Ecuador Off The Beaten Path

  Macaws
by grandmaR
 
  • Macaws
      Macaws
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  • The volcanic crater Pululahua
      The volcanic crater Pululahua
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  • Mirador de cráter Pululahua
      Mirador de cráter Pululahua
    by MalenaN
  • The volcanic crater Pululahua
      The volcanic crater Pululahua
    by MalenaN
  • Mirador de cráter Pululahua
      Mirador de cráter Pululahua
    by MalenaN
 
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Vilcabamba in southern Ecuador...

by sjung

Vilcabamba in southern Ecuador is the quintessential sleepy town, where the pace of life is so slow you can't help but relax. The surrounding valley is beautiful, and you can rent horses and check out the entire valley in a day. There are a few hostals in Vilcabamba, but the most popular one seems to be Las Ruinas de Quinara. Vilcabamba is a little bit out of the way, but can be incorporated into you itinerray if, from Ecuador, you are planning to go south to Peru.

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Whether you like Panama hats...

by flyingpig

Whether you like Panama hats or not, a visit to the Homero Ortega factory in Cuenca is a 'must' (see www.genuinepanamahat.com for more details). You will discover how these marvelous hats are hand woven as well as the process that transforms them into pieces of art. The sights and smells are unforgettable! Plus you can always buy your very own original Panama hat in their excellent shop.Near Puerto Lopez, if you are willing to take an uncomfortable bus and then walk 30 minutes in gruelling heat, you can have the pleasure to discover Los Frailes beach, a beautiful place with not a soul around, no buildings to pollute the scenery, just you and nature (including legions of cute crabs)!

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Tandayapa Valley. Located...

by Rasta_Rob

Tandayapa Valley. Located just one hour northwest of Quito on the road to Mindo, the Tandayapa Valley is the most accessible area of extensive lower to mid-montane cloudforest in Ecuador. The valley offers beautiful scenery (very different than the Quito area), lots of hiking trails, and more than 300 bird species, including a number of birds endemic to the Choco bio-region. Check out the web site of the Tandayapa Bird Lodge for more information about Tandayapa Valley. (Note: map graphic borrowed from www.tandayapa.com)

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Mindo!!! It is a sub-tropical...

by Raina

Mindo!!! It is a sub-tropical little, tiny, weeny town outside of Quito. They make the most AMAZING cheese. There is a environmental station in the woods where you can stay for free-but remember to bring your own food and bedding. I don't know too many details because I went with an Ecuadorean, but I am sure the locals can tell you more!

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My favorite 'off the beaten...

by bandura

My favorite 'off the beaten path' place was Montanita. It's a surfing town a few hours away from Guayaquil. The beaches are beautiful and the 4 of us ate a huge lunch for US $17, 6 entrees and 6 huge beers. I took the picture from where I was sitting, never got up from the chair.

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In Muisne, a little town, on a...

by FRAN_ESMET

In Muisne, a little town, on a sandy island on the north coast, you can take a boat to Bunce (0.5 $) en from there walking on the beach onto San Francisco. (really the end of the world, no possibility to reach it by truck or bus. Very friendly hotel (1 $), basic, with basic food (0.5 à 1 $). In the north, you can walk into the jungle, and meet the local people

Hotel BambooIts a charming...

by Adena

Hotel BambooIts a charming place right on the ocean. It's up the coast from San Vicente in a town called Canoa. Really nice lodgings, cheap and great food. I recommend the vegetarian pizza. It is very quiet and it's a great place to do nothing but relax and read. The beach is also really nice in Canoa.

There are many nice hikes and...

by Jarne-Anne

There are many nice hikes and climbs to do in Ecuador. A good help is the Hiking & Climbing guide of the Bradt series. This recommendation is not in it, but is easy to do for everybody spending some time in Otovalo. Of course there is the nice market but you also can spend an afternoon walking to the Peguche waterfall. It is about 40 minutes leisurely walking to the north from Otovalo (follow the old railroad track. The walk is nice and you will walk trough a eucalyptus forest. The waterfall (15m high) can be seen from underneath and from above. If you wish you can follow the stream up to Laguna San Pablo and a small village.

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I would suggest two completely...

by lichinga

I would suggest two completely different objectives, which I reported in the travelogues: the Pacific sea-side resorts close to Esmeraldas and the rural uplands of Cotopaxi region.

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At the top, you get a feeling...

by Jon_Nordmark

At the top, you get a feeling of exhilaration. I fell in a crevasce, very close to the summit. While crossing a snow bridge, the ice cracked and I dropped down. My friends and my arms caught me. Their rope and my arms. This happened about 300 feet from the summit. That experience was scary, and because the snow was getting wet, we turned around at that point. Still, a very exhillerating trip to the top and the ridge of an 'active' volcano. This picture is looking into the volcano's mouth.

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Unique Places in Ecuador

Top 3 Hotels in Ecuador

Four Points by Sheraton Quito  Quito

 6 Reviews and 82 Opinions  I knew this hotel as the Sheraton Quito, but I suppose that it was, at least at one time, a Four... 

 Hotels in Quito

Hotel Victoria  Cuenca

 1 Review and 46 Opinions  I arrived without a reservation at the end of a long and exhausting day (see my Alausi page). The... 

 Hotels in Cuenca

Samari Spa Resort  Baños

 33 Opinions

 Hotels in Baños

303 Hotels in Ecuador
 
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Reviews and photos of Ecuador attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ecuador sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Ecuador
  1. Quito Off The Beaten Path
  2. Cuenca Off The Beaten Path
  3. Guayaquil Off The Beaten Path
  4. Montañita Off The Beaten Path
  5. Otavalo Off The Beaten Path
  6. Baños Off The Beaten Path
  7. Manta Off The Beaten Path
  8. Riobamba Off The Beaten Path
  9. Latacunga Off The Beaten Path
  10. Laguna Quilotoa Off The Beaten Path
  11. Puerto Villamil Off The Beaten Path
  12. Puerto López Off The Beaten Path
  13. Mompiche Off The Beaten Path
  14. Hacienda La Ciénega Off The Beaten Path
  15. Salinas Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Ecuador

 

Popular Regions in Ecuador

Provincia de Pichincha Off The Beaten Path  Galápagos Islands Off The Beaten Path  Provincia del Guayas Off The Beaten Path  Provincia del Azuay Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Manabí Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Cotopaxi Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Imbabura Off The Beaten Path  Provincia del Tungurahua Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Napo Off The Beaten Path  Provincia del Chimborazo Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Esmeraldas Off The Beaten Path  Provincia de Loja Off The Beaten Path 

More Regions in Ecuador

Questions and Answers

enricosmith profile photo

Q:  Hello I leave in Ecuador next month and i'm looking a spanish school, located in the Pacific Coast. I know there is a school in... 

cindymary profile photo

A: Hello Enrico You're right, Montanita is such a touristic place. I understand you want to avoid it. Last year, I have spent one month in a spanish school in Sua, near... 

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