Skip to main content

Ecuador Travel Guide: What to Know Before You Go

When visiting any foreign country, you should always do a bit of research about what to expect or look out for. There are certain things you may come across in your travels that make you think, “Gee, I wish I had known that beforehand.”

If you’re planning to visit Ecuador, this guide will help prepare you for the trip and avoid a few embarrassing moments.

Genevieve Poblano/The Manual

Navigation and Currency

  • If you are traveling from the United States, there is no need to exchange currency. The national currency of Ecuador has been the United States dollar (USD) since 2000. You will still see the Sucre, Ecuador’s former currency, floating around, but USD — especially small bills — is widely used.
  • Bring bills smaller than 20 dollar bills as most places, particular taxis, will not have change for you.
  • Most taxis do not have GPS and rely on their (or your) knowledge of the city, so make sure you have an idea of how to get to your destination, as well as the address. Some drivers may “get lost” and you will end up with a larger fee than you expected. If you don’t want to deal with taxis, you can use Uber as the service is available in Ecuador and costs about the same.
  • Download a Google Map of Ecuador because internet connection and Wi-Fi can be spotty or non-existent in certain areas. Also, be prepared to be completely off the grid in rural areas.
  • Ecuador is not a very touristy country so it would be best to speak some Spanish or book a tour guide.
Recommended Videos

Health and Safety

  • While Ecuador is not extremely dangerous, tourists and locals are prone to theft. Do not always have your phone out and keep an eye on your belongings.
  • Wear sunscreen. In Ecuador, you will be as close to the sun as you will ever be (unless you are an astronaut).
  • Some bathrooms do not carry toilet paper so make sure to have emergency paper or tissues on hand.
  • Public bathrooms, when they do carry toilet paper, often put it outside of the restrooms, so check before heading to the stall.

Food

Ají

Ají is usually served in a small saucer in the center of the table. Genevieve Poblano/The Manual

Just like you would find a ketchup bottle on must tables in the United States, you will find a saucer of ají in Ecuador. This salsa is made from the tree tomato, aka tomate de árbol, as well as peppers, onion, cilantro, and lime juice. It is not meant to be spicy; it is something to spice up your dish a bit.

Corn

Genevieve Poblano/The Manual

You will find most dishes include some variety of corn, whether you are served fried corn as an appetizer or a side of mote, steamed white corn. Even Ecuadorian ceviche comes with fried corn or popcorn for you to throw on top.

Chocolate

Ecuador produces some of the best-tasting chocolate because of the quality of the country’s cocoa beans. On a recent trip to Ecuador, I had the pleasure of seeing how and where cocoa plants grow, as well as tasting the cocoa bean fruit, roasting the fermented beans, peeling them, and making delicious dark chocolate.

Cuy (Guinea Pig)

Yes, Guinea pig is considered a delicacy in Ecuador. Cuy may sound very exotic and much different than Americans are used to, but it is described as having a slightly gamier, fattier taste similar to the dark meat on chicken.

Genevieve Poblano
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Born and raised in California, Genevieve Poblano is a Los Angeles native and former Content Manager at The Manual. With a…
The Grand Canyon North Rim is reopening soon — what you need to know
Grand Canyon opens the North Rim after winter closures
Cape Royal on the North Rim provides a panorama up, down, and across the Grand Canyon.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is officially set to welcome visitors for the 2025 season starting on Thursday, May 15 at 6 am . As temperatures have warmed up, thawing the snow that falls in this area during the winter, it's now safe for visitors to return and enjoy this lesser-visited part of Grand Canyon National Park.

The iconic Grand Canyon Lodge will also be opening its doors on May 15. Guests can enjoy any of three cozy cabin-type options or motel rooms. There is also a dining room that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering amazing views of the North Rim. Guest services are also here, so you can book horseback riding or mule rides or grab much-needed trail updates from the knowledgeable staff.

Read more
You’re really going to like this Airbnb change
Users will now see all costs associated with their stay
Airbnb

We’ve all had it happen: you find an enticing price on Airbnb, only to be hit with a stack of unexpected fees at checkout. But that frustrating guessing game is officially over. Starting this week, Airbnb has rolled out a global update that displays the total price of a stay, including all fees before taxes, right from the beginning of the booking process.

The move is part of Airbnb’s broader push for transparency and guest trust, following years of feedback from users frustrated by the lack of upfront clarity around service charges, cleaning fees, and other add-ons. Now, what you see is much closer to what you’ll actually pay, with no surprises at the end.

Read more
Grand Canyon camping fees are rising: Here’s what you need to know
Grand Canyon increases campsite fees for the first time in 20 years
Grand Canyon

Starting on May 1, 2025, Grand Canyon National Park is gearing up to implement a new fee increase for front country standard campsites at the major campgrounds in the area. Desert View, North Rim, and the Mather Campgrounds will all see a standard campsite fee change from $18 per night to $30 per night. Here's what you need to know.

First, this change will affect the Senior discounts and Access pass holders, who normally receive a 50% discount to these campsites. This price jump will change payment from $9 to $15 per night at one of the tent or RV campsites in the Grand Canyon National Park area.

Read more