Typically when it comes to planning a vacation, I’m a type A researcher. But this time, for planning my trip to Ecuador, I knew I would be traveling with a local. I left him with all the organizing, and I decided to go into the experience pretty blind. Which actually was pretty fun. However, there were a few things that I wish I had known before going, especially for travelers not visiting with a local. Keep reading for my list of 15 Things to Know Before Visiting Ecuador. FYI – some of these apply to the whole country, but some are also pretty specific to Quito and surrounding areas.

15 Things to Know Before Visiting Ecuador

On Currency & Money

1 ) Ecuador uses the US Dollar as its currency. I don’t know about you, but I love when I don’t have to go deal with currency exchange and figuring out exchange rates.

2 ) Most places don’t take credit cards (and ATMs are hard to come by). Speaking of currency, you’re credit card can be pretty useless. I used my credit card about 3 times during my entire 8 day trip. Hotels, restaurants within hotels, and restaurant/ store chains all take credit cards. But for shopping on the street or in smaller tienditas (stores), you’ll need cash. Also, come prepared with cash as ATMs are hard to come by, and a lot of them don’t accept foreign debit cards. I spent about $400 the whole week, which didn’t include hotel stays, but did include food, souvenirs, and a couple tours.

3 ) Bring small bills (nothing over $20). Before leaving for the trip, I went to the bank and got smaller bills – lots of $1s, $5s, and $10s. I’d almost even avoid $20s. (I got away with using a couple on some bigger purchases, but no one wanted to break a $20). Forget about anything bigger than that because no one will take it!

On Packing

quito_ecuador_packing — Example outfits that worked well for the climate

4 ) Expect 4 seasons in a day. This little fact gave me a huge headache while packing. Expect sunshine, rain, and everything in between. I’d recommend packing a waterproof jacket, and some fall attire – light sweaters, jeans – that sort of thing.

5 ) Sunscreen is a must. Don’t let those overcast clouds trick you. You’re on the equator and can get seriously burned!

On Food & Drink

ecuadorean_traditional_food — Fresh fruit juice – mora & guanabana

6 ) Try all the exotic fruits (and fruit juices). Like many countries in South America, Ecuador is filled with fruits you can only dream of. Their fresh fruit juices are amazing, and I’d recommend trying them all throughout your trip. My personal favorites were Mora and Guanabana. Some must try fruit juices include:

Mora – a berry that is almost a mixture between a blackberry and a raspberry.
Tomate de Arbol – In English it is know as “Tamarillo.” While the name sounds like this might be a tomato juice, it only has a faint tomato taste.
Guanabana – Known as “Soursop” in English.
Babaco – Has a slight taste of apples
Maracuya – In English is called “Passion fruit.”

7 ) Coffee is amazing and confusing. When ordering coffee, you’ll be asked if you’d like cafe con agua (coffee with water) or cafe con leche (coffee with milk). Basically what the difference is is the base. The thick coffee is diluted with either milk or water. I tried both and preferred coffee with water as the coffee with milk really diluted the coffee flavor.

8 ) Beer is almost cheaper than water. Try a Club, similar to Dos XX, or a Pilsener, like a Corona. You can get a large for around $2.50! They’re pretty light and almost taste like lemonade.

9 ) Make sure to try some traditional dishes. There are a lot, and it might be difficult to eat your way through them. Some popular must-try’s include:

Llapingacho – fried potato cake
Ceviche – note: Ecuadorean ceviche is cooked before serving unlike Peruvian ceviche. Also, coastal regions serve a light/lemony ceviche, whereas Quito and the mountainous areas service a red and saucy version with shrimp.
Cuy – Guinea pig. Not for the faint of heart, but it is extremely traditional!
Tostones – fried green plantains
Hornado – Roasted pig dish
Locro de papa – Thick potato soup with cream
Pan de yuca – bread made of yuca
Fritada – fried pork
Empanadas – can be sweet or savory.

On Going Around Town & Touristing

centro_historico_quito — Centro Histórico de Quito – Plaza de la Independencia

10 ) Carry your passport everywhere. Typically when I travel, as soon as I get to the hotel I lock my passport in the safe and only carry around a couple of other forms of ID (school id, driver’s license, passport card, etc.) However, in Ecuador the police can stop you for any reason and request papers. Always stay prepared and carry your passport everywhere.

11 ) Always carry tissues. In the U.S., I never carry tissues with me. I happened to throw some in my purse at the last minute before leaving. I quickly found a use for them. Bathrooms don’t always have TP, and if they do they’re pretty stingy about it.

12 ) Be prepared for the high altitude in Quito. Ecuador’s capital, Quito has an elevation of 9,350 ft. You won’t find coca tea everywhere like in Peru… so drink lots of water and be prepared to have a slight headache and be out of breath in your first couple of days. I did however see some vendors sporadically selling coca candy which does help.

Interesting Facts

chocolate_ecuador_quito — Ecuador’s famous “República del Cacao” shop in Plaza Foch in Quito

13 ) The average salary is about $400-$600 USD. I like to learn about the socio-economic and cultural elements when I visit a country. So while this fact won’t necessary effect your stay, I found it to be very interesting, and it explained why food in Ecuador was pretty inexpensive.

14 ) Panama hats are actually from Ecuador. This fact really got me – Panama hats have always been made in Ecuador. None are actually made in Panama. Time for a little hat re-branding, don’t you think? Prices of hats range, but you can find a pretty decent hat for around $30USD.

15 ) Ecuador is a major exporter of roses, chocolates, bananas and coffee. All of which are amazing – especially the roses. You can get a dozen for about $2, and these look like roses on steroids. Chocolates and coffee also make great gifts! I picked up some souvenirs from the Républica del Cacao in Quito, but there are many chocolate options.