A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Ceviche de camaron, shrimp ceviche in tomato sauce; very different from Peruvian style
- Llapingachos, stuffed potato cakes with cheese, served with salsa and peanut sauce
- Seco de pollo, slow-cooked chicken with beer and spices
- Cuy (roasted guinea pig), traditional Andean delicacy, especially in Otavalo region
- Ecuador produces the world's finest cacao, chocolate here is extraordinary
- Inti Raymi (June 21–24), Inca sun solstice festival celebrated in Otavalo
- Carnival with water, unique tradition of throwing water balloons and buckets
- Galápagos Islands, the laboratory of evolution; Charles Darwin's inspiration
- Indigenous markets in Otavalo, one of Latin America's most vibrant craft markets
Spanish is official; Quichua (Kichwa) is spoken by Indigenous communities. English is spoken in Galápagos and major tourist areas.
Ecuador uses the US dollar. The equator passes through the country, you're literally at the center of the world.
- Respect Galápagos wildlife strictly, stay on trails, no touching animals
- Indigenous textiles from Otavalo market support communities, buy authentically
- Tipping 10% is appreciated in tourist restaurants
- Altitude varies dramatically, Quito at 2,850m can cause altitude sickness
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Updates for Ecuador will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.