r/TravelEcuador

Hello! Looking to spend 6 weeks in Ecuador in November/December 2026. I've done a lot of backpacking throughout south America and all over Mexico. I'm not *overly* concerned about safety in Ecuador because I think a good handful of risks can be mitigated with common sense (knowing which towns and which parts of town to avoid, don't be too flashy, caution with transport, don't be out late at night alone, etc... ).

I'm curious to hear form other travellers who have been there recently - what was your experience like safety-wise? Did you feel like your experience was impacted by political climate (eg heavy military presence, road checks...) and curfews in certain cities?

I’m a 24m Mexican American travelling to Ecuador in a couple of weeks. I’ll be flying in and out of Guayaquil and staying with an Ecuadorian friend there, so I’m outsourcing most of the safety precautions to him in that city. However, I’m also gonna do solo excursions to Baños and Cuenca, hoping to take the bus to and from Guayaquil to get the both. Please give me bus dos and don’ts as far as companies to book, times of day to go, etc

I am looking to book a private room at Secret Garden Cotopaxi for my partner and I for our anniversary, and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to what would be best to book, since I have not been there before. We are looking for whatever option may be the most private and romantic. If anyone who's been there before could share their insights it would be greatly appreciated! I heard someone say that in some of the private rooms you are not able to stand up fully but am unsure if that's true or not. I know there are private cabañas, the hobbit houses, and the bird houses as options. Thank you for any insights!

We're currently backpacking through south America and it'll be our first border crossing, we heard a lot of different things and we're wondering what's the situation here right now. Is it ok to cross the border by bus from ipiales to Quito ? Do we have to prepare some stuff or anything else ?

We saw a lot of different information on internet, but nothing really fresh. Thanks for the answers !

Edit : we're leaving Columbia at the end of July

Hi! I’ll be staying in Quito for only 3 days and I’m honestly overthinking where to stay 😅

I found this Airbnb that looks really nice (good reviews, nice interior, etc.), but since I don’t know Quito at all, I have no idea if the location is actual y convenient or safe.

I mainly care about:
-safety
-easy transportation (mostly Uber)
-being somewhat close to good food / nice areas to walk around

This is the place I’m considering: airbnb.com/h/quito-suite301

Would you stay here? Or is there another area you’d recommend instead?
Thanks!

I'm considering booking a 5-day (4 night) tour in Ecuador with Cuenca BesTours and would appreciate any feedback from people who have traveled with them. Or recommendations for another company who offers tours along this route (Cuenca to Quito).

The proposed itinerary starts in Cuenca and ends in Quito, including Ingapirca, Riobamba (1 night), Baños, an Amazon rainforest experience (Puyo - 2 nights), Quilotoa Crater Lake, and Cotopaxi National Park (1 night). The company describes it as a mix of Andean culture and scenery, waterfalls, rainforest nature and culture, light hiking, and volcanic landscapes.

Has anyone booked with BesToura? How was the experience in terms of organization, accommodations, transportation, and overall value?
For those familiar with Ecuador, does this itinerary seem like a good way to experience both the Andes and the Amazon in five days?

We are also going to take their shuttle from Guayaquil airport. Any experience with a different provider?

I'd love to hear recommendations, things you would change, or highlights I shouldn't miss.
Thanks!