Things to do in Ecuador

What to visit in Ecuador in 7 days

Ecuador gives you a range of possibilities to know, enjoy and relax, it is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and being located on the equator allows you to have multiple climates and environments just a few hours away, so it would be very difficult travel it in a short time; However, we leave you a small guide of places to discover in Ecuador if your trip lasts 7 days in this wonderful country.

• Day 1: Arrive in Quito: Things to do in Quito
  • In the morning tour the Quito historic center
  • In the afternoon the cable car goes up, observe the city from the skies
  • At sunset, visit El Panecillo and watch the city start to light up, letting you see a beautiful landscape
  • In the evening visit Foch Square and have a good craft beer and cinnamon sticks
• Day 2: Visit Mindo: Things to do in Mindo
  • Perform Canyoning in Mindo during the morning
  • And in the afternoon do not miss all the species you can see when doing bird watching
  • Stay to sleep at the Hostería Mariposas de Mindo
• Day 3: Arrive in Baños: Things to do in Baños de Agua Santa
  • Take a ride on Baños de Agua Santa during the morning
  • Visit the Pailón del Diablo in the afternoon
  • Take a picture on the iconic swing of the end of the world
• Day 4: Stand at the closest-to-the-sun spot: Things to do in Riobamba
  • Get to know our villages and art closely at the Convent Museum
  • Visit the Sangay National Park
  • Climb the Chimborazo Volcano and live the experience of being at the furthest point from the center of the earth

• Day 5: Let yourself be dazzled by the warm climate of the Pearl of the Pacific: Things to do in Guayaquil
  • Walk from the glass house to La Perla along the long Malecon Simon Bolivar
  • Climb more than 400 steps throughout the neighborhood of Las Peñas and reach Santa Ana hill to have a spectacular view of the city
  • Meet old Guayaquil and do bird watching in the Historical Park of Guayaquil

• Day 6: Meet the Athens of Ecuador: Things to do in Cuenca
  • Visit the New Cathedral the Immaculate Conception and fall in love with its architecture
  • Then go to El Cajas National Park, and discover its more than 230 lakes among other attractions
  • And stop by Las Flores square
• Day 7: Return to Carita de Dios and say goodbye to Ecuador
  • Visit the monument to the Middle of the World
  • Experience with different activities the amazing thing of stepping on 0 ° latitude in the Intiñan Museum

30 Things to do in Ecuador

Places to know

If you plan to stay in Ecuador longer than just a week, then this list of activities to do will help you, what do you think of doing them all? I dare you to cross out each one of them and in the end tell me if it was worth it or not!

1. Diving with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands

Diving in the Galapagos Islands is an incomparable adventure, diving conditions are governed by six ocean currents, which allow you to appreciate the greatest diversity of marine species, many of them endemic. Galapagos is the second largest marine reserve in the world, it is a place that has the union of cold water currents from Antarctica and the warm waters of the tropics. The mixture of these waters causes a perfect environment for many species; Added to that, it is home to more than 500 species of fish and an impressive number of large sea lions, rays, eels and sea turtles, including hammerhead sharks and the huge whale shark.

2. Know the point closest to the sun in Riobamba

The summit of Chimborazo is the highest point of Ecuador 6,263 meters above sea level and the closest point to the sun in the world, due to its location on the equator, in fact surpassing Everest by 2 meters; It is also the sacred mountain of the Andean peoples and home of the Ecuadorian condor, a bird represented in our National Shield and the Flag of Ecuador.

The Chimborazo at the point closest to the sun in the world, is not only the highest snow in Ecuador, but also the closest point to the sun on the entire planet, in fact it exceeds Mount Everest by 2 meters. The Chimborazo offers you to climb the top of the world, meet Ecuador's last ice maker, a tradition of the place, and live an unforgettable adventure.

3. Take a ride on the Devil's Nose train

Some would be scared to think about living an extreme journey by train, in one of the most representative places of the company Ferrocarriles del Ecuador, the well-known 'Nariz del Diablo' located in the Alausí canton, province of Chimborazo, will show us a magnificent construction of engineering, which is until now the most difficult section of the Ecuadorian train. Get on the train that runs its wrinkles. To enjoy this adventure, you must go to the Alausí canton, in this place a great monument will observe you from above.

4. Stand in the Middle of the World

The Middle of the World City nowadays it is a quite significant tourist attraction for  Quito city, it is also the chance to photograph yourself in the two hemispheres at the same time, level an egg on a nail without holding it, you can also weigh a kilo less unlike other places. In la Mitad del mundo (Middle of the World) there is a monument that refers to the two hemispheres, North and South, separated by the equinoctial line, in this figure at the tip you can see a metal sphere representing the planet earth.

5. Camping in an Amazon Reserve

Francisco de Orellana is a canton where Yasuni National Park is located, a place that offers its visitors many experiences within nature and its tranquility, it is definitely the best place to camp. The park is located between Napo and Orellana provinces, and in fact it is the largest protected area in Ecuador, it enjoys having the greatest diversity of flora and fauna in the country.

6. Diving in a reef of the Machalilla National Park

The lighthouse of the Isla de la Plata reef is located in the Machalilla National Park in the Province of Manabí, on the Isla de la Plata, is accessible at any time of the year, this site is ideal for snorkeling and immersion diving, Given the environmental conditions it has and the temperature of the water, it creates an area full of aquatic life.

7. Mountaineering for a Volcano

Ecuador is a great destination for beginner and expert climbers. Its numerous volcanoes, active and inactive, serve as training for many local and foreign athletes. The highest Andean peaks in Ecuador, perfect for mountaineering, are located on Avenida de los Volcanes, this is a very fertile valley, in the middle of two mountain ranges, the Eastern and Western.

8. Canopy in Mindo

In the San Miguel canton of the banks we can find the town of Mindo that receives tourists with open arms to share its natural attractions, one of its relevant activities is Canopy, where sliding on a steel cable through a pulley and special safety equipment and make different flights according to the tourist motivation and desire, in these flights we can observe the treetops of their different species that inhabit and have an unforgettable and unique adventure through the native forests of the northwest of Pichincha.

9. Take a cultural walk through the world capital of Banana

Machala the World Capital of Banana has an exceptional landscape, and offers a wide variety of parks, in which citizens and tourists can visit quietly. In addition to taking walks in the large banana farms and trying all kinds of food and desserts made from bananas

10. Route of the churches

The churches of the Historic Center of Quito are Baroque and Gothic architectural jewels that have privileged views of the Virgin of Quito located in El Panecillo and that are close to La Ronda Street. Historic Quito is the oldest and best maintained in the colonial sector of South America, it is known for its unique Baroque style, this style can be evidenced in each of the decorations and finishes of the City churches interiors. European influence joined with the uniqueness of indigenous art to create a unique Quiteño style.

11. Sport fishing in Cuenca

In El Cajas National Park, you can do sport fishing, in fact the park has many businesses that are dedicated to this activity, you even find cabin service, typical cuisine and more tourist stuff to do such as hiking, horseback riding or cycling; To give you an idea, el Cajas has more than 235 lagoons, where you can find abundantly trout, whose flavor is irresistible to the native people and foreigners’ taste.

12. Surfing in Montañita

Taking surf lessons in Montañita. It is considered the "Surf City", as campaigns have been strengthened so that the destination is positioned in the world as a place you must visit if you practice or like surfing; The World Cities Surf Network (WCSN), an entity that groups cities with an important activity linked to surfing, added it to its tourist and cultural attractions, which seek to develop the surf industry in their respective territories.

13. Go up 400 steps in the oldest neighborhood of Guayaquil

Climb the more than 400 steps throughout the neighborhood of Las Peñas and reach the Santa Ana hill, the objective is to reach the top to locate yourself in the viewpoint and in that place observe immense river Guayas and Guayaquil city. Besides, the architectural rescue project of the traditional houses of the Las Peñas neighborhood has made the place an important tourism site for the city.

14. Canyoning in Baños

Canyoning Adventure is a sport that consists of descending from a waterfall with a harness, thus feeling the sensation of drops on your face. The experience of extreme sports is irreplaceable, so Baños offers you a number of them to live a different trip, you can do climbing, rafting, canopy, diving. Baños is a tourist destination in Tungurahua province.

15. Fly on hang gliding and paragliding in Canoa

Canoa, is a rural parish that belongs to the San Vicente canton of province of Manabí. Canoa beach is a paradise that offers you many things, such as ecotourism or the best waves for surfers, added to that its geography is perfect for flying on hang gliding and paragliding wings, after jumping from a cliff on the beach. On some flights you can go through a cave that is home to bats, and even blue-footed boobies that can be seen if the tide is low.

16. Iguanas in Guayaquil

Walk among iguanas. The Iguana, is a symbol of Guayaquil, these reptiles live on all sides of the city. If there is a tree nearby, it is most likely home to one or more iguanas and in Guayaquil there is a specific park for them, called Parque Seminario, but commonly known as “Parque de las Iguanas”, where you can walk and being quite close to an iguana, they are already accustomed to people within walking distance.

17. Cuicocha Lagoon

Explore Cuicocha Lagoon by boat. It is a lagoon that is part of the Cotacachi- Cayapas Rerserva that belongs to Esmeraldas and Imbabura provinces. In this reserve there are moors and rivers and even rocky creeks, with large areas of swamp and abundant lagoons of different sizes. It is a very particular and beautiful place that is worth traveling.

18. Jump from a bridge in Baños de Agua Santa

Jumping or bungee jumping is an extreme sport that you can do in Tungurahua province, specifically in Baños. The most popular place to perform the bridge jump is at San Francisco Bridge, which even has a free jump of 80 meters. You dare?

19. Onion Soup

Eat a good onion soup. It is a fish soup (tuna or albacore), which also has yucca and onion, it is also served with chifles (fried plantain), bread or rice. The guayaquileño onion soup is a typical Guayaquil dish, so if you go through the Pearl of the Pacific, a must-try meal is definitely the onion soup. And if you ask yourself, what is the typical dish of Ecuador? The answer will be the onions.

20. Las Peñas

Take a step back in time in the historic Las Peñas the oldest neighborhood in the city of Guayaquil. The name of Las Peñas comes to the neighborhood because its enclave is right at the foot of the rocks in the final foothills of the Santa Ana hill and, how could it be otherwise, this name, emerged from popular wisdom, took hold when in 1912 the Municipality imposed the name of “Numa Pompilio Llona” on its only street.

21. Admire the fauna of the largest park in Ecuador

The Yasuni National Park, located between the province of Napo and Orellana. It is the largest protected area in Ecuador. To give you an idea of ​​why it is considered the place with the greatest biodiversity in the country: there are more than 170 species of mammals, more than 560 species of birds, more than 80 species of reptiles, more than 95 species of amphibians and more than 230 fish species.

22. Swim near the Sharks in Puerto Villamil

Puerto Villamil is the capital of the Isabela Island, it is a port that has a beach of perfect white sand, in which many species of migratory birds are seen, and well enough mangroves and perfect places to dive with many fish and even with sharks

23. Venture to the largest Inca ruins in Ecuador

Ecuador is an incredible destination, which is not only characterized by its biodiversity, you can also appreciate here the ancestral culture that is evident in each place. Not far from the city of Cuenca, you can find the Ingapirca archaeological complex, the ruins were part of a fortress of the Inca civilization. In fact this place was occupied as an astronomical observatory.

24. Sangay National Park

Tour Sangay, in 1979 it was categorized as Sangay National Park, for its great and relevant biology, ecology and also its ancestral culture; in fact UNESCO declared it as "Natural Patrimony of Humanity". This extensive park is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Cañar and Morona Santiago.

25. Observe Birds in the Enchanted Islands, Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands is the perfect place for those who love nature, because this place has species of birds, reptiles and other wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. In fact, 28 of the bird species that live there are native, and better yet, you can only find them on the islands. Birdwatchers can find the cactus finch, mangrove finch, flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, albatross, blue-footed boobies, dark-billed cuckoo, and many more.

26. Coffee Tour in Mindo

Discover the first coffee tour in Mindo and enjoy the organic coffee plantation, its process and the artisanal roasting of the grain. It is an experience that you cannot miss.

27.  La Casa del Árbol (Treehouse) in Baños

Visit the famous tree house in Baños de Agua Santa. It has an emblematic place that is in fact located on the slopes of the Tungurahua volcano, thus causing a seat in the front row to observe the wonderful place, since it is an active volcano, so you can see some smoke in the distance. Also the famous tree house is nothing more than a wooden cabin built very close to a precipice, so when visitors arrive at this place despite the fear of the height they climb the swing and enjoy the incredible experience that everyone should live.

28. Quilotoa Lagoon

One of the most outstanding natural attractions of Ecuador. Its characteristic turquoise color decorates the landscape of this beautiful place in the mountains. In this place you can perform various activities such as trekking, horseback riding, and hiking. Take the chance to do community tourism in this area of ​​the Cotopaxi province.

29. Performs mountaineering in a giant national park, El Cajas

In the Cajas National Park, very close to the city of Cuenca, an immense place offers you an Andean moorland perfect for camping, walking, sport fishing, bird watching and other species. A place where you not only find peace, you can also eat and have all the adventure you want, camping, click tourism, mountaineering and more.

30. Best craft beer places in Quito

Tour and enjoy a good craft beer is possible in Ecuador, stroll through the steep streets of Quito and discover the corners where this exquisite drink is sold. Between narrow streets and slopes of the city they are so beautiful in all corners, with balconies full of geraniums and old buildings that over time have become places of talks, cafes and places of distraction, which are accompanied by a good craft beer

Places for sightseeing

Ecuador is one of the cheapest countries for tourism, see here more information about it