Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador

Ecuador

We spent two weeks travelling through Ecuador as a family of four, and found Ecuador to be an amazing place to travel with kids. It has such a unique mix of rainforest, beaches, mountains, and volcanoes. We travelled through colonial cities and towns, saw some amazing waterfalls, went ziplining, hiking, and tried some of the local dishes. The weather is perfect almost year-round, and we found the people trustworthy and kind.

Girls swining over the swing at thr end of the clouds in Quito, Ecuador

Key Things to Know about Ecuador

National currency: US dollar. Ecuador has been using the US dollar as their national currency for over 20 years!
Capital city: Quito
Language: Spanish (spoken by the majority of the population) but also Kichwa, and other indigenous languages
Known for: Galapagos Islands, Andes mountains, being right on the equator (where the country’s name comes from!)

panoramic city view of Quito

Places to Visit in Ecuador + Recommended Length of Time to Spend

  • Quito (3-5 nights) is the capital of Ecuador and is the 2nd-highest capital city in the world, at 9,350 feet above sea level. We spent a total of 4 days in Quito, and while I could have used a 5th day for a day trip, I feel it was a perfect amount of time to adjust to the altitude and explore the city. Some of the key attractions are the ‘middle of the world’ stuff, the historic centre, and the Teleferico (chairlift that takes you to the top of the Pichincha volcano)
  • Galápagos Islands (1-2 weeks minimum), you can stay on the islands but its also very common to book cruises that take you to the islands
  • Baños (3-4 nights): Baños is a mountain town with around 20,000 permanent residents but the number fluctuates as its a major tourist hub. There are 60 waterfalls in the area, the largest swing at the edge of the earth. There’s lots of kayaking and ziplining and other adventure activities
  • Mindo Cloud Forest (3+ nights, or can be a day trip from Quito)
  • Cotopaxi National Park (2+ nights, or a day trip from Quito)
  • Otavalo Market, north of Quito (day trip) is one of the largest indigenous markets in all of South America. It’s one of the best place to get unique, artisan, Ecuadorian souvenirs
  • Cuenca (3+ nights) is in the southern part of Ecuador, and it’s a city that does its best to preserve its culture and aesthetic. It feels compeltely different from the rest of Ecuador. It has a sizeable European population as many people from abroad have fallen in love with it and made it their permanent home. The full name of the city is Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, and its located at over 8,000 feet in the Andes mountains (lower than Quito but still very high) It’s also known for Panama hat making.
  • Guayaquil (1 nights) is the largest city in Ecuador (yes, even bigger than Quito) and is located right on the Pacific Ocean coast. Usually, it is only used as a transit hub for getting to other places, like the Galapagos Islands