Looking for the 10 most beautiful places in Ecuador to add to your bucket list? Look no further and keep reading to start planning your Ecuadorian itinerary!
Planning a trip to the Country of the Four Worlds? Here are the 10 most beautiful places in Ecuador that I have gathered for you after living there for almost 2 years!
Ecuador is such an underrated country, and I am so happy for you to discover its beauty! Beautiful beaches, majestic Andes, mysterious Amazon rainforest or enigmatic islands… Ecuador will amaze you with its diversity. Don’t miss out on these famous places in Ecuador and enjoy every day of your trip there!
This post highlights the 10 most beautiful places in Ecuador! Don’t miss out and add them to your bucket list!
Cotopaxi Volcano
If you are looking for famous places to visit in Ecuador, you can not miss the Cotopaxi Volcano. Second-highest summit of the country (5.897 m), this volcano is one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador, and maybe even in the world.
The Cotopaxi National Park is located an hour south of Quito, which makes it really accessible. Go by your own means, or book a tour if you don’t want to be bothered with organization. Both options are great, but if you book a tour, make sure to compare prices before, as some excursions are much more expensive than others!
You can walk to the first refuge (45 minutes hike from the parking lot) but be aware that the ascension might be hard due to the high elevation. El Refugio José Ribas is located at an elevation of 4800m. You might experience altitude sickness, and believe me, that is NOT a fun feeling.
If you are not feeling like hiking at such elevation, drive to the Laguna Limpiopungo. There you can walk around the laguna (no elevation gain) and if the sky is clear, you will have the best view of the volcano!
Best GUIDED TOUR TO THE COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
If you want to book a guided tour to the Cotopaxi National Park, I have the BEST PLAN for you!
Instead of staying in Quito, stay the night in Latacunga, a small town located 30 minutes away south from the Cotopaxi National Park entrance.
In Latacunga, book a room at Hostal Rosita. Not only it will be really cheap, but you will have everything you need for a night. Marco, the owner of the place, is the best, sweetest and funniest guy you will ever meet! And on the next day, he can take you to the Cotopaxi National Park for $35.
You won’t find a cheaper excursion, and I promise you, you will have the time of your life with him!
Cuicocha Lake
I have written a full blog post about the Cuicocha Lake where you can find all the information you need to plan your excursion there, so I will keep it breve!
The Cuicocha Lake is located in the northern part of Ecuador, half an hour away from the lovely town of Otavalo. If you are into hiking, you can walk around the volcano crater and enjoy nature for the day. But if you are not, don’t worry. You can get there and just admire one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador from the shore while drinking a coffee or a hot chocolate!
cuenca
Undoubtedly the most beautiful city in Ecuador!
You can ask any Ecuadorian or traveler who has visited Cuenca, they will all tell you that it is one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador to live and to visit. 25 years ago, its historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And when you visit, you will quickly understand why.
Colonial buildings in its historic center, rivers crossing the city and panoramic view on the Andes mountains. Cuenca is the perfect compromise between city and nature.
If you want to visit Cuenca, I have a few blog posts dedicated to it. Don’t miss out and plan the perfect trip!
Galápagos Islands
The mysterious Galápagos Islands… Planning a trip to visit the Galápagos Islands might not be possible for everyone as it is more expensive than the rest of the country… But if you can, you have to visit!
There is no doubt about this archipelago being one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador. If not the most beautiful of them all.
White sanded beaches, incredible marine life, giant tortoises… There is so much to see over there!
There are three main islands to visit in the Galápagos archipelago. Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela. To know more about it and plan your trip there, read this blog post!
los frailes BEACH
Located in the Machalila National Park on the Ecuadorian Coast, Los Frailes Beach will amaze you with its preserved natural beauty.
Crystal-clear waters, white sand, and spectacular rocky cliffs, you are going to fall in love with this place.
While you are there, you can either lay on the beach and relax for the whole day (don’t forget your sunscreen though), or you can follow the hiking path along the cliffs.
The trail is not hard, and I believe everyone could do it. So if you are in the mood to do some exercise and want to get insane panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean, you know what you have to do! Be careful though, the park closes at 5pm and the trail at 3pm!
San Lorenzo BEACH
Located 1 hour and a half north from Los Frailes beach, San Lorenzo is another white sand beach that will blow your mind!
And the best part about it? Every time I went there, it was fairly empty. And who doesn’t love an empty beach?
While you’re there, walk up to the view point. The panoramic view you will get will be worth sweating while climbing up the stairs. I PROMISE!
Quilotoa
The Country of the Four Worlds is home to more than 80 volcanoes, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that another of the most beautiful places in Ecuador is, once again, a volcano!
The Quilotoa is famous for its turquoise-colored lake inside the crater, on which you can go kayaking for a few dollars.
Fun fact about the Quilotoa volcano? Even though it is considered as dormant, the volcano is still active, and it is not impossible that it would erupt again in the future.
Honestly, is there something cooler than kayaking inside the crater of an active volcano? I don’t think so!
QUILOTOA LAKE FOR HIKERS
If you are into hiking, one of the most popular trek for tourists in Ecuador is the Quilotoa trail! It should take you between 2 and 4 days, depending on your hiking level.
I’m currently planning to do it and from what I’ve heard, it is amazing!
“Hiking the Quilotoa Loop” by Laidbacktrip, is the perfect blog post to help you prepare your trip!
Cuyabeno
One of the most famous places in Ecuador and in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Cuyabeno Reserve is a true gem of biodiversity.
If you want to visit you will have to book a tour, though, as the Reserve is a protected area and you can only get in with a certified guide. These tours are kind of expensive, but they are worth every penny!
My tip to spend less? Do your research in Spanish! English-written tour operators’ websites often target foreign tourists and tend to charge you more!
Cajas National Park
What makes the Cajas National Park one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador? Its numerous lakes!
Although there is no official count of all the lakes in the Cajas, it’s said that there are more than 200 of them across the park. All of them with different shapes, depth, sizes!
If you like nature and tranquility, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise there. Wander along the numerous paths, observe the unique fauna and flora, have a picnic… Just enjoy the beauty of our world!
Be aware, though, that the park is located between 3000 and 4500 meters above sea level. So don’t forget to bring layers and be careful with altitude sickness!
MINDO
Have you heard of the cloud forest before? Well, I hadn’t before visiting the small town of Mindo!
So what’s a cloud forest, and what makes it so unique?
A cloud forest is a moist tropical or subtropical forest that is characterized by persistent low-level cloud.
Thanks to these special climate conditions, cloud forests are a different world when it comes to biodiversity. In Mindo, more than 500 species of birds have been recorded! So put your hiking shoes on, go for a walk in the cloud forest and try to spot some of these species!
If you are not into hiking, don’t worry! You will still be able to enjoy the small Ecuadorian town. Cable car rides, bike tours, chocolate museums… I promise you, you won’t get bored!