ECUADOR TRAVEL GUIDE MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP TO ECUADOR Everywhere you look, Ecuador radiates beauty. During your stay you will undoubtedly be amazed by the country’s rich culture expressed majestically through entities like historic cities and churches. You will also be stunned by the beautiful coast lined with extraordinary beaches that flaunt diverse flora and fauna. From having these incredibly well-preserved historic cities and abundant beautiful beaches to providing an amazing array of adventure sports, Ecuador simply has so much to offer. And finally, please don’t forget to sample the country’s flavorful and diverse cuisine that varies so vastly from region to region! 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Trip Essentials............................................................................. 4 Staying Safe...................................................................................6... What To Pack...............................................................................7 Day Trips and Tours....................................................................8.. .. Popular Destinations ................................................................. 13 The Coast Of Ecuador.................................................................1.9 Dining ............................................................................................23 Travel App.................................................................................... 27 3 TRIP ESSENTIALS CLIMATE Ecuador is known for having one of the most diverse climates, you should therefore be prepared for both cold and warm weather as the temperature can range from 48°F to 75°F ( 9°C to 24°C). CURRENCY The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Ecuador. Ecuador does have its own coins (which are identical to U.S. coins except they bear images of Ecuadorians) but U.S. and Ecuadorian coins are used interchangeably. The 1$ coin is very ELECTRICITY widely used! Ecuador’s electrical current (110 volts, 60 cycles) is the same as North America’s. Adapters for North American equipment is therefore not necessary, but plug converters (from two to three prongs) can be necessary in older buildings. STAY CONNECTED Ecuador’s country code is +593. To call an Ecuadorian number from an international phone you must dial +593 and then the full Ecuadorian phone number. TRANSPORTATION Cabify and Uber are hugely popular in Ecuador, especially in the big cities of Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca.Taxis are also cheap and available everywhere. 4 TRIP ESSENTIALS WATER Many places claim to have potable tap water but tap water in Ecuador is NOT safe to drink. SUNSCREEN Ecuador is on the equator (hence the name), and that means it’s closer to the sun. In other words: you should put sun- screen on any bits of skin that are exposed, no matter where you are, no matter if it’s TIPPING cold or cloudy. As with most places in the world it is normal to tip in restaurants if the service was reasonable and the food good. A tip of 10% would be adequate. Tipping is not expected in bars, but you may opt to leave small change. You do not tip taxis in Ecuador. You pay the fair that is displayed on your meter. ALTITUDE Be aware of altitude sickness. Especially if you fly directly to Quito, which is about 9,000 ft above sea level, you might not feel too great for a few days until you get used to the altitude. There are over the EMERGENCY counter meds for this, which may be 911 works from any telephone in Ecuador but helpful, but staying hydrated and and this service is very different from the 911 taking it easy exercise-wise is usually the service in North America. Ecuador’s 911 is best remedy. more of an emergency “information” service. For emergencies in Ecuador dial: 131 – Medical Emergency 102 – Fire Emergency 101 – Police 5 STAYING SAFE THEFT Be careful with speaking on the phone in the street, as your phone can be snatched even if you hold it tight. The same can be said for showing other expensive possessions like jewelry, cameras or money. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Avoid public transportation. It costs only 25 cents to take a bus within the city. However, it does get packed; this makes it easy for pickpockets to rob you without you even noticing. WALKING Look confident when walking and have a general idea of the spots you will visit before leaving your hotel.Be aware of walking around after dark. That doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all the time, but be aware of how to get to places without walking. The Historic Center can be specially unsafe after dark. DRIVING Unless you are comfortable with driving in crazy traffic you should avoid driving in Ecuador. People take chances, do sudden turns, and don’t follow the rules of the road. Also be aware even though there might be a green light for the pedestrians to cross the street, cars won’t necessarily stop. The trick here is to cross whenever there are no cars around TAXI SCAMS It is common for yellow taxis to skip using the meter while driving tourists around. They are required to use the meter and if they refuse when you ask you should avoid taking that taxi. You should never jump in a taxi with another passenger in it. 6 WHAT TO PACK *Dependent on activities MEN WOMEN Comfortable shoes appropriate Comfortable shoes appropriate for restaurant dinning for restaurant dinning Sturdy shoes or hiking boots Sturdy shoes or hiking boots A pair of sandals A pair of sandals Long slacks to wear out A skirt or dress to wear in restaurants A few pairs of casual slacks A few pairs of long casual slacks Shorts A few pairs of shorts A selection of golf/t-shirts A few casual short sleeve blouses A few long sleeve casual shirts A few long sleeve casual blouses A dress shirt A smart blouse A sweater or light jacket A sweater or light jacket A rain poncho A rain poncho A belt A belt A few swimsuits A few swimsuits A few pairs of socks A few pairs of socks A pair of sunglasses A pair of sunglasses 7 DAY TRIPS & TOURS For additional tours and information, please contact: [email protected] 8 DAY TRIPS & TOURS COLONIAL QUITO CITY TOUR Discover the best-preserved old colonial town of Latin America and its exceptional churches such as La Compañía, the gothic Basilica, San Francisco, and more. Visit the Plaza Grande where you will find the Presidential Palace, the Major’s Office, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit “Fray Pedro Gocial” art museum known for its beautiful collection of Arte Quiteño, inside the San Francisco convent. MITAD DEL MUNDO Go to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument which the French Geodesic Expedition designated the center of the world based on planet calculations. Don't forget to take a picture with one foot on each hemisphere, and then check out the Ethnographic Museum, and the attractions at Mitad del Mundo Complex. Then finish your tour at the Intiñán Museum where you can see various demonstrations of natural phenomena manifested in the equatorial zone such as gravity and balance. 9 DAY TRIPS & TOURS OTAVALO MARKET Visit South America's largest indigenous market, the Otavalo Market. Be prepared to explore the market and shop and bargain for colored textiles and handcrafts. Also explore Cotacachi, a small nearby town known for its leather products. On the way you can enjoy some Bizochos which are Cayambe's famous biscuits. PAPALLACTA HOTSPRINGS Travel from the hotel to Papallacta's natural hot springs. They are located in a valley a couple of miles from the airport. You should absorb the beauty of the ecological reserve while treating yourself to a well- deserved natural hot springs bath. BIRD WATCHING IN MINDO Take the road towards Mindo, located 52 miles away from Quito. Explore one of the worldwide hot spots for birdwatching at the Mindo cloud forest. Keep your eyes wide open and your camera ready - the most unique bird species will show themselves to you in full splendor. 10 DAY TRIPS & TOURS HORSEBACK RIDING & HIKING IN THE ANDES After breakfast we will head South, towards the Avenue of the Volcanoes, until we reach one of the traditional Haciendas near Cotopaxi. Here you will experience a typical horseback adventure. We will ride in the Ecuadorian Andes and admire the natural forest and landscapes near the Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the equator. Back at the Hacienda, you can enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch and relax in the farm facilities. In the afternoon enjoy a short hike in the Cotopaxi National Park. GOLF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD Go play golf at one of the exclusive golf clubs near the hotel. The course is stunning! You can play eighteen holes while enjoying the beauty of the course and the surrounding environment. After you play, you should indulge in the club's extremely high quality food! Package includes: • Golf Clubs Rental • Golf cart rental • Lunch in the Club • Practice balls (25 to 30) • Game balls (5) 11 DAY TRIPS & TOURS THE BOTANICAL GARDEN GUAYASAMIN MUSEUM Drive to Quito ́s Botanical Garden that is home to 5,000 plants of 500 species from the country's many different ecosystems. You can also visit the former house turned museum of the famous painter Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919–99). In this outstanding museum you will discover the most complete collection of Guayasamín’s work and his vast collection of religious art, such as pre-Columbian ceramic, bone and metal pieces. TRAIN TO EL BOLICHE COTOPAXI PARK In the morning, board the southbound train from Chimbacalle Train Station that will take you to the Avenue of the Volcanoes. During the trip, you can admire the Machachi Valley and mountains such as Cotopaxi (5.897m), the highest active volcano in the world. We will enjoy the cuisine and culture of the chagras, who are Ecuadorian cowboys. Once you arrive in El Boliche, we will return to Machachi for lunch and visit a beautifully kept farm home of native and exotic animals.