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Stunning waterfall cascading in a lush Ecuadorian valley, surrounded by green mountains.

South America

Backpacking Ecuador

Ecuador is compact and varied, and Quito, its high-altitude capital, is the usual backpacker base for the Andes, the Amazon and trips to the Galápagos.

Photo: K / Pexels

Hostel destinations in Ecuador

Stunning waterfall cascading in a lush Ecuadorian valley, surrounded by green mountains.

Baños de Agua Santa

Thermal baths, waterfalls and adventure sports at the foot of TungurahuaImpressive view of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with blue domes under a cloudy sky.

Cuenca

A colonial Andean city of domes, rivers and cobbled streetsAerial view of Quito featuring Panecillo Hill and Virgin statue, capturing historic architecture and vibrant cityscape.

Quito

A high Andean capital with a UNESCO-listed old town and volcanoes on the horizon

Hostels and backpacking in Ecuador

Ecuador packs the Andes, Amazon rainforest, Pacific coast and the Galápagos Islands into a relatively small country, so bus journeys between regions are often only a few hours. Quito's historic centre was one of the first places named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the city is a gateway to Cotopaxi, the Quilotoa crater lake and Baños.

Hostels in Quito are found in the historic centre and in the livelier La Mariscal and La Floresta areas. Elsewhere, hostels in places like Baños and on the Quilotoa loop tend to be outdoorsy, with tour desks for hiking, rafting and cycling. Many backpackers use Quito as a base, leaving bags at a hostel while they take side trips.