Exciting things to do in Ecuador
It might be one of the smallest countries in South America but Ecuador is definitely not lacking in fabulous things to do and see. Here are just some of the diverse options you can consider on your tailor-made holiday.
When to go to Ecuador
Ecuadorians talk about the weather almost as much as the British! Why? Because it’s very changeable. So, while you should always expect unexpected weather, the driest months of the year are June to September in the Andean regions. In the rainforest, expect rain any time (unsurprisingly!), though the wettest months tend to be around April/May. The Galapagos is a year-round destination. Read on for more detail about when to visit Ecuador.
Read more


Ecuador holiday: Andes & Iguanas
12 days from £5400pp plus international flights.
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, cloudforest and Andean scenery. Twelve exciting days you'll never forget!
- Visit Otavalo on market day
- Explore flora and fauna of the cloudforest
- Get close to wildlife in the Galapagos Islands
- Go kayaking and snorkelling
Places to go in Ecuador
Read about the highlights of this incredible country in our short summary guides to the main places to go.
View more
Ecuadorian Amazon
The largest and most famous remaining tropical rainforest on earth harbours a vast diversity of flora and fauna and is one of nature’s treasures.

Ecuador’s Cloudforest
The cloud forest has an atmosphere all its own, misty and humid with gnarled trees, colourful blooms, waterfalls and hundreds of species of birds.

Cotopaxi and Avenue of the Volcanoes
Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world, is part of the famous avenue of volcanoes in Ecuador’s rural heartland, ideal terrain for hiking and horse riding.

Cuenca and the Southern Highlands
The history and culture of the city of Cuenca combine with the natural beauty of Cajas National Park and the intriguing Inca ruins at Ingapirca.
Places we love to stay in Ecuador
Here you’ll find a small collection of our favourite places to stay in Ecuador, though as an independent tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays, we actually sell a much wider choice of Ecuadorian properties than we show.
View more
Hacienda Manteles
Ecuador

Hacienda Zuleta
Ecuador

La Mirage Garden Hotel and Spa
Ecuador

La Selva Amazon Eco Lodge and Spa
Ecuador

Napo Wildlife Centre
Ecuador

Patio Andaluz
Ecuador

Plaza Grande
Ecuador

Sacha Lodge
Ecuador

San Agustin de Callo
Ecuador

Santa Lucia Hotel
Ecuador

Casa Gangotena
Ecuador

Hacienda Piman
Ecuador

MV Anakonda
Ecuador

Mashpi Lodge
Ecuador

Chilcabamba Ecolodge
Ecuador

Hotel del Parque
Ecuador

Hacienda La Danesa
Ecuador
Facts and information
Flight time
There is an international airport at Quito and at Guayaquil. KLM and Iberia have routes via Europe to both cities. The flying time is about 14 hours. It is also possible to fly via America.
Language
Spanish is Ecuador's official language.
Time
GMT -5 hours
Visas
Not required for British travellers. Other nationalities should obtain advice from their embassy.
Health
There are no compulsory vaccinations, except yellow fever if visiting the rainforest. Malaria prophylactics are also recommended in the rainforest.
Read more in our Tribes blog
The Tribes blog brings you regular articles written by our specialists, travellers or partners and conservationists in our destinations. We have a big collection of articles now, so have a mooch to find some interesting short reads.
Explore more
In the Tribe: Face-to-face with Marcus Rutherford
Artist and lawyer Marcus Rutherford has travelled with Tribes eight times since 2013 - and always to Tanzania.

Barefoot Woman
The historic Kaalvoet Vrou (Barefoot Woman) statue stands proudly in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains.

A Nature Adventure in Mainland Ecuador
When our guests travel with us to Ecuador it's normally via Quito to the Galapagos Islands, but I wanted to see what else there was.