A little more
Ecuador.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Ecuador: what to know before you go

Ecuador is named after the equator that runs through it, and it packs remarkable variety into a compact country: the Galápagos Islands, a chain of snow-capped volcanoes along the Andes, colonial cities such as Quito and Cuenca, and a slice of the Amazon. Distances on the mainland are short enough to see mountains, cloud forest and jungle on one trip. It suits wildlife lovers, hikers and travellers interested in indigenous cultures and markets.

Where to go

• Galápagos Islands. Volcanic islands far out in the Pacific, where giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions and blue-footed boobies show little fear of people.
• Quito's historic centre. One of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, high in an Andean valley.
• Cotopaxi National Park. Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, rises as a near-perfect snow-capped cone south of Quito.
• Quilotoa Loop. A multi-day hike or drive through Andean farming villages to Quilotoa, a volcanic crater filled with a lake of green and blue water.

Best time to visit

Ecuador can be visited year-round, but conditions vary by region. In the Andes, including Quito, June to September is usually drier and sunnier, which is the best time for hikes and volcano views.

Staying online in Ecuador

Mobile coverage is good in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and other cities and along the main roads of the Andes. It becomes patchy in the high mountains, the cloud forest and the Amazon, where many lodges have no signal and only limited Wi-Fi. On the Galápagos, there is coverage in the main towns, but connections are slower and there is little signal at sea. Download offline maps before trekking, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.