HOW FAR AHEAD SHOULD I BOOK MY TRIP TO ECUADOR?

From the surf beaches of the Pacific coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the Galapagos Islands and the humid Amazon Basin, Ecuador serves up epic travel experiences throughout the year and has a number of different climates for such a compact country. Compared to its enormous neighbors, of Peru and Colombia, Ecuador offers a taste of South America on a smaller scale. However, with such wildly differing environments, the timing of the busy and quiet seasons can vary widely depending on which part of the country you visit.  Here is some important information about planning a trip to Ecuador.

 

Hummingbird, Guango

Ecuador´s Dry and Wet Seasons

 

Dry Season

Ecuador's high season falls in the South American winter – an ideal time to explore the magical highlands of Ecuador. If you've dreamed of picking through tribal fabrics at the Otavalo market, trekking the multi-day Quilotoa loop, or strolling with grazing llamas at the Ingapirca archaeological site, this is the time to come. Though the temperature fluctuates a great deal from morning to night – and changes markedly as you gain altitude – this season is verdant and the highlands are full of life. Thanks to the drier weather and the North American and European summer holidays, this is a busy time for tourism, with correspondingly high prices. Plan ahead and book early for travel at this time of year. Dry season in the Amazon Basin means low water levels and excellent conditions for spotting colorful birds and other active wildlife, with less risk of getting soaked in the process.  During the drier months of October and November, you’ll be able to traverse the jungle without so much boot-sucking mud, avoiding the curtains of heavy rain that descend on trekkers at other times of the year. This is also a good time to visit the Central Highlands – you’ll beat the crowds during this slow season, with the added bonus of lower prices for accommodations and tours.

 

Sunbathing Sealion

Wet Season

Characterized by warm, sunny days with some tropical downpours in the afternoons, the wet season is actually a good time for expeditions to the Galapagos Islands and spending time on the beach. You may b asking why visit the beach in the rainy season?  While showers are frequent, the rain doesn’t last long, and when the sun comes back out the air feels cleansed and refreshed. Along the coast,  wildlife-watching, diving, and snorkeling are enhanced by calm seas and excellent water clarity. This is also the prime season for surfers to enjoy consistent northwest swell at surf spots such as Montañita. January is the wet season, but Ecuador still sees plenty of sunshine on the coast. Be sure to book ahead for coastal accommodations, as coastal towns will be crammed with surfers and sun-worshipers. This is also high season for trips to the Galapagos, while the Amazon is hot and dry, meaning good conditions for wildlife spotting.  Book well ahead for transport and accommodations during Semana Santa (Holy Week), which can spill into April. At other times of the month, you'll find lower prices across the country. It’s still rainy in the highlands, but it's worth enduring a little wet weather to experience Quito’s processions on Good Friday.

Rainy Season in The Andes

High Season 

In the thick of the high season, prices are higher and more travelers are out and about in the highlands, but it’s a brilliant time to trek the Quilotoa loop or to check out Parque Nacional Cotopaxi during its low season. High season is still in full swing, but beaches remain muggy. Notable festivals include the Fiesta de la Mamá Negra in Latacunga, a joyous syncretization of Catholic, indigenous and African elements. Another lively event is the Fiesta del Yamor, a Kichwa harvest festival taking place in Otavalo.

 

Cushion Covers, Otavalo

Plan Ahead

Planning your travel itinerary might seem easy at the very beginning and even easier if the destination where we are heading to is a small city in a small country such as Ecuador. It is very common to see the destination as pretty much the only important factor when it comes to traveling. This is true indeed, after all the will and the desire are the two main things you need to know if you want to travel somewhere else.

Anticipation and thinking ahead are always two key factors that we should not discard. Even though you may find eventually some premium discounts and offers, these are not always granted. Quito and Ecuador are very unpredictable travel destinations, hence it is super recommended to keep up the planning beforehand. First of all, you will not only be ensured where you will be sleeping that night but you will also be able to visit the best places and even some that are not over the top and overrated.

 

Christmas Iguana

 

By having your preferred locations to visit, you can now determine a common area where you would like to stay at night. From our personal experience, I would recommend you to stay at a hotel in the downtown area as the historic center of Quito is pretty much located in the center of everything. That way it will be very easy for you to get around the city and go to your cool places and even to others of which you were not aware of.

In order to find good rates and good variety while you are not in your destination, it is a good option to look at different booking engines or online travel agencies such as Booking.com, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, etc.

Apart from hotels, it is very important to check if there are some museums where you can pre-pay ahead of time. It may be commonly seen to have your entrance tickets pre-paid and even though this is strongly recommended as an advantage for you, it is not really necessary as the lines to the museums are from short to non-existent. Furthermore, when it comes to prices, these are relatively low with tickets varying from $1 to $6 (which is not even common to see).

 

Blue-Footed Boobie Eggs

There are however some things that are very important to be booked prior to your arrival such as transfers from the airport to the hotel, special tours that need to be paid for ahead of time in order to be arranged, or some events that you are willing to attend during your stay. In cases like these, I would recommend you to do these pre-bookings ahead of time.

Despite all of the vast information you will find on the internet and in many books, tour travel agencies will always be more experts than us. It is simple, they know all of those website articles that you have probably read about, and even more, because they know the destination itself. Meaning that they will even be more aware of those new places that have just opened and are so awesome but not as known as those on the web engines. In addition to all those recommendations they will make to you, they will arrange the best itinerary for you according to your likes and preferences. It is almost granted that they will set you up with a really nice rate, professionalism, and a wonderful overall experience.

 

Ecuadorian Hammocks

 

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