TASTE OF ECUADOR

TASTE OF ECUADOR

A 9-Day ITINERARY through
Quito's Volcanoes, Cloud Forests,
and Monkey-filled AMAZONIAN Roofs

Among the intertwined cultures of South America, Ecuador certainly has a unique and fresh taste. As globalization makes all countries and cultures appear similar, Ecuador has a different aspect thanks to its proud bond to the traditions, remote location and few frequent flights.
Some people may think that which Ecuador trip can be complete if you do not go to the Galapagos Islands; they have a point, but we are quite satisfied with our trip in inland Ecuador.
It was amazing to admire Quito, a city squeezed between the highest vulcanoes, to participate in a ritual of aura cleaning in the central market, to discover what a cloud forest is and how enjoyable can be bird watching in Mindo, to see toucans flying and shouting freely in nature, to give water hummingbirds from your hand; to watch a monkey family playing on the roofs of the buildings in the middle of Puerto Misahualli, to eat worm skewers on the beach of a river where the Spaniards discovered the Amazon for the first time, to taste the medicinal herb teas prepared by the nuns in Cuenca, to admire famous national parks from the bus and enjoying amazing views of green, clouds and terrain.
We will visit Ecuador again, to go to the places we couldn't see this time like the Galapagos Islands or Cotopaxi. If we had enough time to travel, we already studied how to involve these desired destinations in our itinerary, which we will mention in the itinerary section for whom have more time to travel than us.

Ecuador Itinerary

What we did
in 9 Days 8 Nights
-Itinerary-
2 nights in Quito
2 nights in Mindo
2 nights in Puerto Misahualli
Transit in Riobamba
2 nights in Cuenca
Transit in Guayaquil
All in bus

Ecuador is a budget-friendly destination, especially considering the currency they use is American Dollars. In 2000, Ecuador left its national currency "Sucre" to adopt American Dollars. While US dollars you get in Ecuador can be used in the USA or vice versa, the coins less than 1 dollar are imprinted in Ecuador and are not valid in the USA. There are a lot of cost saving options in Ecuador, and the quality price ratio is always very honest. People are extremely kind and helpful but you always feel they keep a little distance and it was the right amount of distance for our taste.

May 2022 - Total budget 800 USD for 2 people -excluding the International Flights
40 usd for accomodation/night
25 usd for meals&restaurants/day
10 usd transportation per day
20 usd for any extras

BRIEFLY OUR ITINERARY and MOVEMENTS

1st day Quito
2nd day Quito
3rd day from Quito to Mindo
2 hrs travel by car or 2,5 hrs by bus
4th day full day in Mindo
5th day from Mindo to Puerto Misahualli
Morning bus from Mindo to Quito at 6a.m. (change terminal in Quito)
From Quito to Tena at 9.00.
Arrival to Tena at 17.00
Taxi from Tena to Puerto Misahualli 20 min.
6th day full day in Puerto Misahualli
7th day from Puerto Misahualli to Cuenca – see Riobamba
Puerto Misahualli taxi 8,30 am. to Tena.
Bus at 9 a.m. from Tena to Riobamba.
Arrival to Riobamba at 14.00 (transit through Puno and Baños)
Lunch and quick tour at Riobambo for 1,5 hours.
Bus at 15.30 for Cuenca.
Arrival in Cuenca at 20.00
8th day from Cuenca to Guayaquil 4 hours bus
ADIOS ECUADOR

BUS ECUADOR, ECUADOR ON ROAD, ECUADOR BUS, EUADOR NIGHTBUS

Our bus neighbour from Riobamba to Cuenca

ECUADOR TRADITIONAL CLOTHING, ECUADOR WOMEN, ECUADOR BUS TERMINAL, ECUADOR TRADITIONAL HATS

Waiting for bus departure

OUR TOP TEN MOMENTS IN ECUADOR

MINDO CABLEWAY and TARABITA WITH CLOUDS COVERING THE FOREST
LAGOON SUNSET EXCURSION in PUERTO MISAHUALLI
HUMMINGBIRDS DRINKING WATER ON TOP OF OUR HEADS DURING OUR DINER IN MINDO
TELEFERIQO DI QUITO - HOT CHOCOLATE OVER THE VIEW ON A CHAIZE-LONG
FOREST WALKING IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI
QUITO VIEW IN SUNSET
CUENCA HISTORICAL CENTRE
GUAYAQUIL MALECON LUNCH
BUTTERFLIES METAMORPHOSIS IN MINDO
BUS TRIP FROM CUENCA TO GUAYAQUIL

Mindo Cloud Forest

QUITO, ECUADOR QUITO, QUITO VIEW, QUITO CAFE MOSAICO, AN EVENING IN QUITO, QUITO VIEW DINNER, SUNSET IN QUITO

Quito View in Sunset from Mosaico Cafe

WHEN TO GO TO ECUADOR

From June to November the weather is good to go. Except for the Galapagos the best season is from January to May, in the other months the sea is rough and the weather is dry and cool. And on October and Novembre the mountains are already very cold and rainy.
We went on this trip end of May which is considered to be the end of low season and the begining of high season. It was cool in Quito after sunset and without heating system in the hotels i went to freezing at nights. Mindo had a comfortable temperature, as the clouds go down in the afternoon we caught ourselves inside them and got wet for a couple of hours.
We encoutered a whole day rain only in Puerto Misahualli, It was amazing to see no matter how much it rains the life goes on, which is not the case where we are from! But for the Eastern part of Ecuador rain is normal.
Cuenca was like a fresh summer while Guayaquil was so hot that we had to look for an open-air restaurant with a fan.

WHEN TO GO ECUADOR, WHERE TO GO IN ECUADOR, BEST SEASON IN ECUADOR, DRY SEASON ECUADOR, HIGH SEASON ECUADOR, LOW SEASON ECUADOR, BEST SEASON GALAPAGOS, HIGH SEASON GALAPAGOS, BEST TIME TO GO IN ECUADOR

WHEN AND WHERE TO GO IN ECUADOR

WHAT TO PACK

Due to variable weather in Ecuador, you need to pack versatile clothes.
For Forests you will need light but long trousers and long sleeve shirts, a rain jacket, trekking shoes and swimming suits as well as binoculars to watch the animals.
For Highland and Inlands a warm fleece or sweater, warm pijamas.
For Coastal Parts and Inlands: Tshirt and shorts.

What we did briefly in 9 days in ecuador

1st day Quito

We arrived in Quito in the evening, checked in, had a light and casual dinner at one of the first cheap-looking but delicious restaurants of La Ronda and went to bed early to acclimate our bodies.

2nd day Quito

In the morning we started with a traditional "Campesino" breakfast at the Dulceria Colonial at the Plaza Major/Grande.
Took an Uber to go to TeleferiQo at around 10 a.m. before the clouds close all the view.
Had lunch at Mercado Central
Visited main landmarks and wandered around the historical centre.
Had a romantic dinner at sunset at the Mosaico Caffe with an amazing view of Quito.

3rd day from Quito to Mindo

Left Quito at 8 a.m. to go to Mindo by private car.

On the way, we saw Mitad del Mundo, since too touristic for our taste, we did not want to stop by for a picture. The total travel time was 2 hours and the view was amazing.

Enjoyed walking within giant flowers and plants and encountered two toucans flying loudly and landing on a tree.
Visited Yummy's Chocolate Factory and had some cholocate with lemongrass and hot pepper.
Had dinner at the Dawn Coffee at the main square and enjoyed the rest of the evening in our lovely hotel.

4th day Mindo

We woke up early to go to the ornithological centre and joined our first birdwatching tour ever. (15 USD per person) We encountered baby hummingbirds waiting for their mother in their nests; toucans; many colourful birds whose names I will never remember and we gave the hummingbirds water with our hands!
Took a taxi for 2 USD to go to the Butterfly Farm Mindo Mariposaria. First entered an enchanted world of butterflies and then waited to watch butterflies complete their metamorphosis process with a hot chocolate at the cafe of the Mariposaria, near the window and watched the spectacular colourful birds having snacks on the platforms.
The cableway station is just a few meters away, took the first cableway and then tarabita to reach the waterfalls. Hiked first the closest and then the multiple waterfall routes and had "empanada" lunch at the tarabita station with a view.
Had dinner at the Quetzal's terrace with hummingbirds flying over our heads drinking some water before going to sleep.

--(here we could have squeezed a Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Loop 2-3 days if we had more time and appropriate clothing)--
5th day from Mindo to Puerto Misahualli

6 a.m. bus from Mindo to Quito Carcelen Station. Called an Uber to go to La Ofelia Station
9 a.m. bus to Tena. Arrived at 17.00 and took a taxi to Puerto Misahualli 20 min. 10 USD.
Took a canoe to cross Rio Napa (5 min. 1 USD) and had a lagoon sunset tour (10 USD).
Negotiated and agreed on the excursion of the next day. (100 USD full day private tour)
Shop at the souvenir stalls close to the main square
Observed the cheeky monkeys at the main square.
Dinner at the main square, local fish wrapped in the bijao leaves cooked on bbq.

6th day Puerto Misahualli

Started our tour early at 9 a.m.
Chose to trek in the forest as the first thing as rain is more likely to come in the afternoon.
Amazoonica visit
Indigenous village visit
Cayman Lagoon
Sunset at the Misahualli Beach
Dinner at the Mexican Food with delicious tacos and margaritas

7th day from Puerto Misahualli to Cuenca – see Riobamba

Took a taxi at 8.30 am. from our hotel to Tena.
Caught the bus at 9 a.m. from Tena to Riobamba. From the bus, we saw Puno and Baños.
Arrived in Riobamba at 14.00 and got out of the bus terminal by taxi in 5 min. we were in the city centre.
Had a quick tour and pictures and went to the famous El Delirio Restaurant for lunch.
Took the bus at 15.30 for Cuenca.
Arrived in Cuenca at 20.00.
Had dinner in a cosy restaurant close to our accommodation.

8th day in Cuenca

A relaxed full day in the historical Centre of Cuenca and the riverside.
Lunch at the famous Moliendo Cafe, potato soup with bananas!
Shopped for souvenirs, got ice cream with cheese on it!
Aperitif at the panoramic Terrace Negroni over the Cathedral
Dinner at the LaMaria Cocina Libre Restaurant - the best dinner in Ecuador

9th-day Return travel

Took a bus from Cuenca to Guayaquil for 4 hrs and watched the Cajas National Park from our window.
Took a taxi to the Las Penas Neighbourhood, the best attraction in the city.
Had a seafood lunch in one of the many trendy restaurants of Malecón 2000 and walked beside the Guayas River.
Took an Uber to go to the airport.

--- After Guayaquil we could have added a nice Galapagos Trip with direct flights for at least 4-5 days if we had more time and budget--

...Adios Ecuador!