The 10 Best Things to Do in Ecuador
Ecuador boasts magnificent wildlife diversity, vibrant colonial cities and majestic avenues of volcanoes. With such a wealth of experiences on offer in this Latin American gem, you might find yourself pondering what to include in your itinerary.
In this guide we pick the 10 best things to do in Ecuador to help you plan an unforgettable holiday. We suggest three weeks in Ecuador so you can really do it all, and if you’re still deciding how long to allow, our guide to how long you need in South America will help.
Written by Sam, Travel Differently’s founder and Ecuador and Galapagos specialist
Originally published 16th February 2024. Last updated 15th October 2026
Ecuador in Four Regions
Ecuador is small, but its regions feel like different countries. Here is where each of the 10 sits:
- The Andes: colonial Quito, Cotopaxi National Park, the Quilotoa Loop, Andean culture and craft trails, working haciendas and the Avenue of the Volcanoes
- The Amazon: jungle lodge stays
- The cloud forest: birdwatching
- The Galapagos: a cruise or island hopping
1. Take a Tour of Colonial Quito
One of the best things to do in Quito is a colonial tour of the city, which includes a chocolate-tasting experience, as the country is famed for producing some of the best cocoa in the world. Wander around colonial Quito, discovering the treasures hidden along its cobblestone streets.
Its charming maze of whitewashed walls is home to botanical gardens, buzzing plazas and stunning historic churches complete with steeples and cupolas. Quito has one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America.
On your private tour you’ll visit the main plaza to see the Government Palace, and several of the most significant churches, which date from the 16th and 17th centuries. After dipping your toe into some of Quito’s finest architecture, head to the city’s most iconic colonial street, La Ronda, where you can learn about the day-to-day life and livelihoods of the people who live in the city. You’ll also have the chance to see the legendary Our Lady of the Panecillo statue, which sits on top of a 200-metre-high hill overlooking the city.
To top off the trip, join a guided tour that teaches you about the country’s rich cocoa-making heritage, and enjoy a chocolate tasting.
Explore Quito, then go birdwatching, hiking and on to the Galapagos on our Active Adventure Holiday , 17 days from £4,300pp
2. Explore the Amazon from a Jungle Lodge
Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest, known as el Oriente, is exceptionally rich in biodiversity and covers a large part of the country’s land area. It is home to over 300 species of mammal, including three-toed sloths, capybaras and tapirs.
With so many fascinating creatures to find, exploring the rainforest is one of the most exciting things to do in Ecuador. You can explore the lush jungle landscape on foot, and may spot everything from monkeys to turtles and parrots to caiman.
To add to the adventure, you can stay at a lodge deep in the forest, which lets you immerse yourself in the landscape and its wildlife. Speak to our experts about including a stay at one of the lodges below in our tailor-made Amazon and Galapagos Wildlife Holiday. (14 days from £5,600pp)
La Selva Lodge
Situated within the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, La Selva Lodge is a great base for exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon. It has 19 sleek staterooms in the heart of the rainforest.
Napo Lodge
Napo Lodge lies deep within the Amazon wilderness. To get here, you take a 2-hour paddle canoe ride along a narrow creek that leads to the remote lodge. The accommodation is 20 chic cabins, each built along the banks of the lake and overlooking the rainforest.
Sacha Lodge
Sacha Lodge is a plush jungle retreat in the wild landscape of the rainforest. The thatched-roofed cabins are made from traditional materials and sit comfortably within their surroundings. The on-site restaurant, La Balsa, has views over the glittering waters of Pilchicocha Lake, where you can dine while looking out for giant otters, caiman and birds.
3. Go Birdwatching in the Cloud Forest
Birdwatching in the enchanting cloud forest is one of the highlights of any Ecuador trip. The lush forest is home to over 550 of the 1,660 bird species found in the country, and is renowned among birdwatchers as one of the best places for birding in the world.
Here you may see the plate-billed mountain-toucan, Andean cock-of-the-rock and violet-tailed sylph. The landscape is just as incredible as the birdlife, with thick, flourishing vegetation, glistening streams and sweeping views over forest-capped mountains.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there are plenty of lodges to choose from.
El Monte Lodge
El Monte Lodge is a wonderful option, with private riverside cabañas in the heart of the cloud forest. In this exotic oasis you’ll be surrounded by birdsong and the sound of nearby streams.
Mashpi
Mashpi is another fantastic place to stay in the cloud forest. Serving up luxury amid the untamed landscape, this award-winning nature resort is on a picturesque plateau surrounded by forested mountains.
Read more about other unique and B-Corp hotels in South America.
4. Visit Cotopaxi National Park
Cotopaxi National Park lies in a protected area of the Andes and covers 333.9 square kilometres. It is home to the highest active volcano in Ecuador. Cotopaxi stands 5,897 metres above sea level and has one of the few glaciers along the equator. The park spans three provinces, Pichincha, Napo and Cotopaxi, and offers sensational views over the snow-topped slopes of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes.
There is a wealth of hiking trails to choose from. One of the most famous routes is the hike to the José Ribas refuge and Cotopaxi’s glacier, which treats walkers to glorious views over the park’s unique terrain. Cotopaxi is an active volcano, so conditions and access can change, and we’ll always check the latest situation before you go.
While you’re in the park you can also visit the Interpretation Centre to learn about the history of the landscape, its major eruptions and the local plant life.
Visit Cotopaxi National Park as part of our Slow Travel Ecuador In-Depth Holiday , 23 days from £6,400pp
5. Hike the Three-Day Quilotoa Loop
The Quilotoa Crater Loop is a 34.5 km lodge-to-lodge trek that takes you along rolling mountains and arid valleys, with towering volcanoes dominating the sky above. As you journey through remote parts of the Ecuadorian Andes, you pass awe-inspiring landscapes and tiny Andean villages.
Quilotoa is an active volcano that last erupted in the late 13th century. The eruption caused the top of the volcano to collapse and create a 3 km wide caldera, and the crater is now filled with deep blue water, making one of the most incredible sights in the country.
Along the route you’ll stay in charming, locally run lodges perched high in the mountains, a welcome place to unwind after days spent trekking through the Andes. Most of the lodges are run by people who have lived in the area for many years, and they serve delicious, traditional food.
Speak to our Ecuador and Galapagos experts about including the three-day Quilotoa Loop in our Peru, Ecuador and Galapagos Adventure Sabbatical (55 days from £12,200pp)
6. Discover Traditional Andean Culture
Delving into traditional Andean culture is another highlight of any Ecuador trip. Our Slow Travel Ecuador and Galapagos In-Depth Holiday gives guests a slowed-down pace to discover Andean cultures and customs, and there are many ways to do it. Here are some of our favourites.
Visit the Art Galleries of Tigua
Visit the art galleries in the community of Tigua, near Quilotoa. The artwork beautifully captures the folklore of this Andean region, and you’ll quickly pick up the area’s distinctive artistic style. The pieces are often characterised by bright colours and depict key aspects of life in the high Andes: indigenous communities, majestic volcanoes and soaring condors. You can also visit the studio of Tigua’s first-ever painter, Julio Toaquiza.
Visit the Workshop of a Master Weaver Near Otavalo
Miguel Andrango is regarded as one of the country’s leading traditional weavers, and you can visit his workshop in the village of Agato. His family’s products are made from natural materials and dyes
Stay with a Local Family in Otavalo
A homestay lets you lodge with a local family and experience what life is like for people living in Otavalo. The city is famed for its indigenous population, many of whom make their living selling handicrafts and playing Andean folk music.
Follow the Craftsman Trail from Cuenca
The Craftsman Trail is the route between the traditional settlements of Gualaceo and Chordeleg. Both villages are nestled within the Andes and have glorious views over the dramatic landscape. Along the way you’ll meet local families who make textiles in the way of the Cañaris (the pre-Inca inhabitants), and visit the workshops of local jewellery makers, guitar makers and orchid farms.
7. Experience Life at a Working Hacienda
Immerse yourself in authentic Ecuadorian heritage by visiting a working hacienda. These homesteads offer a unique insight into a fascinating part of the country’s history. Here are two of our favourites.
Zuelta
Zuleta is a 17th-century hotel and working farm that was once owned by former president Galo Plaza Lasso. It has stunning antique rooms and a plethora of activities, including horse riding on Zuleteño horses, hiking along mountain trails and mountain biking through the valleys. The food is some of the best you’ll find in any hotel in Ecuador.
La Danesa
La Danesa is a family-owned working hacienda in the country’s coastal region, a one-hour drive from Guayaquil. The estate has swathes of cacao and sugar plantations, an apiary and an orchard. Guests can trot through the landscape on a quarter-pinto horse, try their hand at beekeeping and go river tubing through the lush landscape.
8. Road Trip Along the Avenue Of Volcanoes
A road trip along the Avenue of the Volcanoes is another unforgettable way to see the Andes. Named by the legendary explorer Humboldt, it is a corridor lined by snow-capped volcanoes, many of which are still active.
Nestled along the avenue is Toachi Canyon, a steep valley enveloped in lush tropical forests and farmland, with indigenous villages. Whether you choose a self-guided journey or an organised tour, a road trip is a great way to discover the diverse and captivating landscapes of this part of Ecuador.
Our Slow Travel Holiday to Ecuador is the perfect trip to include the Avenue of the Volcanoes, 23 days from £6,400pp. Speak to our experts to find out more.
9. Take a Galapagos Cruise
A cruise around the Galapagos Islands is often hailed as the best thing to do in Ecuador, and for good reason. The islands are one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, with an array of rare and unique creatures found nowhere else.
Wildlife residents include marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises, and a cruise is an ideal way to discover the archipelago in all its glory, as it lets you experience the diversity each island has to offer. To see what life on board is really like, read our first-hand Galaxy Sirius review, and for help choosing between a boat and a land-based trip, see our guide to cruise vs island hopping.
Looking for some luxury in the Galapagos? Explore our Ecuador and Galapagos luxury holiday , 14 days from £9,550pp, or our Responsible Galapagos Islands Cruise (11 days from £7,100pp).
10. Go Island-Hopping in the Galapagos
IIf you don’t fancy a cruise, you can choose a land-based island-hopping trip. You explore different islands during the day and return to your accommodation on land each night. Whether you’re prone to seasickness or simply prefer terra firma, it’s a fantastic way to discover the archipelago.
On your trip you can explore the likes of North Seymour, home to nesting blue-footed boobies and large colonies of frigatebirds. Santa Fe Island is another great addition to the itinerary.
Read more about activities and wildlife in the Galapagos Islands, and see how it works in practice on our Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure (8 days from £2,720pp).
Frequently Asked Questions
Our 10 favourites are a colonial tour of Quito, a stay in an Amazon jungle lodge, birdwatching in the cloud forest, Cotopaxi National Park, the three-day Quilotoa Loop, discovering Andean culture, a night at a working hacienda, a road trip along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a Galapagos cruise and island hopping in the Galapagos.
We suggest three weeks if you want to experience all of these highlights. We don’t typically suggest fewer than 14 nights in South America, and our guide to how long you need in South America explains what each length of trip allows.
Ecuador can be visited all year round because its regions have different seasons. The Andes are generally at their driest from June to September, and the Galapagos has its own seasons, which our guide to the best time to visit the Galapagos covers month by month.
Ecuador is known for its wildlife diversity, including the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon, its well-preserved colonial centre in Quito, its avenues of volcanoes and its cocoa.
Yes. In the Amazon you may see three-toed sloths, capybaras and tapirs, the cloud forest is a haven for birdwatchers, and the Galapagos is home to marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises.
Yes. Many itineraries combine the two, and our tailor-made Amazon and Galapagos Wildlife Holiday does exactly that.
Building Your Ecuador Itinerary
There are so many brilliant things to see and do in Ecuador, from one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America to one of the most biodiverse places on earth. A natural way to build a trip is to start in Quito and the Andes, add the Amazon or the cloud forest, and finish in the Galapagos, where a cruise or a few days of island hopping make a fitting finale.
You can see how this comes together on our Peru, Ecuador and Galapagos Adventure (22 days from £5,950pp) or our Ecuador, Galapagos and Colombia Adventure (21 days from £7,700pp), and you can browse our full range of Ecuador and Galapagos holidays, which take you to the best areas of the country including Quito, the Galapagos and the Amazon rainforest.
Planning a trip to Ecuador and wondering what to include? Speak to our Ecuador experts about your tailor-made holiday.
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