to give you just a few ideas as to what you can do and where you can go to have an exciting and fun trip.
Your safety can be the determining factor in how much you enjoy your stay, so take all necessary precautions. Traveling in groups is a good idea; never travel alone, if you can help it. Keep your belongings on your person, within the waistband of your pants or beneath your clothes. You can buy a travel belt, which is a flat, often zippered "belt" of sorts that clasps around your waist beneath your clothing. This is where to store your money, passport, and any other important items to be kept on your person. Displaying your money or important items is not a good idea. Also, if you need to check a map, duck into a discreet place, like inside a store or café. Do your best not to look like a tourist, mouth agape and staring about with a camera hanging from your neck, as this will make you appear to some as an easy target for theft. ANY TIME YOU TRAVEL, keep your things as close to you as possible, and keep an eye on them. On buses, don't let the driver store your bag in the outside compartment. It could easily turn up missing that way. True story: a tourist hangs his sleeping bag out to air on the balcony of his hostel room, and when he goes back for it, it has disappeared. Someone had to climb like a monkey to get to it, but it did not matter.
Wherever you go, try and speak Spanish, or convey your message through gestures and any means necessary. It would be unfair to assume that everyone should speak English. Ecuadorians are warm, it seems, to any polite attempt to convey your meaning, even if you don't speak the language well. Familiarizing yourself with a few key words and phrases before visiting will really help facilitate communication.
Set up a home base. Quito is a great place, as it is an enormous city in northeast Ecuador where you can find almost anything you need, and it hosts an airport and a major bus station to provide you with travel options. Pick up a city map at one of the tourist shops on Calle Amazonas, the main street of downtown Quito, and familiarize yourself a bit with the arrangement of the city. It is much longer than it is wide, and is nestled amidst nine volcanoes. Find the bus station and the trolley (it runs straight down the middle), and from there you can pick your destinations. Taxis, also, can take you anywhere you need to go (you may want to settle on a price before you get in so it will be non-negotiable when you get there).
Hostels are generally less expensive than hotels, and can provide a unique experience. Cafecito, located downtown near the major action hub dubbed the "Mariscal" for the name of its main street, is a really good one and reasonable. It boasts a fantastic atmosphere of Ecuadorians and tourists alike, as well as excellent food and a well-lit, safe walking distance from Quito's nightlife. Quito is a fun place to spend a few days, as it is an incredible mecca of history, diversity and culture. You can visit ancient churches, art museums, open markets and any kind of café, bar, or restaurant you desire.
Ecuador is divided into three main regions: el oriente, la costa, and la sierra. El oriente is the eastern inland jungle region, la costa is the coast which lines the west, and la sierra is the mainland, where the Andes, as well as many volcanoes and plains, occupy the land. Your safest (and easiest) travel will be in the mainland and on the coast, as these areas are accessible and not prone to border wars or malaria. Trips into the jungle should be organized and researched, as these are the trips that bring you closer to the borders and farther away from civilization. Ask a travel agency to help you arrange your trip if the deep jungle is a place you wish to go.
Definitely visit the famous city of Otavalo, an entire town of artisans selling their wares with convenient hostels, hotels and eating places conveniently located throughout. The incredible handiwork of the Otavalenos is made evident in a range of artistry from jade pipes to hand-knit alpaca sweaters. This open market is truly amazing. When buying something, remember that bargaining is expected, but try not to go over the line and take advantage of the artisan by bargaining him or her down below what you feel the item is worth. Their livelihood depends on what they are able to sell.
Ecuador's coast is definitely worth a trip. There are tons of nice locations for having a good time and relaxing in the sun. I would recommend Atacames, to the north. It is a wonderful, tiny coastal town with open, thatch-roofed cabana-bars lining the beach and delicious seafood cuisine. Ask around at the different hostels to find a good price for the night. When you find one that suits your pocketbook and your comfort level, park your things and head out to the beach. As with anywhere in Ecuador, make sure you're watchful of your surroundings. A hostel near the beach, where most of the action is located, will assure that you don't have far to walk when it grows darker outside. This is a casual town, and flip-flops or bare feet are acceptable attire almost anywhere you go. The cabanas on the beach serve up an incredible array of drinks, both alcoholic and non-, all with the freshest fruit you may ever have tasted (pina coladas can be served in a coconut). Atacames is a great place to relax, sit back, and enjoy the smell of the ocean and the taste of incredible food and drink. Weekends are its most active time, and a festive mood pervades the beach. During the week it the mood is more mellow, as it is not overrun with tourists and local teens from neighboring towns.
Papallacta is a tiny town enclosed by mountainous and lush terrain, with pools of water warmed by the natural volcanic heat under the ground. It is famous for these pools, which are about an hour and a half from Quito by bus. There are lockers where you can put your things, and changing rooms with showers. This is a nice day trip, although there are a couple of hotels in which you could stay the night.
Climb something. There are 39 volcanoes in Ecuador. They are fascinating to climb. Choose one depending on your fitness level, remembering that if you are inland, you are very high above sea level, and probably unaccustomed to the altitude as it is (Quito lies at over 10,000 feet). Give yourself time to adjust and acclimate before venturing on a potentially taxing trip. The extinct volcano Imbabura, not far from Otavalo, is a great day hike if you start early. For guidelines on approaching any area you choose to climb, pick up a hiking guide for Ecuador or locate the place in a tourbook.
Ecuadorian cuisine is fantastic. If you like seafood, you will find it unparalleled in the coastal towns. Ceviche is the national dish, and is a cold gazpacho-like soup composed of shrimp or seafood, lemon, onion, achiote (annatto), and a few other special ingredients. Cuy is guinea pig, which usually comes roasted. Try it depending on how brave you feel and the strength of your stomach. Llampingachos are a fantastic hot food - they are hot cakes composed of potato, cheese, and achiote. Meals are relatively inexpensive, as is the national beer (cerveza), called simply, "Pilsener".
Try some of the different fruits and juices. Definitely step out of your comfort zone on this one - the juice is so fresh and exotic. Always ask, with anything composed of or washed in water, if the water is clean or pure - "agua pura" or "agua hervida" (boiled). If it is not, it isn't safe for you to consume. Buy any drinking water. It is available at any of the many small convenience stores in most towns.
As I mentioned before, I have made only a few suggestions. My best recommendation is to invest in a good tourbook for Ecuador, such as the Lonely Planet or Let's Go! guides. They can provide you with exact details of how to get different places, as well as current places to stay and things to do. You will find extensive descriptions that will help you make your decisions regarding what you would like to see and do. Ecuador's regional climates and specific recommendations for immunizations are also included in such guides.
It would be difficult to convey in a few words how fantastic and diverse is an experience in Ecuador. There is so much culture, history, artwork, geography and lifestyle to explore, and the people of Ecuador are every bit as beautiful and diverse as the terrain on which they live. I wish you a wonderful trip. Buen viaje!
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