Ecuador is unlikely to be the only destination on this journey. Because of the large number of hikers in South America who moved from nation to country in a matter of months. Border crossing is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know.

As a result, if you plan to go from Colombia to Ecuador or vice versa, this tip may be useful. An unprecedented number of Venezuelans have decided to escape the country as a result of the country's current challenges. Colombia is usually their first stop, but not everyone stays there; instead, they continue south. It has only one meaning for travelers. Border crossing can be time-consuming. You might get lucky, and have a completely painless treatment.

Follow instructions for crossing the border from Colombia to Ecuador through the Rumichaca Bridge, but leave no other plans for the day in case you get stopped at the border.

The taxi situation is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know. Ecuador is striving hard to earn the reputation of being a safe country. Everyone understands that the worse the security situation becomes, the fewer visitors arrive, and the less money the locals earn. This principle is well understood.

Until recently, the most serious issue was undoubtedly taxi drivers' reputations and the safety of travelers who wanted to use this type of service to go around.

People were given a pamphlet with suggestions on spotting a trustworthy taxi driver when they crossed borders, along with a new passport stamp. It stipulates that all taxi drivers in Ecuador have an orange license plate, a panic button inside the vehicle, and even a camera. They should also all utilize a taximeter.

Vaccination is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know. Before every journey, make sure you have the most up-to-date information on mandatory vaccinations. In all South American countries, a yellow fever vaccination is required.
Even yet, no one has ever asked to see our card, unless it was before the turbulent flight from Brazil to Panama.

Several mosquito-borne diseases can be found in Ecuador. Malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and yellow fever all exist in the country. Bring insect repellant and netting with you. Yellow fever vaccine is available at Passport Health clinics, and antimalarials can typically be prescribed for your travel. To learn more, contact your nearest Passport Health clinic.

Also, learn more about antimalarial medications if you plan on visiting Ecuador's Amazon. Make sure you have adequate travel insurance that covers all of your planned activities. World Nomads Travel Insurance was created by travelers for travelers to cover the fundamentals of their journey.

Travel wisely and safely!

The famed Galapagos Islands are located in Ecuador. For many, it is the only reason to visit Ecuador; however, there is another group of budget backpackers who must constantly consider whether the trip is worthwhile because it is not cheap.
There are numerous reasons to visit the Galapagos Islands, and if you are still undecided, consider the following. The entire experience is like walking into another world, and it is a photographer's and nature lovers' dream come true. It'll also be a life-changing travel experience that will teach you how to travel sustainably.

You can cruise the Galapagos archipelago for many days, see many places, and many species, and most importantly, learn about this precious paradise on Earth. It's reassuring to know that if you can't afford the cruise but still want to visit the Galapagos, you may do it alone.

Spend some time on one of the Galapagos islands, go on a couple of day trips, and then move on to another. Yes, this alternative will cost a little more than your typical day. Many people choose between the Galapagos and Islas Ballestas, sometimes known as Poor Men's Galapagos, a resort off the coast of Peru.

Location: west of continental Ecuador

Quito is where the majority of tourists visiting Ecuador come. The Old Town Historic Center and the Middle of the World are two attractions in the capital city. It's also an excellent starting place for exploring the nation and getting out of Quito. Three main bus stations are located north and south of the city, from which you may board buses to other Ecuadorian cities and provinces.

Quito's traffic is congested, and getting from one side of town to the other may be a nightmare. As a result, one of the first things you should learn is that the capital has two main bus terminals. Terminal Terrestre Carcelen is located on the city's northern outskirts, while Quitumbe is located on the city's southern outskirts. The southern terminal is utilized primarily for destinations south of Quito, while the northern terminal is used for people traveling in the opposite direction. If you arrive in Quito from the market town of Otavalo and wish to see the cloud forest in Mindo, you will need to change not just buses but also bus terminals.

Nothing will ruin your vacation more than losing your valuables, so be cautious. Never put your hand luggage under your seat or above your head when flying in Ecuador. Always keep all of your valuables on your lap. It is inconvenient, but it will save you a lot of worries. Quito's public transportation deserves its own chapter. It's not even amusing how full the buses are. Once on board, keep your daypack on your front. On the bus, a man instructed us to sit in specified seats and to stow our backpacks underneath.

Pickpockets and thieves like crowded venues, such as bus stops, markets, city centers, public transportation, crowded beaches, fiestas, and other places where a large number of people congregate. Carry as little valuables as possible when out and about, and keep your possessions hidden. Secret pockets or money belts can be handy, but they should not be revealed in public. Distribute your reserves over multiple locations to reduce the likelihood of losing everything at once.

If there was anything that pleasantly surprised you, it was Ecuador's immaculate road conditions. All roads, at least those connecting key tourist destinations like Quilotoa Lagoon, appeared to have been renovated, and traveling in Ecuador was actually quite pleasant. Ecuador is a small and compact country, so you don't have to take as many night buses as you would in other countries, but the experience was still fantastic. If you wish to travel around the country on your own by bus, you have nothing to worry about. Ecuador is even one of the few South American countries where we believe hiring a car is a good choice if you want to be flexible.

In Ecuador, the quality of the roads varies. The Pan-American Highway, Ecuador's primary thoroughfare, passes across the Andes, with branches extending east and west. Although this road is in good shape, smaller roads are usually constructed of dirt and feature enormous potholes.

Ecuador utilizes the United States dollar as its currency, which may surprise you. This occurred in the year 2000, when the "sucre," their own currency, plummeted due to a financial crisis. The local community began to use dollars, and the government soon recognized the dollar as the official currency.

Ecuador uses the US dollar as its national currency, which is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know. It has numerous benefits. It is self-evident if you are from the United States. You don't have to be concerned about currency exchange. However, due to the exchange rate, everything in Ecuador is slightly more expensive than in surrounding countries. Ecuador's previous currency was so volatile back then that practically everyone preferred to use dollars, which gave much-needed stability. As a result, it was considerably easier to officially adopt this money. No one will have change if you pay at a local market with a brand new and sparkly $20 you just got from an ATM.

Before visiting Ecuador, keep in mind that proper packing is essential. Weather is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know. Ecuador not only has two rainy and two dry seasons throughout the year but due to the tremendous terrain changes, you must be prepared for all types of weather. Leggings or outdoor pants, a couple of useful t-shirts with long and short sleeves, and a fleece jacket should all be included in your packing list. A rain poncho or travel umbrella is also recommended, although a swimsuit is required if you plan on visiting the coast.

Simply said, the weather in Ecuador is frequently unexpected, however, the dry season, which runs from December to February and then from July to September, should not catch you off guard. Ecuador is also on the equator, as its name suggests. That means the sun is really intense here, and you should always wear sunscreen, even if the weather is cloudy.

The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a piece of land controlled by the province of Pichincha in Ecuador's prefecture. It's in the Quito canton's San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of the city center. The grounds also house the Monument to the Equator, which commemorates the eighteenth-century Franco-Spanish Geodesic Mission that fixed the approximate location of the Equator (from which the country gets its name), as well as the Museo Etnográfico Mitad del Mundo, or Ethnographic Museum Middle of the Earth, a museum dedicated to Ecuador's indigenous people ethnography.

Ecuador was not given its name by chance. It alludes to the fact that the country is located on the equator, and you can even visit a location where you can stand on both hemispheres simultaneously. You can stand with one foot in the Southern Hemisphere and the other in the Northern. Mitad del Mundo, or the Middle of the World, is where you can have such a sensation. Because Mitad del Mundo is only 20 kilometers from Quito, we believe that no traveler should miss it. Mitad del Mundo is a park where you can see the monument, the hemispheric line, a planetarium, and a few displays.

If you're planning your next vacation, keep in mind that Ecuador has many gorgeous sites to visit and things to do. Although it appears small on the map, the diversity is astounding. Ecuador has coasts, waterfalls, wildlife, Amazon, high mountains, paramo ecosystem, national parks, impossibly blue mountain lakes, lush green hills, and the region's many rare bird species are, including 28 that are unique to the islands, is the main draw here. There are 13 species of Darwin's famed finches, as well as the Galápagos penguin, flightless cormorant, and waved albatross., indigenous markets, Incan ruins, and deep valleys. While nations like Peru and Colombia will almost certainly always remain higher on people's bucket lists, Ecuador deserves its due.

Ecuador, which was once a part of both the Inca and the Spanish Empires, has many influences from both. These enduring influences are perhaps most visible in the people's rich culture and the magnificent colonial architecture of Quito, part of which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Have you heard of Panama hats before? A Panama hat is a straw hat made from the fibers of palm palms. The truly fascinating information is about to be revealed. Panama hat is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know because Ecuador is where the Panama hat originated. The history of this commodity stretches back to the 16th century, however it was known by numerous indigenous names at the time.

The popularity of these traditional hats grew slowly over the centuries, but it peaked in the early twentieth century when US President Franklin D. Roosevelt donned one when he toured the Panama Canal building site. Ecuadorians are highly proud of their hats, therefore don't make the mistake of saying that Panama hats are from Panama in public. This straw, handcrafted hat is truly a terrific choice if you want to bring home a nice souvenir.

Ecuador has around 30 native languages, with Spanish serving as the official language. Even though English is not spoken in most restaurants and hotels, you will be able to gain a flavor of our culture by speaking a little Spanish.

Consider taking a few weeks of Spanish class or at the very least purchasing a Spanish textbook before your travel to Ecuador. After our trip to Colombia, Ecuador was the second country we visited in South America. Simply, if you can communicate in Spanish, that's fantastic. Otherwise, your experience in Ecuador will be more difficult (or funnier, it depends on the point of view). Unfortunately, English is still not commonly spoken, especially in the tourism industry, and people had to exercise patience while seeking a specific answer.

Where Cash is King is one of the Things About Ecuador You Should Know. In Ecuador, it is usually preferable to have cash in your wallet rather than relying on your credit card. Sure, you'll be able to pay with a credit card if you stay in a fancier hotel, but you'll need cash elsewhere, such as at local stores, bus stops, and even most travel agencies. People always had what they required for the day in their wallets and left the rest of the money in the hotel room because international passengers attract pickpockets. It's also a good idea to plan ahead and find out if your next destination has an ATM.

The issue begins at the ATM. You get all twenties except one ten and two fives when you input your debit card for $100 or $200 withdrawals. Now try to find a local vendor or hail a taxi and pay them twenty dollars for their services. As their mind rushes over how to fix the dilemma without losing the purchase or fare, they have a look of almost fear on their face.