When you think about Ecuador, most people instantly think of the Galapagos. However, for a small country, Ecuador packs a big punch. It has the protected and majestic Galapagos, of course, but it also has the rugged mountain landscapes of the Andes, interesting historical cities and the wild Amazon rainforest. Before packing off and going to explore Ecuador, take a minute and learn these 9 important things to know before visiting Ecuador. 

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Our Ecuador Background

Before diving into the things to know before visiting Ecuador, I want to give you a little background into our Ecuador journey. Back in 2022, we left the U.S. and started traveling full-time. When we asked our kids what they wanted to do on our trip, they said nature and animals. I instantly thought of the Galapagos. Now I didn’t know if we could afford it on our budget, but I did some quick research and figured out a way to make it work. We spent a little more than we wanted to stay for a month in the Galapagos, but we found out we could live in Quito the following month for well under our budget. Problem solved! 

Before arriving in Ecuador, I honestly didn’t know much about the country. We learned so much in two months living there though! Most of the questions we receive now about Ecuador are… Is the Galapagos expensive? AND Is it safe in Quito and Ecuador in general? I will answer the safety topics below!

You can learn how much we spent in the Galapagos and Quito by following the links below. 

Costs in the Galapagos: How to Budget

Uncover The Surprising Cost of Visiting Quito, Ecuador

Travel Requirements to Visit Ecuador

Before traveling to any country, it is good to know what the visa and travel requirements are. For Americans, Canadians and British citizens, you do not need a visa if your stay is shorter than 90 days in any 12-month period. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months to enter Ecuador.  

Ecuador’s Official Language

Ecuadorians speak Spanish. There are 13 indigenous languages that are recognized and are spoken around the country. These are more commonly heard the closer you get to the Amazon region. 

The use of English is common in touristy areas such as Galapagos and amongst tour guides in Quito and in Cuenca. Even in Baños, due to tourism, you will find English speakers. If you visit rural areas or locations that aren’t popular with tourists, you will benefit by speaking Spanish. 

Greet people in Ecuador with a handshake and possibly a kiss on the cheek or hug depending on the situation. You will hear “Hola. Como estas?” which means, “Hello. How are you?”  You may also hear “buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon) or buenas noches (good evening)” depending on the time of day. When you meet someone for the first time, say “mucho gusto” which means “nice to meet you.” Thank you is “gracias”. 

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Ecuador’s Currency

The official currency of Ecuador is the US dollar and has been used in Ecuador since 2000. This makes currency exchange very easy. If you are from the U.S., then I would suggest bringing some cash with you.  

You might also see some Ecuadorian coins that look similar to US coins, but have a different design. You won’t be able to use these coins in the U.S. so just be aware of this. We like to keep coins as cheap souvenirs! 

Cash Or Card

The prevalence of credit cards is another one of the things to know before visiting Ecuador. If you are visiting the touristy parts of Ecuador, like the Galapagos, the use of credit cards is becoming more common in restaurants and hotels, but I wouldn’t bank on it. We used cash in many places including restaurants, the grocery store, and in shops. Even when you enter the Galapagos you have to pay to enter the National Park and you must do this in cash!

I would advise trying to have smaller bills when paying for most items. If you only have large bills, try to use them in bigger stores or for more expensive purchases. 

It is possible to pull money out of an ATM in Ecuador. I would advise using ATMs from larger banks like Banco Pichincha or Banco Guayaquil to do this. There are maximum amounts for taking money out of ATMs each day in Ecuador. These were different with each ATM but ranged between $100 to $500 dollars a day. 

Find ATMs in bank branches or in large shopping centers to pull money out in Quito. It is not recommended to do this at an ATM on the street! 

If you are on the Galapagos, you can find some ATMs next to the grocery store by the pier or down the main touristy street.  

In Quito, we found that you can use your credit card in many places, but you might be asked for your passport. The grocery store that we visited in Quito did this. We showed them a picture on our phone and they were okay with this.  

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Tipping In Ecuador

• Restaurant Tipping in Ecuador – A tip of 10% is customary for good service in Ecuadorian restaurants, especially those catering to tourists. Check to see if the bill already includes a service fee. If so, you don’t need to add a tip on top of it. We found this to be very common. 
• Tour Guides – Tour guides appreciate a small tip for their service. Tipping $10 to $20 dollars for a family is a good tip for a day trip on the mainland. If you are in the Galapagos, expect to tip $10-$20 dollars per person for a day trip. 
• Taxis and Ubers- Tipping is unnecessary for your taxi or uber driver. 
• Hotels- Tipping the housekeeping staff is not expected and 1-2 dollars total for porters is common practice in Ecuador. 

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Is Ecuador Safe?

Safety is always one of the important things to know before visiting any country.  In general Ecuador is a safe country. Far safer than many cities in the U.S. We felt safe there most of the time, especially during the day. The Galapagos was always safe, day and night. In Quito though, locals consistently reminded us to not go out at night and to keep your valuables close. We took their advice and did spend most nights in our Airbnb. When we had dinner reservations we would always get a Taxi or Uber after dark.

You will have to travel with caution and common sense at times in Quito. If there are any demonstrations, it is wise to avoid these. They can turn violent. 

Other crimes that can be common are petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, car break ins, and express kidnapping (where you are taken for a short time and forced to take money out of an ATM). To protect yourself against these crimes, follow this advice: 

• Don’t carry your wallet, cash or phone in the back pocket of your pants. 
• Stay vigilant and watch what is going on around you. 
• Don’t leave your luggage or valuables unattended or next to your seat at a restaurant.
• If you carry a purse, carry one that crosses over your body.
• Don’t walk in huge crowds. 
• When taking money out of an ATM, do it in a busy and secure location, like in a mall, and during the day. 
• Don’t walk around at night.

Safest Neighborhoods In Quito For Tourists To Stay

These are the safest neighborhoods to visit and to stay if you travel to Quito. These are also where most of the hotels are located making it easy! 

• Parque La Carolina (This is where we stayed!)
• La Floresta
• La Mariscal

I would advise against staying in the historic downtown. You can visit during the day and it is perfectly safe, but gets a little more sketchy at night.

Other Areas Of Ecuador – Places To Avoid

Criminal gang activity has increased in the coastal regions of Ecuador and should be avoided. These areas include: 

• El Oro
• Esmeraldas
• Guayas, which includes Guayaquil
• Los Rios
• Manabi
• Santa Elena

Recommended Safe Areas To Visit In Ecuador

There are so many safe places to visit in Ecuador. This list includes the safest areas to visit in Ecuador. 

• Galapagos Islands
• Quito
• Cuenca
• Baños 
• Otavalo
• Mindo
• Latacunga
• Cuyabano

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Water Safety

The water in Ecuador is not safe to drink. Only drink bottled water when visiting. I have heard that Cuenca has the best water quality, but I cannot confirm that it is actually safe to drink. When in doubt, drink bottled water. We even bought a water filtration system in Quito, so we wouldn’t have to carry bottled water so far. 

There are also options, like Larq water bottles, that you can purchase that are great for traveling in countries where the water quality is low. Larq is a portable water bottle that purifies the water in your bottle. It is some pretty impressive technology!

Recommended Vaccinations For Ecuador

One of the important things to know before visiting Ecuador is if you need to get a vaccination or take pills to prevent any diseases. There are no required vaccinations for Ecuador. If you are traveling to the Amazon region, it is recommended that you take malaria pills and to be vaccinated for Yellow Fever. I am not a health authority, so please check with the CDC for updated information. 

Emergency Numbers

This may be surprising to some, but emergency numbers vary from country to country. For Ecuador, you can use 911 for emergencies. 

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Common Tourist Scams To Avoid In Ecuador

Being aware of common scams is one of the important things to know before visiting Ecuador. This is not to scare you out of going but to make you aware of what they are. If you know what to look for, you are less likely to become a victim. 

Below are a few common scams in Ecuador and how to avoid them. 

• Taxis – Taxis unfortunately like to take advantage of tourists in Ecuador. There are a few ways to avoid getting ripped off. In Ecuador, legal taxis are required to have a license sticker, camera and panic button. If your taxi doesn’t have these things, don’t get in. Because the registered taxis are metered, some common things that happen are that they start the trip without the meter running and then charge you whatever they want, or they take you a very long way, so it increases the price.
  • My advice is to use Uber. Follow the route on their or your phone’s map to make sure they are following a direct route. When we used Uber in Quito, it was very safe and everyone was very friendly. 

• Distraction Scams – One scam that didn’t happen to us, thankfully, but have heard happens mostly in Quito is the mustard, bird poop, ketchup scam. Whatever you call it, the person in the scam will warn you that there is something on your shirt or your back, such as mustard. They will be so helpful and help you clean it up. As all this is happening, you are getting robbed.
  • Avoid this one by keeping your purse, phone, wallet or anything else valuable like this in your hands. Don’t turn around with your stuff on the table. 

• Bag Slashing- When in busy areas, it can be common for your bag to get slashed without you knowing it and your valuables stolen. This means even if your phone is zipped up in your purse, it can still be vulnerable.
  • So if you are traveling with a purse or bag in a busy area, step back and wait for the crowd to disperse or catch a less busy bus. 

• ATM and Credit Card Cloning – Credit card and bank card cloning can happen anywhere, but it is a problem in Ecuador.
  • When there, be sure that your credit card never leaves your sight and use ATMs in popular locations such as the mall. If fraudulent charges happen, call your credit card company to get them removed and get a new card. This is easy to navigate, but an annoyance. Especially when you are traveling.  

The Weird And Interesting Ecuadorian Facts

And before we say chao, I will leave you with a couple of interesting facts to know about Ecuador before you visit. These are just fun! 

• Although Chimborazo is not the tallest mountain in the world above sea level, sitting at 20,702 ft (6263 meters) tall, due to its proximity to the equator, it is closer to the sun than Everest. 

• Ecuador has the world’s first and second UNESCO World Heritage sites with the Galapagos being the first and the City of Quito being the second. 

• The Panamanian hat is not from Panama but actually Ecuador!

• Guinea pigs are a delicacy in Ecuador. Want to give them a try?

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