the viewing deck: 41 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Ecuador

93 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in South America

March 24 to May 04, 2021

My 126th country visited on my journey beyond #lakbay100, 93rd solo backpacking trip, 9th country in South America and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. Ecuador served also as the 13th country on my 2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip, the new normal of traveling.

Ecuador is a country in Northwestern South America, with a Pacific Ocean coastline, lying on the Equator between Colombia, to the northeast, and Peru, to the south and east. Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Ecuador has over one hundred different types of hummingbirds and thousands of orchid varieties. The Galapagos Islands are justly famed for their wildlife. Ecuador’s official tourism organization is launching the second phase of its “All You Need Is Ecuador” campaign, in 2015 the first-ever foreign-sponsored Super Bowl ad was launched, at a cost of $3.8 million.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Ecuador

ECUADOR E-VISA APPLICATION IN LIMA, PERU APPLIED ONLINE (March 2021)

Requirements: (1) 2 pieces passport size color photo, (2) Color photocopy of passport information page, (3) Color photocopy of credit card, (4) Latest 3 months statement of bank account, (5) Authenticated Police Clearance from Home Country

Fee payment: Application Processing Fee (Mar. 11) 50 USD, Visa Fee (Mar. 17) 400 USD

41 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Ecuador

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ECUADOR

timezone - UTC -0500H capital - Quito language - Spanish currency - Dollar (USD)

visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply before travel

1. Ecuador is the only country in the world named after a geographical feature.

2. Ecuador has the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, #1 is the Galapagos Islands and #2 is the City of Quito.

3. Ecuador is one of only two countries in South America that does not share a border with Brazil.

4. Ecuador is the closest country to space. The equator is closer to space and farther from the center of the Earth than anywhere else, Mount Chimborazo is actually 1.5 miles “higher” than Mount Everest.

5. Charles Darwin visited Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands in 1835 and largely based his theory of evolution on the discoveries he made there.

41 DAYS SOLO PANDEMIC TRIP IN RAINY ECUADOR ITINERARY

Day 48: Mar. 24, 2021 Wed / Guayaquil 1

Day 49: Mar. 25, 2021 Thu / Cuenca

Day 50: Mar. 26, 2021 Fri / Riobamba 1

Day 51: Mar. 27, 2021 Sat / Riobamba 2 Mt. Chimborazo day-hike (5,200masl)

Day 52: Mar. 28, 2021 Sun / Baños 1 Ruta dela Cascada tour

Day 53: Mar. 29, 2021 Mon / Baños 2 Mt. Tungurahua Volcano Refuge day-hike (3,830masl)

Day 54: Mar. 30, 2021 Tue / Baños 3 Puno Selva Amazon jungle trip

Day 55: Mar. 31, 2021 Wed / Baños 4 La Casa del Arbol day-hike

Day 56: Apr. 01, 2021 Thu / Baños 5 Rio Verde / Pailon del Diablo

Day 57: Apr. 02, 2021 Fri / Baños 6 Las Manos de Dios (Hands of God) day-hike

Day 58: Apr. 03, 2021 Sat / Baños 7 Termal del La Virgen

Day 59: Apr. 04, 2021 Sun / Quilotoa Loop 0

Day 60: Apr. 05, 2021 Mon / Quilotoa Loop 1 3 Nights Quilotoa Loop Hike

Day 61: Apr. 06, 2021 Tue / Quilotoa Loop 2 3 Nights Quilotoa Loop Hike

Day 62: Apr. 07, 2021 Wed / Quilotoa Loop 3 3 Nights Quilotoa Loop Hike

Day 63: Apr. 08, 2021 Thu / Quito 1

Day 64: Apr. 09, 2021 Fri / Quito 2 Ciudad Mitad del Mundo

Day 65: Apr. 10, 2021 Sat / Quito 3 Laguna Cuicocha (3,512masl) reverse loop day-hike

Day 66: Apr. 11, 2021 Sun / Quito 4 Rucu Pichincha (4,696masl) day-hike

Day 67: Apr. 12, 2021 Mon / Quito 5 Parque Metropolitano walk

Day 68: Apr. 13, 2021 Tue / Coastal 1 Puerto Lopez

Day 69: Apr. 14, 2021 Wed / Coastal 2 Playa Montañita

Day 70: Apr. 15, 2021 Thu / Coastal 3 Playa Chipipe, Playa San Lorenzo

Day 71: Apr. 16, 2021 Fri / Coastal 4 Playa Canoa

Day 72: Apr. 17, 2021 Sat / Coastal 5 Playa Canoa

Day 73: Apr. 18, 2021 Sun / Quito 6

Day 74: Apr. 19, 2021 Mon / Quito 7

Day 75: Apr. 20, 2021 Tue / Quito 8 Sincholagua Volcano (3,356masl) day-hike

Day 76: Apr. 21, 2021 Wed / Quito 9 Cotopaxi Volcano Refuge (4,864masl) day-hike

Day 77: Apr. 22, 2021 Thu / Quito 10 Let's Eat Kusina Filipina meals

Day 78: Apr. 23, 2021 Fri / Quito 11

Day 79: Apr. 24, 2021 Sat / Quito 12 Ecuador Nationwide Weekend Lockdown

Day 80: Apr. 25, 2021 Sun / Quito 13 Ecuador Nationwide Weekend Lockdown

Day 81: Apr. 26, 2021 Mon / Coastal 6 Playa Atacames

Day 82: Apr. 27, 2021 Tue / Coastal 7 Playa de Tonsupa, Playa de Muisne

Day 83: Apr. 28, 2021 Wed / Coastal 8 Playa Same, Playa Sua

Day 84: Apr. 29, 2021 Thu / Guayaquil 2

Day 85: Apr. 30, 2021 Fri / Guayaquil 3 Malecon 2000 Walk, Aerialway Cable Car

Day 86: May 01, 2021 Sat / Guayaquil 4 Ecuador Nationwide Weekend Lockdown

Day 87: May 02, 2021 Sun / Guayaquil 5 Ecuador Nationwide Weekend Lockdown

Day 88: May 03, 2021 Mon / FLY-OUT

GRAND TOTAL: $1,062 + $400+ 341USD

41 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Ecuador

ECUADOR SOLO TRAVEL TIPS DURING PANDEMIC:

Airport Immigration Issues: one of the easiest / fastest / relax airport entry I ever had. In just less than 2 minutes I have my passport already.

Places Visited: Guayaquil, Cuenca, Riobamba, Chimborazo Volcano, Baños, Puyo, Tungurahua Volcano, Quilotoa Volcano Crater Lake, Quito, Otavalo, Laguna Cuicocha,

1. No money exchanger facility, banks don't accept huge bill ($100, $500) change unless you made any transaction with them. What I did was I seek the assistance of staff in Tourist Information Office to deposit my money (as they suggested) and then they will withdraw that money in ATM. In addition, most of the retail stores and public transportation doesn't change even just for $20. What I did was I don't show the smaller bills everytime I pay, force them to give me the change later.

2. Since Chimborazo Volcano summit hike is very expensive at 450 USD, DIY day-hike is way cheaper and easy. It is highly recommended to start the hike as early as 7am to avoid the heavy fog at 1000H and raining (hale) at 1100H. In addition, other tourists start to arrive at around 0900H.

3. Day Trip to Puyo Selva, the cheapest way to experience Amazon Tropical Rainforest (Miramera, Cascada Hola Vida, Wayuri Tribe, Canoe ride, Indi Churis, El Paraiso Cacao Farm) departs daily 0900H to 2000H for 25 USD is highly recommended if you have limited budget to visit Ecuador Amazon Rainforest.

4. Quilotoa Volcano Crater Lake Loop 3-Days Hike Traditional Route Summary: Ecuador's best DIY multi-day hike in Andes Mountains. Self-guided Solo Budget DIY hike from Sighos (2,824masl) to Quilotoa Volcano Crater Lake (3,910masl) with 42km total hiked distance at 16 hours and 2,850m total altitude gain. I spent less than $60 total in 3 days.

5. One of the hardest day-hike I ever did in my entire life, Budget DIY Self-guided Solo Hike to Rucu Pichincha (4,696masl) with 30km difficult back trail distance (very steep summit assault) at 13 hours and 2,245m continuous altitude gain. I started the hike from the hostel I check-in in Colon Street, the actual trailhead from Volcano Park is just 4km away.

6. Surprisingly, I did not see any colectivo vans or colorum taxis. All public transportation mode are legally established somehow.

7. Among the more than 6 beaches I've visited, I only like Playa Montañita due to its cleanliness and ambiance. Salinas beaches are like Ecuador's version of Miami and Cancun beaches.

8. There are lots of available cheaper flights to/from Guayaquil than Quito.

9. For Filipino food trip and cheap souvenirs in Quito, Google map "Let's Eat Kusina Filipina" and "Mercado Artesenal La Mariscal".

10. On airport arrival, Ecuador requires Negative PCR Test within 72 hours validity.

11. On airport departure, my next destination Guyana requires Negative PCR Test within 72 hours validity. Medika provides Covid19 PCR Test for $45 (the cheapest I had) with 24 hours result (physical passport is always required as identification), appointment not required.