Itinerary Ecuador 02 on 19/09/08 by -

MH Itinerary: Ecuador_02

 

Route: Cuenca – Guayaquil – Baños

Hostels:

Cuenca: Posada del Rio Lodging, dorms from $7US, privates from $12US.

Guayaquil: Hostal Tangara, contact hostel for rates.

Baños: Hostel Transilvania, dorms from $6US.

Travel:

Bus from Cuenca to Guayaquil: 4 hours, approximately $10US.

Bus from Guayaquil to Baños: 3 hours, approximately $5US.

*Note: Owing to Ecuador’s extremely small size and the very cheap / comprehensive bus system, there is no reason to spring for the costly flights between cities.

Notes:

Ecuador is a very small country, but has no shortage of wonderful sites for tourism. Its small size also makes it easy to get around quickly.

Getting around by bus is the best option, and there are many companies available. Websites for the bus companies are unwieldy, but the bus terminals are easy to navigate and have helpful staff. If you really want to call a company to make sure of a route or ticket, here is a good list.

Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, and one of its most charming. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is well preserved with cobblestone streets, parks, urban rivers, and cathedrals. The Baños just outside of town are excellent for fishing, and thermal baths are available for just $5US. The city has a unique amalgam of old and new, and you can find both throughout. The New Cathedral and El Sagrario are both excellent sites to see, started in 1885 and 1557, respectively. At night there are plenty of bar and restaurant options, ranging from bohemian to upscale.

Guayaquil has recently been undergoing a renewal of sorts, making it much more friendly to tourists. Travelers often use this port city as a jumping-off point for the Galapagos Islands, though it now has attractions of its own. You can visit General Villamil Playa, many new museums like the Museo Municipal and Museo Nahim Isaias, and the Santa Ana / El Carmen hills to see great views of the whole city.

Baños offers a wealth of outdoor activities for the budget traveler. Horseback riding, numerous treks, the Tungurahua Volcano, mountain biking; you can find it all here. And after a day of extreme sports, hunker down in the hot springs to work those knots out of your muscles. Besides the outdoor excursions, Baños offers a more peaceful city than Quito for learning Spanish. There are numerous schools that offer great rates.