Planning a trip to Ecuador and in need to plan your budget too? Here is everything you need to know about Ecuador travel costs.
Pre-travel expeNSES
Plane ticket and Visa :
Depending on where you are from, the plane ticket can be a huge part of your budget. From Europe, you can find flights from €300, but it all depends on the period you want to travel, so I’d advise you to check Google Flights (I find it the easiest way to compare prices).
The good news is that you shouldn’t have to pay for a visa (again, it depends on where you are from, but all the foreigners I’ve met here didn’t have to!). Unless you want to stay more than 90 days in the country, you will have to pay $250 to renew your visa for 90 more days.
Bad news though, if you want to go to the Galápagos Islands… There is a $100 fee for foreigners to enter the area. But believe me, it is worth it!
Vaccines:
There aren’t any mandatory vaccines to enter Ecuador, but some are highly recommended. I’ve personally done yellow fever and hepatitis B as I knew I was going to stay there for a long time and, if I remember well, it has cost me $200.
Local transportation costs
The easiest and cheapest way to travel around Ecuador is by bus. I am not going to give you the price of every single journey you can make (that would take ages, lol) but you can expect to pay between $10 and $20 for a 4 to 8-hour bus journey.
If you are feeling comfortable driving a car there, the cost of the rental is approximately $60/day (for the smallest cars), and filling up the tank would cost you around $40 (I know, gasoline here is cheap).
If you want to lower your costs even more, you can try hitchhiking, but it is not very popular here. I have met some people who’ve done it bedore, but honestly, I wouldn’t advise you to do it. For obvious safety reasons!
food
My favorite thing to talk about! Ecuadorian food is delicious and can be REALLY cheap. You can find lunch or dinner deals (including a soup with a main dish) for $2.5/3, and believe me, after this, you will be FULL. Just ask for an “almuerzo” for lunch and a “merienda” at night.
Of course, some places are fancier and more expensive, but if you want my opinion, the cheapest local cuisine is the best. I couldn’t give you a logical explanation for this, but that’s what I’ve learned during my time here.
Street food is also really popular in Ecuador (and even cheaper), so if you are tired of local cuisine, just walk around and find a local “fast food”. Not gonna lie, I am kind of obsessed with their “salchipapa”.
If your accommodation allows it, you can also cook yourself. But hey, if you want to save money, just go to the local market instead of the supermarket. Supermarkets here are EXPENSIVE. Almost as expensive as they are in Europe… So save your money and go to the farmers market.
Accommodation
From what I’ve heard, Ecuador is one of the most expensive countries in South America regarding the hospitality industry. I still think it is kind of cheap, though, lol.
You can find hostels for less than $10/night and per person, and private rooms for $20.
Of course, if your budget allows it, you can get more expensive accommodations. As we say, the sky is the limit.
Activities
Most things to see and do in Ecuador are nature-related and can be done without a guide.
Of course, you can book some special activities through platforms like Get Your Guide, but if you don’t have the budget you will still be able to enjoy the beauty of the country of the four worlds.
So in the end, what budget do you need per day to travel around Ecuador?
If you are on a tight budget, I believe that you can easily live with $25/day and per person. Some days will be more expensive than others (traveling days for instance) but if you are organized and responsible, you will make it work.
Now, if you still require some convincing to visit Ecuador, here is my article on “What is Ecuador famous for?”.