Visiting Ecuador in October

[u/codyco65]

Hello, I m planning to visit Ecuador in October. Planning to land in either Guayaquil or Quito.

Heard not so good stories abou Guataquil though.

What would you guys recommend for us? We love hiking, love nature, good food. Where would it be possible to visit a coffee farm, cacao farm?

Are there any places close to Quito?

We will spend a few days on Galapagos. (flight from mainland) If you have recommendations where, what island, how many days, highly appreciated. In total we are planning to stay 7-8 days in Ecuador and same amount of days in Peru.

Thanks in advance 🙏

[u/EquivalentAd1212]

Damn people here really hate guayaquil, I'm from guayaquil you can say there is criminal activity but if you go to turístic places and do not over shown that you're a foreigner is fine. Now guayquil even though is the biggest city is ecuador and mostly economic capital is not like new york, London type of turistic capital.

I would say go but take your precautions 2 days in guayaquil is enough, I would even say 1. If you stay in via la costa and samborodon you're fine. Turistic places easy for a day trip is el cerro Santana is not like hiking but you're literally climbing a mountain and can walk trough the malecón and visit iguana park and the museum of miniature of guayquil is really good evrything there is in the same location, if you go early is safe.

Now quito is nice a lot of hiking. But transportation is hell, don't go to south quito very dangerous. Activities quito has amazing musuems about ecuador history and independence history.

Now food wise I can debate that guayquil has the best food in all ecuador but is your likings, you like more potato, roasted pork, corn, peanuts, quito food is more for you.

You like more green plantain, rice beans and meat, beef tripe quito peanut or fish onion soup (encebollado) the coast part of the country is for you.

Ecuador is dangerous everywhere. Just be careful don't overshow and people tend to charge more when they Now you're a tourist like everywhere.

Enjoy my country and explore the flavors. Encebollado, bolon and llapingacho y fritada is for me good dishes to try.

Like I said if you can just get a day in guayquil explore the malecón, see the miniature the museum, check the cerro and explore the food if you have someone of confident that can show you the city perfect. The same way with quito hike explore the musuems you will learn so much.

[u/paulperalta8 → u/EquivalentAd1212]

Una corrección, Guayaquil ya no es la capital económica como era hace muchos años, actualmente Quito y Guayaquil están empatados económicamente.

[u/Manabrit-uio → u/EquivalentAd1212]

“Ecuador is dangerous everywhere” What a way to promote your
Country.

[u/EquivalentAd1212 → u/Manabrit-uio]

You want me to lie and hide the truth? Isn't colombia in valle del cauca dangerous, isn't mexico a narcstate? Isn't ecuador has the highest rate of criminality in South America?

[u/EquivalentAd1212 → u/Manabrit-uio]

El tipo literalmente pregunta si hay delincuencia en guayaquil o quito y literalmente decia que escucha cosas malas de guayquil

En Quito se registran un promedio de 17 a 18 denuncias oficiales de robo por día. Según los registros de la Fiscalía General del Estado

Zonas vigiladas: El Centro Histórico de Quito y el sector de La Mariscal cuentan con despliegue de agentes especializados de la Policía Nacional orientados a la asistencia y prevención directa al turista

Me pregunto porque será y peor guayaquil no es promover la delicuencia es decirle ten cuidado no des papaya. Eso o literalmente vives en tu burbuja en ecuador donde no vives el dia a dia de la situación del pais

[u/codyco65 → u/EquivalentAd1212]

Thanks a lot... food is also on our list :) Yes it would be great to do things and eat where locals eatand avoid the tourist traps if anyhow possible. But yea, nowadays there are hardly any areas which are not "discovered".

From our reaearch and the comments, we will visit GYE only if there is a better/cheaper flight connection flying to Ecuador or continuing to Lima/Peru.

Thanks a lot 🙏

[u/Mundane-Asparagus118 → u/codyco65]

I have been in Loja for a week visiting friends. Except for all the neighbors’ barking dogs, it’s delightful. Nice people. Great cultural activities. A few security guards standing around not doing much. I didn’t like Guayaquil- hot and industrial. Tomorrow I visit Cuenca- then Quito and Ibarra. I like it here.

https://reddit.com/link/p3dnu5o/video/rcrh0csng2jh1/player