Ecuador
Republic of Ecuador
South America · ECU
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Ecuador
Ecuador is a compact but high-contrast country where colonial cities, volcanoes, Amazon foothills, and the Galapagos all fit within a single trip plan. It is strongest when you build around Quito and one or two major regions rather than trying to combine every ecosystem at once.
Popular For
Things To See
- Quito
- Galapagos Islands
- Cuenca
- Cotopaxi
- Banos
- Yasuni National Park
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- The Galapagos and the mainland can follow different timing preferences, so plan them separately if needed.
- Quito plus one nature region is usually enough for a strong first trip.
- Altitude is a real factor in the highlands, so plan arrival days accordingly.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Ecuador.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Ecuador.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Quito
- Population
- 18,103,660
- Area
- 276,841 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
1 USD = 1.00 USD
Cost of Living (World Bank)
43.4
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 33.8
- Restaurants
- 27.0
- Rent
- 8.7
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Quito (0.22°S, 78.50°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
78/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 36/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.777
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.010
- 10-year change
- +0.022
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.998
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.358
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.735
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (5)
- 🏛️
Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
Sangay National Park
Inscribed 1983
- 🌿
Galápagos Islands
Inscribed 1978
- 🏛️
City of Quito
Inscribed 1978
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 23.6%
- Forest cover
- 49.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 49
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 86
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
52/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
81/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased cautionin Ecuador due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Crime and kidnapping Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Violent crime typically associated with narcotrafficking is common. It includes murder, assault, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Areas with transnational criminal organizations see much higher rates of violent crime. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping and extortion. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Ecuador. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Demonstrations Demonstrations happen across the country. They are usually driven by political or economic reasons. Demonstrators often block local roads and major highways without warning, disrupting access to important infrastructure. Local and U.S. Government Assistance Most of Ecuador’s land is empty and remote, especially outside big towns and cities. Local and U.S. government help may be very limited in remote areas. This may cause delays for U.S. citizens in remote areas. Do Not Travel to these areas due to terrorism and crime: Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue. The cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the province of El Oro. The cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios. The canton of Duran, in the province of Guayas. Esmeraldas City and all areas north of Esmeraldas City in Esmeraldas province. The area north of Esmeraldas City to the Colombian border and east to Carchi province. Reconsider Travel to these areas due to terrorism and crime: Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarqui Avenue. El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas. Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo. All areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province. The provinces of Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data