OVERVIEW
Ecuador is the smallest country in the Andean region and as its name suggests, sits happily on the Equator. The size of the country doesn't make it any less amazing, however! The country is blessed with the Andes, the jungle and even some beaches, for good measure! They say great things come in small packages! With the cities being typically colonial, the Amazon rainforest at the base of the incredible Andes, and the small Afro- Ecuadorian towns this tiny country is not short on different activities, cultures and things to do! Ecuador has a Southern border with Peru, an Eastern border with Colombia and a pacific coastline. Its geographical regions can be defined by mountain region made from 2 mountain chains, the jungle region of the Amazon basin, the white sandy coastline and The Galapagos Islands offering a home to many aquatic and species. Ecuador's location on the Equator means that the weather all year round is tropical and humid. The ethnicity is mainly indigenous, especially in the mountain regions and most people consider themselves "mestizos" being a mixture of native and Spanish descent. A small part of the population are Afro-Ecuadorians in the North, who are descents of the African slaves. Historically the country was ruled by the Incas and then conquered by the Spanish in 1532. The Spanish ruled for over 300 years and Ecuador officially gained its independence from the Spanish in 1822. Subsequently, there have been a few wars with Peru up until 1942 when a treaty was signed. Now Ecuador is a democratic country yet still has internal conflicts which are usually to do with subsidies and taxes of international investors and the government even had to move its congress to Guayaquil from Quito. Still, there are signs that it will return to the capital soon. The political unrest does not affect tourism and this tiny country is a highlight on many peoples travels through South America.
Top Rated Tours
Where to go in Ecuador
Highlights in
Best time to visit
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Cuenca | 21°C | 21°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loja | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 14°C | 14°C | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 16°C | 15°C |
| Alausi | 10°C | 10°C | 10°C | 10°C | 10°C | 9°C | 9°C | 9°C | 10°C | 10°C | 10°C | 10°C |
| Esmereldas | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C |
| Santacruz | 28°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 28°C | 26°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Quito | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 19°C | 20°C |
| Rio Bamba | 12°C | 12°C | 12°C | 12°C | 12°C | 11°C | 11°C | 11°C | 12°C | 12°C | 13°C | 12°C |
| Guayaquil | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C |
| Tena | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C |
Travel Facts in Ecuador
- Ecuador is the only country worldwide that is named after a geographical aspect!
- Ecuador has the first two sites in the world to be named UNESCO world heritage sites... (The Galapagos and Quito)
- There is an ongoing border dispute with Peru which has been happening since forever! There is however a bizarre agreement where Ecuador have 1 square mile of Peruvian territory for their army base!
- Ecuador is the closest country to outer space due to a natural bulge at the Equator, making Chimborazo volcano the closest point! (Higher than Everest by 3 km!)
- Charles Darwin based a lot of his theory of evolution from studies on the Galapagos Islands.
- The world-famous Panama hat is actually from Ecuador!
- Ecuador has two time zones
- The native people speak a dialect of Quechua called Kichwa
- Ecuador is number one for the export of bananas worldwide!
Travel Advice
Accommodation
Eating and drinking
Health and Insurance
Safety
Money
LGBTQ
Visas
Culture
FAQs
You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://adventurejourneys.com/news-about-covid-19
We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.
As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.
We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.
Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.
VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.
Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.
Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.
We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.
We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.
We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.
The official currency in Ecuador is the United States dollar (USD). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.
Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.
As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: "Women & Weaving - Sacha Warmi" project to support women from an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Andes and Pan Animalia
a project to improve the quality of life of stray dogs in Galapagos Islands.
Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.
Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature.
The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.
This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests.
For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +593 2 255 8805
At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. For an example of our sustainable projects, visit: https://adventurejourneys.com/pan-animalia/
All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +593 2 255 8805. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com
This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.
This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.
The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.
For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.
In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.
In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.
It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your program.
The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodations which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.
Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaexpeditions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaexpeditions/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vaexpeditions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaexpeditions
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaexpeditions/
You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://adventurejourneys.com/news-about-covid-19
We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.
As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.
We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.
Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.
VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.
Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.
Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.
We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.
We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.
We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.
The official currency in Ecuador is the United States dollar (USD). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.
Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.
As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: "Women & Weaving - Sacha Warmi" project to support women from an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Andes and Pan Animalia
a project to improve the quality of life of stray dogs in Galapagos Islands.
Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.
Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature.
The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.
This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests.
For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +593 2 255 8805
At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. For an example of our sustainable projects, visit: https://adventurejourneys.com/pan-animalia/
All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +593 2 255 8805. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com
This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.
This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.
The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.
For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.
In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.
In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.
It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your program.
The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodations which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.
Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaexpeditions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaexpeditions/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vaexpeditions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaexpeditions
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaexpeditions/