Ecuador will seduce you more than you think. It seems the tiny country has it all with 15,413 ft volcanoes leering out across entire regions, colorful street art decorating every wall, endemic species just waiting to be seen, deliciously cheap street food, and natural beauty unmatched. The three weeks I had planned on spending weren’t nearly enough, so I ended up spending seven uncovering unique things to do in Ecuador.
Tourists fly straight through on an express trail to the Galapagos, but give Ecuador the time it deserves, and you’ll find some things that can’t be experienced anywhere else in South America. Check out some of our Ecuador highlights that you won’t find in your guidebook.
51 Fun + Unique Things to do in Ecuador
Very Ecuador Experiences
1. Climb the bell towers at Basílica del Voto Nacional (Quito)
2. See the city on two wheels for the bi-weekly Ciclovia (Quito)
3. Cheer on Nacional at a club soccer game (Quito)
4. Check out the street art decorating just about every wall (Anywhere)
5. Explore the local (and made in China) handicrafts at the sprawling Otavalo Market ($67) (Otavalo)
6. Laze for the day in one of Quito’s urban parks (Quito)
7. Ride horses in the foothills of Cotopaxi ($114) (Cotopaxi) 
8. Work on your Spanish (Montañita)
9. Learn to milk a cow and experience local life on an indigenous farm stay (Cotocachi)
10. Stay in the machai rooms of Hacienda el Porvenir for a unique sleeping experience (from $206) (Cotopaxi)
11. Learn about ayahuasca and becoming the trees with a local shaman (The Amazon)
12. Go to a show at Cafe Democratico for a taste of Quito’s indie music scene (Quito)
13. Check out Chimborazo — the world’s highest point above earth’s center (The Andes)
14. Experiment with all the local fruits (Anywhere)
15. Chill out on one of the city’s many rooftop terraces to take in the view (Quito)
Eating Ecuador
16. Join the locals for lunch with very cheap merienda (Quito)
17. Grub on all the local specialties at Mercado Central (Quito)
18. Eat the best street food in Ecuador (Otovalo / Everywhere)
19. Dine on ceviche fresh out of the sea (Montañita)
20. Play roulette with the many delicious [or at least delicious looking] desserts of Ecuador (Anywhere)
Drinking Ecuador
21. Hit the clubs in La Mariscal for a very local night out (Quito)
22. Order a $3 passion fruit mojito in Cocktail Alley (Montañita)
23. Grab an ever-elusive IPA at Bandito’s Brewery or taste all the city’s craft brews on a beer tour ($50) (Quito)
24. Stay up all night at Lost Beach Night Club (Montañita)
25. Drink a strong order of canelazo — a sweet little cocktail of aguardiente, naranjilla, and cinnamon (Quito)
Getting Outside in Ecuador
26. Climb past the TeleferiQo to summit Rucu Pichincha (Quito)
27. Hike around the rim of the massive crater lake, Laguna de Cuicocha (Cotocachi)
28. Watch the whales migrate off the coast (Puerto Lopez)
29. Gear up for a two-day hike to the summit of Cotopaxi ($210) (Cotopaxi)
30. Go mountain biking on a downhill-only trail (Baños)
31. Rent a board and experience the surf on the Ecuadorian Coast (Montañita)
32. Save loads of money by taking a last minute cruise around the Galápagos Islands (Galapagos)
33. Or, venture to the Galápagos on a land-based tour for more wildlife than you’ve ever seen before (Galapagos)
34. There will be boobies! Check out the budget Galápagos alternative if money is still too tight for a Galapagos trip (Isla de la Plata)
34. Ride class 5 Rapids down the Rio Pastaza (Baños)
36. Become a modern-day Snow White with hundreds of butterfly species (Mindo)
37. Go the long way to Laguna de Quilotoa on the Quilotoa Loop Trek (Quilotoa)
38. Swim with the pirañas (The Amazon)
39. Seek out monkeys, dolphins, and anacondas by canoe ($374) (The Amazon)
40. Set up camp along the river and check out the stars (The Amazon)
41. Find a parrot clay lick to observe one of the world’s greatest natural phenomenon (The Amazon)
Into hiking? Explore more: The 15 Best Treks in South America
Ecuador Events + Festivals
42. Head to the cemetery with a glass of colada morada for Día de los Santos (The Andes)
43. Take to the streets for the parades and theater of the International Festival of Performing Arts (Loja)
44. Experience the Spanish-style bullfights of Foundation of Quito Day (Quito)
45. Get sprayed with milk at the Mama Negra festival (Latacunga)
Love festivals? Discover more: 21 Weird + Unique World Festivals
Keeping Ecuador Weird / Just Because
45. Take an overnight bus ride and get patted down by the narco police (Anywhere)
46. Look like an idiot on a Chiva (party bus) waterfall tour (Baños)
47. Hop in the bed of a camioneta for a truly exhilarating travel experience (Anywhere)
48. Navigate your way to Peru or Colombia by bus (to Peru or to Colombia)
49. Stay high and experience full on altitude sickness (Anywhere)
50. Have a taste of your first house pet with a plate of guinea pig (Andes)
51. Befriend the street dogs and take them on as trail guides (Quilotoa)
40 Cheapest Countries to Travel to on $30 a Day or Less - Eternal Arrival
December 31, 2016 at 12:21 am[…] By Taylor and Daniel of Travel Outlandish While many people skip out on Ecuador for lack of a Galapagos budget, those who take the time to explore the mainland are in for a time. With a jungle full of wildlife, a coastline blessed with perfect waves, modern cities, and culturally rich mountain towns, it seems there’s something perfect for any type of traveler.So what makes Ecuador so affordable? A backpacker can get by on just $20/day without cutting too many corners! With dorm rooms costing as little as $5 and private rooms starting at $12, it’s easy to stay as long as you want in the smaller towns, and easy enough to navigate the cities. Menu del dia — the set lunch menu — will only run you $2-$3, and beer is even cheaper at $1 per big bottle. While the busses aren’t the comfiest we’ve ever used, tickets come in cheap at about $1-2 per hour of travel. Adventures are easy to find with lots of free treks, cheap bike rentals, and full day trips starting at $20. Even the most costly of endeavors (like a trip to the Amazon) can be had for as little as $60/day. If you’re looking for amazing nature and an altogether wonderful place to travel in South America, be sure to take the time to experience all the unique things to do in Ecuador! […]
40 Cheapest Countries to Travel to on $30 a Day or Less - Eternal Arrival
December 31, 2016 at 12:24 am[…] While many people skip out on Ecuador for lack of a Galapagos budget, those who take the time to explore the mainland are in for a time. With a jungle full of wildlife, a coastline blessed with perfect waves, modern cities, and culturally rich mountain towns, it seems there’s something perfect for any type of traveler.So what makes Ecuador so affordable? A backpacker can get by on just $20/day without cutting too many corners! With dorm rooms costing as little as $5 and private rooms starting at $12, it’s easy to stay as long as you want in the smaller towns, and easy enough to navigate the cities. Menu del dia — the set lunch menu — will only run you $2-$3, and beer is even cheaper at $1 per big bottle. While the busses aren’t the comfiest we’ve ever used, tickets come in cheap at about $1-2 per hour of travel. Adventures are easy to find with lots of free treks, cheap bike rentals, and full day trips starting at $20. Even the most costly of endeavors (like a trip to the Amazon) can be had for as little as $60/day. If you’re looking for amazing nature and an altogether wonderful place to travel in South America, be sure to take the time to experience all the unique things to do in Ecuador! […]
Ecuador Backpacking Route: How to do Nine Days for under $400
January 8, 2017 at 8:40 pm[…] {Read More: 51 Unique things to do in Ecuador} […]
Climbing an Urban Volcano: The Rucu Pichincha Hike - Travel Outlandish
January 26, 2017 at 2:54 pm[…] 51 fun + unique things to do in Ecuador […]