FIFTEEN DAYS IN ECUADOR WITH MY FRIEND GABY
DAY 1 Flight to Guayaquil.
It is a flight that lasts approximately six hours. We arrived at midnight as there was a delay, at the airport, we took a taxi to the hostel. When we got there, the entire block did not have street lights, it looked really dangerous for us.
«Are you sure it’s here?» I asked the taxi driver.
«Yes, yes, don’t worry.» Surely the receptionist at the hostel is waiting for you .The taxi driver said
We arrived at the Hostel … all without the slightest light. We knocked at the door but nobody answered, we were really worried since there was no soul in that place. When we didn’t get any response, we went to the only lighted place in the area (just one block away) and in the blink of an eye the police were there. The truth was that they were really very kind, we explained the situation to them. We asked for help in order to contact the Hostel’s owner, but it was impossible. We decided to wait a while, while the police were looking for a hotel for us to spend the night, since we did not have internet and the hostel did not respond. We were in the street chatting with one of the police officers who stayed with us for an hour and a half . I must say that one of the things I enjoy about these experiences is talking to local people about life in that place, and answering their questions about our country or city of origin. The cultural exchanges are very enriching! After almost an hour and a half when we were about to go to the new accommodation, we managed to contact the owner of our hostel who explained to us that he had just arrived because his daughter had a medical emergency.
DAY 2 We walk along the Malecón. We really found the coast very beautiful. We bought a ticket to get on the panoramic bus that showed all the interesting places in the city. The Malecón is one of the most touristic places in the city, where there are numerous and splendid gardens, fountains, restaurants, bars and even a cinema. In addition, there is the famous Bolivar and San Martín monument, also known as the Hemiciclo de la Rotonda, which commemorates the famous meeting to plan the future of the city of Guayaquil and the Emancipation of South America from Spain.
One of the must-visit stops is in the oldest and most bohemian neighborhood of the city, called Las Peñas. This colonial-style neighborhood was the residence of fishermen and artisans. There are several cafes that offer you delicious cakes accompanied by coffee. Santa Ana Hill is next to Las Peñas. It was declared Cultural Heritage in 1982. At the top of the Hill there is a chapel and a lighthouse that although they seem quite old, they were built in 2003. If you want to reach the top of Santa Ana Hill and enjoy the panoramic view of Guayaquil, you must build yourself with patience and climb 444 steps (they are numbered) as a curious fact on step 163 there is a small monument that represents the exact point where the city of Guayaquil was created. Throughout the journey there are little stands and bars. There is a tradition among villagers of walking up and drinking a granita.
Day 3 By bus, we went to Montañita. We had bad luck because the weather conditions were really bad during our visit. It is a very small place, ideal for surfers, it was full of people from Mar del Plata. In spite of that, we were able to enjoy the beach and the sea, which, unlike the cold Atlantic sea that we are so adapted to, it is warm here.The heart of the city is full of artisanal stalls. I recommend that you travel to this place with little weight in your luggage or backpack, since walking through sandy streets may be a difficult journey and a nightmare carrying a suitcase with wheels (I remarked this particular option after having our own experience!).
Day 4 We bought a full-day tour to the Isla de Plata, in the center of the city there are little stands that sell excursions everywhere and the prices are the same in everyone of them. Tourist guides take tourists in a van to Puerto López to the boat During the journey to the island, we were accompanied by dolphins. At one point, the boat stops so people can go snorkelling. There are countless fish of different colors, you will not want to move from the water since its temperature is very warm. After about an hour we continued the trip. Near the port, big aquatic turtles can be seen. Once people arrive at the place, they give them an explanation about the flora and fauna of the area. There are different trails to choose to go trekking and observing the native vegetation and animals. We were able to see different types of birds, including boobies, which are blue-footed birds… Only there will you be able to see them. On the way back, from afar, we saw whales! The tour is highly recommended. The other option is that you go to Puerto López on your own and take a boat in the port.
Day 5 Travel to Cuenca by bus. It is an endless journey. In addition, street vendors take the bus to sell their products every now and then and on top of that ,passengers play music too loud , to be honest it was not a pleasant trip at all. It’s almost a nine-hours traveling. That day we only toured near the hotel. Cuenca was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. Visiting Cuenca at night is mesmerizing and really pleasant.
Cuenca Cathedral
Guayaquil
Blue – Footed Boobies
Guayaquil
DAY 6 Many colonial houses and mansions have been adapted for Hotels in Cuenca. This single fact makes them attractive due to their colonial architecture. Many of these hotels have restaurants where you can contemplate and get immersed in a little bit of history. Bare in mind that you can do freewalking. It is an option to travel hand in hand with a local. We went by intercity bus to Chordeleg, a small town located just an hour from Cuenca, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000. It is famous for its fine filigree jewellery (there are gold and silver necklaces, bracelets and earrings of high quality). There, almost all the shops are around the main square, so go shopping is very simple and fun. The landscape of the journey is beautiful.
From Chordeleg we took a bus to Gualaceo ( The trip from one place to another is less than ten minutes), Gualaceo is famous for the artisan production of shoes. In the shops’ showcases, there are an infinity of shoes of different designs and colors, in various materials (leather, synthetic, fabric ) and at affordable prices. You will certainly fall in love of some designs.
Day 7 Travel from Cuenca to Baños. It is approximately a seven-hours journey by bus. We stayed at the very well located Fireplace hostel. It offers an incredible and delicious breakfast. Baños made me fall in love, in fact, if I return to Baños I will definitely stay longer … It is the mecca of adventure, there are infinite options to choose from. That day we toured the small but very nice town.
There are restaurants with national and international cuisine. One of the typical dishes is guinea pig with potatoes (they serve you the animal with the head and legs, which is a bit impressive), the meat tastes like chicken.
In the center, we bought the jungle tour, it is a visit that you cannot miss on a trip to Ecuador, especially if you are looking for being in contact with nature, enjoying adrenaline rushes and interacting with indigenous people.
Day 8 It is a must do the adventure in the Ecuadorian jungle. Do you know that the Amazon rainforest is part of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World? By doing a full-day tour, you explore the Amazon, and to observe monkeys and alligators at an animal rescue center. The most beautiful part is paddling down the Puyo River in wooden canoes. In addition, a Quechua community is visited where you will have the opportunity to observe how they make necklaces and bracelets with different types of seeds and taste chicha again. You will see demonstrations of face painting and if people dare they will offer visitors to paint their faces with different shapes, which have a special meaning for them.
Day 9 By bus (colectivo for Argentines), we went to the tree house, where the Swing at the end of the world is located … It feels wonderful , as if you were flying. I must say that you need to get your courage up to get on, especially those who are afraid of heights ( like me). But it is worth doing and completely safe. Then, we went to San Martín Park, this complex offers visitors the possibility of doing multiple adventure activities, such as canopy or Zip line (850 meters and 350 meters), walk over the Tibetan bridge (90 meters in length), and ride in a tarabita (mechanical baskets that slide on cables). All these activities will generate a huge adrenaline rush. The ticket to do all these activities is not expensive at all.
Day 10 We visited an amazing place in Baños: the Devil’s Pailón. The place is really amazing. Take something to protect the camera from the water ,you get quite wet in the mist and as you get closer to the waterfall… At the entrance, there are some souvenirs and food stalls. I tried the roasted banana, it was really delicious! The Ecuadorian and roasted banana is very rich, the flavor for me is like eating a sweet potato.
Government Palace Quito
La mitad del Mundo (Middleof the worl city)
Cuenca
Day 11 We hire a full-Day tour (you leave at around 6 am) to the Cotopaxi volcano, this excursion is really affordable since it is not expensive and because there are not many tourists who start it from Baños, which is practically a private tour, at the cheapest price that if we had done it from Quito. The season we went there was not exactly the ideal time to do it, since at the end of July was too windy … The journey is quite complicated and with headwind it was really hard and you need to be in shape … But, it is an incredible experience and with a wonderful view! It is also a strange sensation to be walking on a kind of black (volcanic) sand. It is a tour that you must do with a guide since otherwise they will not let you go up. I really recommend you to bring walking sticks.
Day 12: Baños Quito, it is approximately a five hours journey by bus. As you have noticed at this point, all the trips have long-distance routes to explore Ecuador so it is good to be accompanied by good reading and music.
Quito is beautiful and full of life.
In this city, I have had a very funny anecdote (now that time has passed) and that it has helped me a lot for the next trips. When we arrived in Quito, we bought the trolley ticket to go to the Mariscal area. My friend got in with her suitcase, I was right next to her, but it was in a matter of seconds that the door was closed and I was not inside it. I stared at the trolley disappearing with a blank and disappointed face! My friend ( who was living inside the trolley) was the one who had all the information about where we were going to stay and how to get there, (the only thing I remembered was the area and the accommodation’s color, that is to say, I had any single piece of information!). I thought: She was going to go return back to this station so I waited for her like Penelope… Time passed but she didn’t come back… She thought I knew how to get to the accommodation so she was waiting for me there. So for the second time, I went to the police again , luckily, there is a special unit of the police that specializes in tourism), I explained the situation: I did not remember where I was staying, only the area. They took me on the back of the police car (the experience was rare, I was in the place where the criminals were ) to another central office. They helped me to find the accommodation online (I only knew the color of the walls and that the hostel was in La Mariscal). If you google in La Mariscal,you will find that there are hundreds! After looking in detail one by one (it seemed that I was looking for the face of a criminal) I finally figured it out which one it was. So they very kindly took me there, where my friend was waiting for me, it had already passed four hours since the incident.Once we arrived at the hostel, we found out that our reservation had been canceled and sold and that there were no rooms left, so we stayed in a nearby hostel. In conclusion, What did I learn from this experience? You always carry with you all the journey printed and on your cell phone as well .Try not to depend/rely on your adventure partner. Since then, I always do that. It seems obvious but it is not. I really used to trust blindly on my friend who had been really organized.
In Quito, we traveled by taking public transport to every place, without any delay. So I recommend it. The lines which you can travel through the city more quickly than buses are: the trolley, metrovía and eco via, They have established stations and exclusive routes that help people to move across the city faster by offering this means of transport people avoid being stuck in traffic jumps during the rush hours.
La Mariscal is an ideal place to stay, since one finds a cosmopolitan and fun environment, where you can eat, dine, listen to live music, and enjoy the night ,definitely a must also for its architectural buildings styles and designs.
Day 13 Visit to the city of the middle of the world. The monument is about fifteen kilometers north of Quito. Traveling on public transport, you can get there without spending a little fortune, so it would be a pity if you hire a tour, it costs a lot. From La Mariscal you can take ‘the Middle of the World Bus’, you have to get off the trolley at the ‘Y’ station ( public transport is really well identified and easy to recognize). In that place, which is a transfer station, you simply have to take the bus that says ‘Middle of the World’, you arrive after about an- hour- trip.
The Monument to the Middle of the World is located in a park, which has several museums and craft houses. There are several experiments that are quite curious and fun for example, one of them is balancing an egg on the head of a nail. It seems a made up story. Do you know that due to the geographical location of the middle of the World and the centrifugal force you are weightless there?
I had read about a small town near there, and had seen very nice photos of that place , so we found out how to get there. Just the brother of a girl who worked in an ice cream parlor was a remisero ( or Uber driver), so he took us there for a fair price.
The Pululahua Crater is located several kilometers further north from there. It is a small agricultural town located inside a crater. In the afternoon, the fog begins to descend and covers the place completely. The truth was that we were not crazy about the place. The best thing was the trip to get there and to return back which was very nice, especially, when we were at the top of the crater and started to go down back to the town.
Day 14 My friend and I toured each of the streets and almost all the churches (which by the way are too many). We also visited the greatest attraction of Quito, “the House of Government” where a guide gave us a one- to -two- hours guided tour. There you can appreciate each of the gifts that different presidents have received from other world leaders throughout the time, all displayed in different showcases. You can also spend a little time on the balcony where the President often makes his speeches, it is very nice to see the square from there.
The truth is that Quito has many little corners to visit, if I traveled again I would definitely spend more time discovering those hidden beautiful places in Quito than in Guayaquil.
Drinking chicha my friend Gaby
Dining with guides from the jungle tour in Baños
Jungle
Cotopaxi
MAP WITH THE ROUTE I MADE
Send your query about accommodation and tours in the city
Fitz Roy