Ecuador: The Don'ts of Visiting Ecuador

[@Cta2006]

Ecuador is rainforests, beaches, hot springs, mountains and volcanos, islands, animal life, culture, handicrafts and guinea pigs 🙂I visited in 1997: Quito, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Playas, Otavalo, Ambato, Misahualli, Incapirca, Riobamba, Ibarra, Cotacachi and Cotopaxi,

[@jaciboughter6762]

The vast variety of animals and flora in this nation is insane! I never even made it to the Amazon and I was shocked! It’s one of my most favorite trips ever! Most of my trip was in the mountains and we fought altitude by doing the trip up to the top in the gondola and had no issues! Recommend Ecuador to anyone! And Baño!

[@alejandroadrian2003]

Y eso q no fuiste a galápagos

[@zosko1]

I'm most likely never going to go to Ecuador. But theres something about wolters world thats so easy and comforting watch which is such a great relief when i'm stressed with work

[@juliannestraus395]

We just got back from Ecuador last week and I used a ton of these videos to prep for our trip. The only thing I disagree with is the driving! We did a loop from Quito-> Tena->Banos->cotopaxi->Mindo->Quito and I’m so glad we rented the car. The driving was not nearly as scary as various forums led me to believe, though it’s also not like US driving. Though we opted not to drive into the historic center of Quito just to avoid any issues with big traffic areas.

[@livinglifetothefullest22]

What is scary? Bad drivers? Fast? Reckless? Bad roads? Please tell me because we want to go there and rent a car... thanks in advantage!🙏🏼

[@alejandroadrian2003]

​@@livinglifetothefullest22 😅tranquilo todo es muy seguro aqui

[@leedsbutler3567]

@@juliannestraus395 have any suggestions for a rental agency and cost per day?? Thanks!

[@juliannestraus395]

@@livinglifetothefullest22 A lot of people said that the drivers were crazy but I really didn't see a lot of that (keep in mind we didn't go to Guayaquil and I didn't drive in Quito). The roads can be concerning in the mountains because of the winding, but I found them to be surprisingly wide and you could fit three cars wide on them. Overall, I felt much safer in my own car with a functional seatbelt than the time we were in a taxi

[@juliannestraus395]

@@leedsbutler3567 I used Enterprise because I have a corporate code, which helped me and we can drive manual which keeps costs down. But I would warn that we were required to add collision insurance to the rental despite having insurance through credit cards because liability insurance isn't mandatory in Ecuador. With everything, I probably paid $40 per day, but like I said, I had a code to get a discount

[@norarodriguez3125]

Thank you so much for making videos about Ecuador…. Hello from an Ecuadorean-American 😊

[@woltersworld]

Glad to. We had a fun visit.

[@christianmarquez4110]

Great video sir! As an Ecuadorean it is really impressive how accurate you are! Been following you for years man! Keep it up 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@jeffhunt2778]

Ecuador is stunning but the people here are more stunning. I slow travel and if there was one place that would make me settle down it is Ecuador.

[@roddiesimmons8773]

My Brazilian American only daughter is going to Ecuador for her 24th. birthday. I am sending this to her 😎

[@clvrswine]

No one cares.

[@maryoleary2037]

@@clvrswine Who peed in your cornflakes?

[@kisguzal]

2019년에 에콰도르 여행을 했습니다. Quito 에서 Puyo, Chimborazo, Riobamba, Cuenca 로 운전하며 갔는데 경치도 멋있었고 만나는 사람들이 다 친절하고 좋았습니다. 고산병으로 고생했는데 Vicuna 50여마리 무리들이 달리는것을 목격한것은 영원히 잊지못할 기억입니다. 문화와 전통의 해안도시Guyaquil 도착하니 고산병이 거짓말같이 싹 나았습니다. 에콰도르 여행 강력히 추천합니다.

[@denisenoble4010]

being on a birding trip, we hired a bird expert and driver to see some fabulous birds in lots of places, when we woke the first morning, we were in the middle of nowhere with an 8 year old, but she had the time of her life the driver kept her amused playing games, one day we did some high wire 'zip lines and we insisted our driver and guide came with us, we paid their food and insisted they were part of our family group. my husband would not have identified a 10th of what he saw, our guide Gabriel was a walking encyclopaedia and our driver Johnny,adored our daughter so much, he got his friend, a local horse owner to turn up with 3 horses so my daughter could go horse riding, we went too, wow what an experience

[@jocelynwoltersworld]

Our guide in Ecuador, to this day, was the best guide we've ever had. To be a guide in Ecuador, you must have an education and tons of CEUs on loads of things, ecology, geology etc It shows, too!

[@estelamino6356]

Thanks for visiting..enjoy..all the best for u...,🇪🇨

[@kayandpaulwest7941]

We loved this video! My husband and I moved to Ecuador 3 years ago and this video is spot on! Great advice!

[@chasesquiresecuador]

I've lived in Cuenca for going on 5 years and traveled by bus all over the country. Pretty much all of this video is spot on (he forgot to mention that not only do bus trips take longer than you think, but there is usually not a working bathroom on board, go easy on the coffee before you get on). But I wanted to add a more up-to-date perspective on a few things. Altitude: For most people, not a big deal. Please remember the state of Colorado makes a living luring flatlanders from Texas up to ski for a week at 12,000 feet. That tourism model wouldn't work if people couldn't do vigorous exercise at altitude. Water: In Cuenca, you can drink the tap water and eat salads without worry. Cuenca prides itself on its clean tap water. I've been drinking the tap water for years, never an issue (the rest of the country, yeah no). And taxis: That's kind of old advice. We flag down yellow cabs all over, it's not a problem. The taxi drivers are protective of their jobs and won't tolerate pirate cabs anymore. In Quito, Guayaquil, Manta and others, you have to ask what the fare is before you get in or you can get gringoed. But in Cuenca, they use a meter, you see the fare as you ride (and hard to imagine a taxi ride of more than $3 anywhere in Cuenca .... as Mark says, do tip a bit, fifty cents will get you a smile). In Quito and Guayaquil you can also use Uber now, works just like the US. Not in Cuenca, though, cabs are too cheap for Uber to compete.

[@raiz91]

Welcome to Ecuador 🇪🇨.

[@FredRuddock]

There are cities and even towns with safe chlorinated water in Ecuador. However if water is shut off for repairs it is a really good idea to boil your water. I also eat salads and street food throughout Latin America without issues. I typically spend six months a year traveling Latin America and especially South America and Ecuador. I may have some immunity built up compared to average tourists.

[@MrOoofah]

Yes re Cuenca. A beautiful colonial city. Great architecture. No crowds. Go there and just relax.

[@woltersworld]

It really is!

[@MrOoofah]

We go there a lot. It’s beautiful and no crowds. Just tranquilo.

[@rioscueva1899]

Thank you Sir! Ecuador is thankful for your support!

[@clvrswine]

I will avoid Ecuador after watching this.

[@rokrmax]

Are you an Ecuadorean?

[@asdrubalvivanco2301]

@@clvrswine Great!

[@charleneware6574]

Im going on a rain forrest adventure in December. I was told to expect wet, mud, mosquitos, and humidity. I can't wait!!!

[@asdrubalvivanco2301]

In Dec rains but from Jan to May rains there a lot. The rest of months are dry.

[@Scott-Terry]

This is a VERY GOOD Video! Great advice! Thank you for sharing.

[@svenbutton331]

I'm moving from Switzerland to Ecuador for the next 6 months to do volunteer work and have no clue what to expect. This has helped me so much! Thnaks for the informative video :)

[@denisenoble4010]

i wish we had seen this before we went , we stayed in cloud forest for a week, i packed us for Ecuator temps, we lived in the single jumper we all had with us for the whole week, because it was cool and wet most of the time. we had a great time, but on 1st or 2nd day i washed out some underware, i brought it home and it was as wet as the day i washed it. we saw some amazing birds, wildlife but we came home and our feet looked like we had stood in the bath too long lol. Cash machines only in the airport. great videos. going to watch others of places weve been and i let you know if i agree haha or anything else to add

[@jocelynwoltersworld]

We stayed in the cloud forest, too. Lawd, we never dried out!

[@cmleoj]

I love the brutal bathroom descriptions! Good info.

[@JenTrax76]

Another fantastic video about Ecuador, THANK YOU!

[@woltersworld]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@josephpanzarella1417]

I was in Ecuador in 2018 and had a wonderful time! I met many people who were "just passing through" on their way to the Galapagos Islands. I've seen videos showing how much the islands are becoming ruined by tourists. In my opinion the only people who should be allowed to visit the Galapagos Islands are scientists, researchers and, perhaps, documentary filmmakers. The rest, keep away. Don't ruin this unique ecosystem. Besides, Ecuador itself, the real Ecuador, is a fantastic place to visit. You should focus on that.

[@maryoleary2037]

But the main Galapagos islands rely on tourism for their economy. If everyone stayed away, hotels, restaurants, tour services, diving expeditions etc. would close down and huge numbers of people would be unemployed. Besides, as of August 2024, every visitor to the Galapagos pays $200 for entry, plus a $20 transit card. Think how much money that pumps in the treasury of the Galapagos.

[@christopherkammer2445]

My husband and i are heading to Ecuador over Labor Day week. We're very excited to explore such a beautiful country and stay at the Hacienda Cusin, which we booked without knowing you also stayed there. Also, I-L-L from a fellow Illini and marketer!

[@TravelwithTravelarii]

Thanks for the tips, Mark. Very insightful.

[@TahiraSaleem-g1c]

Perfect

[@jdsantibanez]

Hey, we don't say "Adiós." We say "Chao." Or "Hasta luego."

[@shozabmirza5054]

Wow ❤❤❤

[@tobiojo6469]

Hey Mark, awesome video

[@JRNY07]

I learned that lower SPF’s don’t mean anything the closer you get to the equator. I normally use a 30 in Florida. Take it to 50 or above if you’re much further south. I was a lobster after visited Aruba & Curaçao on our cruise. And yes, sunblock bought there is really expensive. Think we paid $28 for a bottle of it in Aruba.

[@theodoresmith5272]

My favorite is the cloud forest on either side of the high Andes.

[@woltersworld]

Yeah. Got to use high high high spf

[@muhammadrazzaq3086]

Wow

[@CricketTVHD]

Wishing you all the best 👍

[@troyerrand]

Omg. I'm from Ecuador ❤❤❤❤

[@ibrahimilyas7685]

Wao

[@babsr8479]

This is great advice 😊

[@woltersworld]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amberalihamdani3278]

Love it

[@amberalihamdani3278]

Cool

[@MirzaZahid-q4x]

Fantastic

[@AfzalAzam-f1x]

Wao great

[@MisbhaParveen-n5r]

Wow awesome

[@katherinesaucedo740]

Thank u for your beautiful post. How much does it cost to hire a driver for the whole day and if you can suggest one. Thank you

[@msbeecee1]

You can drink the water in Cuenca. I been doing it for a month.

[@RehanSaab-v4v]

Great video sir

[@MuhammadHashim-j6j]

Good

[@Angela-t7y]

Wow awesome 😎👍

[@iqrafatima4739]

Love from Pakistan ❤

[@estelamino6356]

Thanks great inf....

[@contingencywoman8550]

Your video about Ecuador was the first one I watched about 4 years ago. Since then after tons of research and spending a month there we are currently packing to move there when my husband retires two months from now. Visas all set up. Yes we know about the trouble in Ecuador but we plan to live in the Andes region which is safer. And again, we have self-educated at length about the dos and don'ts. Large expat communities, low cost of living, and favorable climate, and proximity to the US make it a good choice for us. PS, Wear that backpack on your front and keep it on your lap when riding on one of those buses you mentioned! The biggest downside of Ecuador is there are a lot of poverty stricken people and while they are a polite and friendly culture, petty theft is rampant especially on buses. Keep your electronics out of sight. Don't wear fancy jewelry. Don't set anything of value down or leave it unattended. Probably common sense protocol for any Latin American county and many others as well. One last thing, if you're traveling a distance within Ecuador from one city to another either fly or hire a reputable driver and travel in the daytime (especially during rainy season through the mountains) Again, not on a bus! Aside ftom theft issues, the roads are not well maintained and drivers often pass one another trying to make better time, which is terrifying. Unless you're an adrenaline junkie who likes taking your life in your hands, then I'd say go for it! A lot more people die in traffic accidents in Ecuador each year than in the crime that is in the national news.

[@miltonlehman4069]

Ecuador is called r the country of the 4 worlds ...The Coast , the high Lands, The Jungle (oriente) and Insular region the Galapagos Island totally different from Ecuador's main Land

[@aldam4293]

Hi Wolter, how would I find a local guide in Guayaquil for 2 or 3 days and approximately how much would it cost per day?

[@maryoleary2037]

Hope you can answer my question. We will be family group of ten people spending two weeks in Ecuador. What is an appropriate tip for a tour guide, not per person, but for the group. We have a few half day tours lined up. I assume the driver gets about 1/2 of what the guide gets. Thanks!

[@Sonia_178]

Thank you for sharing!! One of my best friend's hometown and still learned some new things from here!!

[@AtifKhan-fw5jd]

Awesome 😎

[@tayyabakamranwasimiqbal9176]

Good work

[@larrypicard8802]

The tap water in Cueca is fine. I've lived here for four years with no problems. It's not necessary to tip for an almuerzo. Not a good idea to bring the US tipping culture to Ecuador. I tip occasionally but never more than 10%. No one in Ecuador uses adios, it's hasta luego.

[@karl7776]

Nice video

[@karenb2782]

Wonderful advice! I just returned from Peru. Most of this advice would pertain to Peru as well

[@woltersworld]

I agree

[@jeffhunt2778]

Some good advise but I don't understand not eating salads. The vegetables her are amazing and I each salads everyday.

[@maryoleary2037]

The salad veggies are washed in water, that is not filtered or purified. For cooked vegetables, the bacteria is killed in the cooking, but raw vegetables can have traces of impure water.

[@slowvoltage]

@Wolters World Is this old footage or were you there recently?

[@matiin54]

Tap water in Cuenca is safe to drink. Everyone drinks it.

[@IrshadJani-m6e]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@backtobaking4054]

Honestly I had no idea about this.

[@IhtishamNawaz-o1t]

Nice vedio

[@amygetsstoked8644]

Put the paper in the toilet at the Quito Hilton 1 time. Clogged the toilet. Needed maintenance.

[@aestheticvibes1517]

👍🏻

[@AyeshaArslan-j1w]

like it

[@shawnsavage9341]

I just got a job in Quito. Promise me that I will love it.

[@JBALLER02]

Good luck buddy

[@alejandroadrian2003]

Bienvenidos al pais de los 4 mundos 🌎

[@ShaikhSahab-k2p]

Nice man

[@RosaLopez-lw6gb]

Ecuador has territory in the Antarctica too.

[@josephusanthonybumaat9690]

Hey Mark! How many times did you toot in Ecuador?😂

[@Ibraheemmalik-kj1do]

😊😊❤❤🎉🎉

[@thierryminet9682]

Ecuador is actually the country of four worlds. Oriente (Amazon), La Sierra ( Andes plateau), La Costa (the coast) and the Archipelago or Las Islas (Galapagos) so get your facts straight, I've been living here for years.

[@javiergonrub]

Dont forget to visit coast

[@jdsantibanez]

Actually The Galápagos is a fourth region.

[@relicofgold]

You said at the airport you can put toilet paper into the toilet. NO! Even at Quito international there are signs in the bathroom telling you that you CANNOT put toilet paper in the toilet!!

[@theodoresmith5272]

Take toitlet paper on your tours.

[@spanishmeatloaf7901]

Bring more one $ bills than you think you'll need. Seriously. Without the smallest bills your spending/buying ability can be put to a halt.

[@kristiG5259]

Dollar coins are even better!

[@AncientMysteriesAndInnovations]

I used to live in panama and many of the panama hats were made in costa rica 😆 🤠

[@alirazamalik459]

Oh no

[@ahmd5]

Take altitude sickness very seriously. yes usually most people might not have any problem or would suffer minor complaints but it can be deadly (rarely)

[@P0WSEETr]

I've heard mitad del mundo is a tourist trap

[@jocelynwoltersworld]

It is, but it's fun, nonetheless. Also, it's not something you can do just anywhere.

[@roddiesimmons8773]

P.S. My well-traveled brother clued me in that a laptop or higher need to have a dedicated (made for that device adaptor) when you are using the adaptor. I misplaced my Brazilian Dell Laptop adaptor and have been fighting with Dell to get one, because the American one will not work. You put your laptop in danger if you just use the portable ones you get on Amazon. 😎

[@geovannyzuniga6037]

Sorry don't mislead people with the hornado.. they make fresh..

[@freakishuproar1168]

It's funny, given what we think of Guinea Pigs here in the western world. They are _just_ the right size to be skewered though... ;3

[@Almneur]

The biggest DON'T is... DON'T TRAVEL TO ECUADOR. IT'S NOT SAFE ANYMORE.

[@406memories5]

That's just not true sir. You can still travel to Ecuador and feel incredibly safe. I personally feel safer in Ecuador than the US.

[@406memories5]

Would you go to Chicago? That's truly scary. Ecuador has become more unsafe but it still good to travel just inform yourself of the areas where you will be visiting.

[@dosdas2060]

Yes please stop coming to Ecuador everyone

[@AlvisePeltreraLeoneProductions]

Don't go. Simply as that!

[@woltersworld]

We lived our visit

[@TheFlick175]

Just dont go

[@Loreurka]

You should though, it’s a wonderful country. Spent 6months there and it was amazing

[@99Doogs]

Why

[@aaronclift]

@@99Doogslots of violence going on right now with gangs and cartels.

[@ryanmccormack4812]

Agreed. There are too many wonderful places in this world to spend time in s-hole places.

[@StamfordBridge]

@@ryanmccormack4812Lol. So clueless.

[@aapollo100]

Followed you for a few years, you should make positive videos about what to do, I know you get more clicks with these titles and rehashing old content though. Not to mention what not to do is pretty standard. Stay alert, adapt to local customs, dont go there and not try the food, dont spend all your time in one area, dont believe the over sensationalized news about crime, dont portray yourself as a target.

[@sweetpea5539]

😂 he has over a million followers, clearly he needs your critique 🙄

[@Candidopp]

I don't see this as negative at all. He's just mentioning potential pitfalls and preferable alternatives. He has a good attitude and isn't nagging or being mean-spirited

[@babsr8479]

He also has tons of the "Do's " of many places.

[@woltersworld]

Well, since we were kind of the first channel to do the donts, i kind of feel like i have every right ti keep making my donts videos. And since most of the donts are "dont niss this" so its really a "do" i dont think you watch many of my videos as we are super positive in pretty much all of our videos.

[@dalefisher3211]

@@woltersworldkeep up the great work every time me and my wife travel you’re the first KZbinr I go too ! Absolutely love the content !

[@ibrahimilyas7685]

Wao

[@amberalihamdani3278]

Cool

[@FewTechOfficial]

Awesome

[@Tramptraveller]

❤❤❤

[@Ibraheemmalik-kj1do]

😊😊❤❤🎉🎉

[@Ibraheemmalik-kj1do]

😊😊❤❤🎉🎉