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Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Ecuador [2025]
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Parque Seminario
5.0
/5
17 reviews
6.4
Centro de Guayaquil | >100 km from downtown
Phone +593987893035
Address: Rocafuerte Chimborazo, Guayaquil 090313, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Close encounter with gentle reptiles
See colorful, art-like lizards
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In a city park in the old town of Guayaquil, the so-called lizard park, there may be hundreds of them, not afraid of people at all. There are also many pigeons. You can buy feed from vendors, and then you will be surrounded by pigeons.
Guayaquil's Lizard Park is definitely a park for the faint of heart. There are hundreds of lizards of all sizes living here. The small ones are only a few centimeters long, and the big ones are 1 to 2 meters long. They look a bit scary, but they are actually quite docile. As long as you don't provoke them, they are still very cute.
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Basilica del Voto Nacional
4.3
/5
57 reviews
6.1
Based on 3,964 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +593963904065
Address: Venezuela 11-263 y, Quito 170130, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2024 Global 100 - Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Baroque style religious architecture
Panoramic Quito view from summit
36% positive reviews
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The National Vow Church is called "Basilica" by the locals. It is 151 meters tall and can be seen from any side of the city. It is indeed tall enough. Inside, it is very simple and there are not many things. There is an additional fee to climb to the top, which is not expensive. We were tired and did not go up. Other churches in Quito are much more luxurious than this one.
The church is indeed very gorgeous. Visitors can climb one of the spires for $2. Climbing to the roof of the nave, in addition to viewing the interior design of the church from top to bottom, the surprise is to see the stained glass windows up close! Because the tower is very narrow and can only accommodate a few people, you have to queue up to climb the stairs. This spire is more than 100 meters above the ground.
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Tortuga Bay
4.5
/5
21 reviews
5.7
Based on 3,540 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Address: Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Turtle nesting season spectacle
Hike 1.9-mile trail to Turtle Bay
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Turtle Bay is the only turtle protection area in China, and the turtles there are so cute. Huiren Bridge is really beautiful. The wind is a bit strong on the bridge, so it is very suitable for taking pictures in solid-colored clothes. At the end of Huixian Bridge is the #SeaTurtleHouse, there are large areas of cacti outside the house, which is very suitable for taking pictures!
You have to walk to Turtle Bay, which is nearly 8 kilometers round trip. You must bring enough water and sunscreen. The scenery is not as good as other beaches, but you can still see many animals unique to Turtle Island. During the turtle laying season, you can see artificial protective grilles on the beach, indicating that there are turtle eggs inside. Be careful to bypass them and don't destroy them.
No.
4
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Basilica and Convent of San Francisco
4.5
/5
20 reviews
4.9
Based on 1,723 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +59322959911
Address: Plaza de San Francisco, Cuenca 477, Quito 170401, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
Panoramic view from clock tower
Near Quito's Old Town & Independence Square
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It is located on one side of the Independence Square in Quito. It is a typical Latin American Baroque-style building. The exterior is very simple and the interior is also very simple. There are many tourists, most of whom are clergy and believers.
The old town of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a world heritage site, but it looks like Europe at first glance, except that the people walking on the street are darker and shorter. Today is Sunday, and all the churches are holding services. I went to visit the Cathedral of San Francisco, and the glass windows of the church are brightly colored and beautifully shaped. It is said on the Internet that you can go to the second floor, and the view is great. We went up to the second floor inside the church, but found nothing. Later we found out that we went up to the second floor from the outside stairs, but unfortunately the door was closed. There is an ice cream vendor at the door of the church. The vendor uses a spoon to stir in a constantly rotating pot. There are ice cubes outside the pot to keep it cold.
No.
5
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Charles Darwin Research Station
5.0
/5
12 reviews
4.5
Based on 3,391 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +59352526146
Address: Ave Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora 200105, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Wildlife watching in mangrove wetlands
Birthplace of Darwin's evolution theory
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The institute has a small range of unique species such as giant tortoises and land iguanas, as well as introductions to these species. Several exhibition houses mainly introduce Darwin's history and achievements. It is best to go to the Darwin Institute with a guide and listen to the explanations, otherwise the experience will be low. We went around by ourselves and couldn't understand many things.
The Charles Darwin Center is an exhibition hall in the Galapagos Province that displays the theory of evolution. It displays many local plants and fossils of animal evolution. It is a place where people can deeply understand the theory of evolution and it is worth visiting.
No.
6
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San Cristóbal Island
4.7
/5
13 reviews
4.5
>100 km from downtown
Address: Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 days
Highlights:
Snorkel & explore marine life
360° view of Galapagos Islands
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San Cristóbal Island is an isolated island in the Galapagos Province. The water around here is very clear and the underwater flora and fauna are rich. It is also an ideal diving site. You can swim with posters and various colored sea fishes. It is really lovely to watch their agile postures under the sea.
San Cristobal Island not only has gorgeous island scenery, but it is also the habitat of flamingos. There are many small freshwater lakes on the island, where flamingos live. Every time the sun sets, the sight of flamingos returning to their nests is very spectacular and truly unforgettable.
No.
7
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Calle La Ronda
4.7
/5
12 reviews
4.5
Based on 2,576 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Address: QFGP+87W, Venezuela, Quito 170130, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Discover Ronda's rich history & culture
Near Independence Square & St. Francisco Church
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La Ronda is known as Quito's bohemian street. The short streets are lined with colorful buildings and hung with small colorful flags. The atmosphere is joyful and energetic, which is completely different from the historical city. Since the colonial period, this place has been a gathering place for artists, literati, poets, politicians, etc. Many celebrities in Ecuador have visited.
There are still many coffee shops, youth shops and restaurants, all of which are local.
Ronda Street is a famous commercial street in Quito. Half of it is a pedestrian street. The business of the whole street is very developed. Many famous buildings and shopping malls are along the street. This place is equivalent to Nanjing Road in Shanghai and Wangfujing in Beijing. It is very lively. You must visit it when you come to Quito.
No.
8
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Malecon 2000
4.9
/5
40 reviews
4.4
Based on 3,686 reviews
Centro de Guayaquil | >100 km from downtown
Phone +593993075347
Address: Simon Bolivar Palacios, Guayaquil 090313, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.1 of Night Attractions in Ecuador
Highlights:
360° view of Guayaquil
Art exhibitions & photography regularly
25% positive reviews
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The Malecon 2000 riverside promenade in Guayaquil is a very lively and romantic pedestrian street. The lights here are bright at night, and the warm river breeze blows on your face, which is very comfortable. It is definitely worth a walk here.
This is a very famous scenic avenue in Guayaquil. The entire riverside promenade is dotted with many shopping malls and amusement parks. The scenery is very beautiful and free. Every night, the lights here are all over the place. The city of Guayaquil is particularly beautiful at night. Walking on the promenade here will make you feel particularly relaxed and happy.
No.
9
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El Faro de Guayaquil
4.8
/5
7 reviews
4.2
Based on 341 reviews
Las Penas | >100 km from downtown
Address: Sergeant Buitrón 384, Guayaquil 090313, Ecuador
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Lighthouse Top Floor Panoramic City View
Nightly light show bringing the city to life
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This is the most beautiful place in Guayaquil, Lighthouse Hill, which is located on the seashore. Its landmark building is a blue and white lighthouse. The terrain here is very high, and you can overlook the entire surrounding scenery and the beautiful sea view from afar. This is also where tourists gather in Guayaquil. It is very lively and must not be missed.
Pleasant walk up the 444 steps in Las Penas and tour the ancient artistic area and enjoy the Ecuador culture from old times to now!
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