How to Find Hotels in Ecuador

The Republic of Ecuador, with its varied geography that includes coastal beaches, mountainous regions and the Amazon rainforest, offers plenty to intrigue the naturalist as well as the traveler with more urban tastes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Plane tickets
• Camera
• Luggage
• Rental car
• Hotel reservation
• Computer
• Map
• Credit card

Plan Your Activities

1. Admire contemporary Ecuadorian art and learn about the country's history at the Museo del Banco Central in Quito.
2. Explore Ecuador's varied geography. Discover the Amazon rainforest with a guided tour and hike or rock climb in Ecuador's mountainous region, part of the Andes range.
3. Visit the country's several active volcanoes, the highest of which is Cotopaxi.
4. Sample local cuisine, including fresh ceviche. For a more exotic meal, try a dish of "cuy", or guinea pig.
5. Visit Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, and feed the iguanas that roam freely (and in great numbers) at Guayaquil's Parque Seminario.

Find Your Accommodations

6. Decide whether accommodations on Ecuador's scenic coastline or among the mountainous regions and inland rainforests will best suit your itinerary.
7. Pick a hotel in Guayaquil to browse and buy local art, crafts and jewelry at the Mercado Artesanal.
8. Make reservations at a spa resort that will pamper your senses. You'll find these resorts at the Papallacta and Oyacachi hot springs.
9. Stay in Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City), where the northern and southern hemispheres meet, to experience the novelty of sleeping on the equator.
10. Choose a hotel in the capital city of Quito for access to the city's urban entertainments such as the Quito Zoo, museums and concert venues.
11. Make a beachfront hotel or resort your choice so you can explore the coastline easily, including Ecuador's beaches and ports. Some beachfront hotels also offer camping facilities.
12. To book accommodations, contact Ecuador Tourist Board at (800) ECUADOR.

Tips & Warnings

• Brush up on your Spanish to be able to communicate clearly with the locals. It's a good idea to learn at least a few useful phrases and questions before you go.
• The local currency is the U.S. dollar.
• Upkeep on Ecuador's highway system is not always reliable. If you're planning a road trip, you should allow extra travel time to account for the slower speeds at which you'll need to travel.
• Ecuador's most populous city of Guayaquil also boasts the country's highest crime rate. If you're out on the street in the city after dark, stay alert and be cautious.