Ecuador is Calling
Jessica shares her experience spending two weeks in Ecuador with Pure! Travel Group
What if I told you that there is a place with white sand beaches, the highest and most beautiful mountains, some of the world’s most unique animals, a rainforest filled with different fauna and wildlife, delicious cuisine, history, chocolate and some of the best hospitality? Now what if I told you that it exists a short 4-hour flight from the US. This haven is Ecuador and it needs to be visited.
I spent the last 18 days traveling around the country of Ecuador with Pure! Travel Group, our DMC with offices across Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. I visited the Galapagos Islands first, and will write a separate report for that portion of my trip. But there is sooo much more to Ecuador than just the Galapagos. The Galapagos is great and will always be great, but Ecuador is filled with cities with personality and serene countryside waiting to be explored.
For now I will focus on mainland Ecuador. While in Ecuador I visited Quito, Otavalo, visited the Amazon, explored Banos, stayed in a hacienda near Mt Cotopaxi and spent my last few days at a spa in the mountains outside of Quito to relax.
Before I chat about the destinations, I want to briefly touch upon COVID precautions in Ecuador. As of now, people are able to visit Ecuador with a vaccination card or with a negative PCR test taken 96 hours prior to arrival. Quito has non-stop flights from Miami, Houston and Atlanta while Guayaquil has nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale and New York. It’s extremely accessible. There are sanitizing stations before you enter every establishment (markets, hotels, restaurants) and each facility also takes your temperature. It’s extremely easy to get a COVID test to go back to the states, it can be done at the airport right before your flight or at your hotel. The fee ranges from $50-$85 USD. Now to the good stuff….
Quito
The beloved capital of Ecuador! Quito is at an altitude of 9,350 feet, making it higher than Machu Picchu and the second highest capital in the world (after La Paz). Landing in Quito is one of the most gorgeous landings I’ve experienced and you see how the city is completely covered in mountains, the Andes Mountains!
There are some stellar hotels including Casa Gangotena and IILLA Experience Hotel. It is shrouded in history with cathedrals, basilicas and beautiful city squares everywhere in Old Town. A highlight for me was Iglesia De La Compania also known as the Gold Cathedral dating back to1605. Quito is a great starting off point to get to the rest of Ecuador.
Otavalo
About two hours from Quito is Otavalo. Famously known for the Otavalo Market which is a shoppers haven! While in Otavalo you’ll pass through some cute towns and get to experience some old fashioned Ecuadorian traditions. The women in Otavalo wear traditional clothing and when you see someone with many necklaces, it means that they’re extremely respected. If you’re a spiritual person this is the best place to meet with a shaman!
Mt Cotopaxi
The lovely and most beautiful Mt Cotopaxi! Ecuador is home to 82 volcanoes and 17 are active! Mt Cotopaxi is the largest active volcano in Ecuador. Adventure seekers can hike Mt Cotopaxi or if you’re like me you can stay at a nearby hacienda and take in the views and what the area has to offer. I stayed at a hacienda called Porvenir that offers hiking, horseback riding, and is overall a great place to relax and cuddle up by the fire drinking Sunfu Tea. From Mt Cotopaxi, Lake Quilotoa is only a 1.5 hour drive and extremely worth it. I compare it to the Grand Canyon of Ecuador for its vast beauty. Mt Cotopaxi and Lake Quilotoa are a must see.
The Amazon
The wild wild Amazon. Ecuador makes up 2% of the Amazon. There are two places to go when visiting the Amazon in Ecuador - the upper Amazon and the lower Amazon. The upper Amazon has less animals and more adventure activities like white water rafting. It’s also a few hour car ride away from Quito. The lower Amazon, the Amazon I experienced is much more focused on animals and getting there is much more interesting! From Quito you take a 35 minute flight to Coca where you’re greeted by a team. I stayed at Sacha Lodge (which is amazing!) and they picked us up and took us to a dock. From there it was a 1.5 hour motorized canoe ride, followed by a 30 minute walk in the jungle (don’t worry they give you boots!) and lastly a 20 minute small canoe ride. While there, you have plenty of opportunities to explore with your personal guide. Daily hiking, canoe rides, night time canoe rides to look for caimans, piranha fishing, walking across canopy bridges and much more.
We had a guide named Fausto who told us of his encounters with anacondas, caimans, bullet ants so by the time he picked up a poison dart frog, we weren’t completely freaking out! While we didn’t see any anaconda or jaguars, we did see a caiman, toucans and sloths. The Amazon took me out of my comfort zone and I loved every minute of it.
Banos
Three hours south of Quito lies a city called Banos. This is more for adventure seekers and people who have more time to spend in Ecuador. It’s filled with beautiful waterfalls, zip lining, swings over the world, and a good time. I was able to take a gondola above a waterfall for a truly unique experience.
Papallacta
By the 15th day of the trip I was pretty exhausted and scheduled myself some spa time! An hour north of Quito lies Termas Papallacta. Termas Papallacta has over a dozen hot spring pools that get its warmth from a nearby volcano. We spent two days here relaxing in the water, getting massages and body scrubs. The views were outstanding and a great way to relax at the end of the trip. They offer some hiking at the property and if you book three nights it includes fishing and milking cow experiences.
Cuenca and Mindo
Unfortunately, I did not get to go to Cuenca or Mindo on this trip (surprising considering I was in Ecuador for 18 days!) but I’d regret not talking about them. Cuenca is a beautiful town with cobblestone streets and lots of history. It’s a great way to experience old Ecuador. Mindo is home to the cloud forest and is a great destination for bird enthusiasts or nature lovers.
Ecuador is a highly underrated country and it shouldn’t be. It’s one of the most beautiful destinations I’ve been to, has excellent hospitality, and is an adventurers paradise.
If you have any questions on Ecuador or Pure! Travel Group please feel free to reach out to me at jessica@kainyc.com