Ecuador Holiday Deals

Holiday In Ecuador

Do you equally fancy the ideas of laying on the beach all day, dancing all night and doing crazy things like whitewater rafting and eating rodents? (OK, maybe not that last one.)

From partying in the world’s highest capital city to d’aww-ing over baby turtles on the Galapagos, Ecuador packages can satisfy all sides of your personality—and show you some you never knew you had.

Things to Do in Ecuador

A holiday in Ecuador is chockablock with national parks, churches and museums. So how do you even decide where to start? Start off on a high note with a stay in Quito, the country’s capital and highest capital city in the world at 2,850 m. In Plaza de la Independencia (the central square) you’ll find La Iglesia de la Compania, a church that is bold, loud and covered in more gold than a rapper’s custom grill. Down the street, el San Francisco is the responsible cousin, larger and much more subtle, but just as beautiful. Which one are you?

Ecuador package deals are an adventurer’s playground. In the Galapagos, see boobies (not that kind) on Genovesa Island and let Las Grietas on Santa Cruz Island “crack” you up. These narrow, sheer canyons drop hundreds of feet into the water and are popular with everyone from cliff divers to kayakers. And while you might think of Brazil when someone mentions the Amazon, nearly half of Ecuador is actually part of the Basin. Post up in the northeastern cities of Lago Agrio or Coca and channel your inner Percy Fawcett (without the disappearing part).

Shopping, Dining & Nightlife

Before we get to shopping, let’s correct a worldwide misconception: The Panama hat is from Ecuador. Buy one for all your friends so you can explain this to them and sound uber-smart. Moving on, there are a few other things you should buy as well. Take one of our Quito car hire deals 100 km north to the town of Cotacachi for handmade leather goods or head to Otavalo for super-soft alpaca ponchos.

You could spend your whole Ecuador holiday touring the foods of various areas—and we won’t judge you if you do! The coastal surf towns serve up fresh shellfish ceviche, while the inland mountain regions love their librillo, a tripe stew. Do you rate your getaways by the street food? (Smart!) Find potato pancakes and roasted corn in the major cities. Tip: Avoid ordering “cuy” if you don’t want to eat guinea pig—it’s a delicacy here, but they’re so cute!

Nightlife in Ecuador is on fire! Or at least, the popular drink here is. Aguardiente is Spanish for "fire water", and while you don’t actually set it ablaze, it may make you a little hotheaded. Once you’re revved up, it’s time to dance. Major cities like Guayaquil, Cuenca and Quito will have world-class nightclubs for the disco ball set, but don’t count out the beach towns. Former hippie havens like Montanita definitely know how to throw a party.

What’s Next?

The next part is easy: Book cheap holidays to Ecuador on lastminute.co.nz and save your dollars (yes, the country uses U.S. dollars) for tragos of aguardiente with your new amigos. ¡Vamonos!