Ecuador For Families-

The best places to visit + Travel tips

Table of Content

IntroductionSecurityActivities for kids! Horseback riding! Mitad del Mundo! Quito Zoo! The beachKid-friendly places to visit! Quito! Otavalo! Cuenca! Puerto Lopez & Isla de la Plata! SameFood! Octopus! Fresh Fruits! FlorAvanti! Ecuadorian Ice cream! Ecuadorian Candy! CocadasTips for traveling with the family! Time! Organization! Booking! Tasks! Climate! FoodConclusion!

Introduction

Traveling to South America is already an adventure and even more with a horde full of kids. The continent provides perfect playground for adventure and relaxation. It impresses with beautiful and divers scenery and rich culture. From volcanoes, rainforest to sandy beaches.

One country that puts all this in one big pot is Ecuador. As small as the state of Nevada, Ecuador makes it up with 4 different climate zones, 2300km coastline, the amazon forest and a mountain range lining up one volcano after another.

As there is so much to see and you, as a family, are going to be limited with time and energy, we’ve put together a guide how to explore and enjoy Ecuador the best while having a family on board.

Security

Security is always an important factor when traveling, and even more when traveling with the kids. The last thing you want to worry about is the safety of your kids while being on vacation. Latin America provides you with a great adventure that your kids always will remember.

South America is currently undergoing a travel renaissance. Its years of having something of a risky reputation are behind it, and the region is now proving itself to be a safe, vibrant and thoroughly exciting travel destination for backpackers, explorers as well as families.

Keep in mind that not all countries equally safe. This has many reasons,such as the current economical situation, government and mentality of the people in each country. Some of the saver countries are Perú, Chile y Ecuador. Ecuador might even be the safest country as it has a booming economy, great infrastructure and is heavily depending on tourism.

The country also adapted the US Dollar in the early 2000s which stabilized the country and initiated a steady grow of the economy and quality of life. The crime rates dropped significantly in recent years due to these changes in the country.

Activities for kids

Horseback riding

Horseback riding is fun for the whole family! And it’s even more fun in Ecuador. Depending on where you go you’ll have the opportunity to ride through dry forest and or beaches. Explore the outback of Ecuador in a very natural way.

Throughout the country, you’ll find many tour operators that offer family trips from just a couple of hours to multiple-day tours including accommodation.

Mitad del Mundo

Just a couple of minutes outside of Quito, the Mitad del Mundo (The middle of the World) is waiting to be explored by you and your family. Kids will definitely want to stand on the equator line to straddle two hemispheres!

Take the elevator up the Mitad del Mundo monument for a panoramic view. Due to its presentation style, its a fun way to learn about the culture of Ecuador.

Right next to the Mitad del Mundo is the “Intinan” museum, which is a must-see. The layout reminds of a botanic garden where kids have the possibility to move around freely and

discover more about Ecuador. The museum is located on the real “Mitad d e l M u n d o ” .

There is also a play area with slides and swings, shops and cafes for snacks around the monument.

Quito Zoo

Just a few miles outside of Quito, the city’s zoo accommodates over 130 native animals. The mission of the zoo is to conserve the biodiversity of Ecuador, with special emphasis on the species that are most in danger of extinction.

Most of the animals that are living in the zoo are donated or rescued from dangerous or unliveable s i t u a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e country. Visiting the Quito Zoo is a great way for the kids to discover exotic, South American wildlife.

A day at the beach

Who doesn’t love those never ending days at the beach. As once being a kid ourselves, we can not think of anything better during vacations than building sandcastles and roll around in the sand. There are many great beaches located along the 2,300 km coastline of Ecuador. Some are more kids-friendly than others.

Good beaches with a smooth tide are the beach of Samé and Atacames in Esmeraldas and the beach of Los Frailes in Manabí. All of them also offer a beautiful scenery that invites to relax and let the kids play at the long broad beach lines.

Looking for more information about kid-friendly beaches and the family destinations along the coast? Check out our other downloadable freebie here.

Kid-friendly places

Quito

When travelling to Ecuador you are most likely to enter the country via the hub spot and capital Quito. We recommend to spend some time in the city before heading out to explore the rest of Ecuador. The city has lots of family-friendly things to offer such as a gondola ride that takes you from 2,900 meters to 4,100 in less than 10 minutes. Once on the top you have the entire city in front of you.

Quito’s old town invites you to enjoy good Ecuadorian and international cuisine as well as many historic places and sightseeing spots. In old town you’ll also have the opportunity to go for a shopping trip as the area is full of little authentic stores that sell handcrafted toys for the kids and many other souvenirs.

Otavalo

The small town of Otavalo is located ca. 1.5 hours north of Quito and is perfect for a day trip with the family. The city is known for its big Saturday morning market that has everything under the sun. The market provides a good opportunity to get some souvenir shopping done, for your kids and for the loved ones at home.

Girls can buy earrings, necklaces, woven belts, and white embroidered blouses, just like the Otavalo ladies. Boys will enjoy traditional Otavalo clothing of dark blue wool ponchos and felt hats.

Cuenca

Cuenca is one of the bigger cities in Ecuador located in the country’s highlands. The city is known for being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site because of its many historical buildings. The city is very walkable and kids-friendly as well as save. In recent years, Cuenca became the address for expats to settle and retire.

You’ll find a lot of different foods from all over the world in the city as well as many little shops that invite for some souvenir shopping. The city has many things to do for the whole family. Starting with the centre of town, to beautiful parks up till the Amaru Zoologica Park which accommodates typical animals from Ecuador.

Puerto Lopez and Isla de la Plata

Puerto Lopez is a small fishing town in the province of Manabí and attracts a lot of visitors during the summer months. It provides plenty of accommodation in town as well as bars and restaurants. The beach of Puerto Lopez is a long and broad white sanded beach with plenty of space to relax and enjoy. The waves and tides are hollow. The village is also hub spot for day tours to the Isla de la Plata, a small island 45min away from the shore. The island is a popular tourist attraction as it possess a similar flora and fauna as the b i g b r o t h e r t h e Galapagos Islands.

Same and the market in Atacames

The province of Esmeraldas is the hidden gem of Ecuador. Often left out in the country reviews and travel guides, Esmeraldas has a very unique flora and fauna and provides perfect beach vacation conditions all year around. Unlike other coastal provinces in Ecuador, Esmeraldas has a semi-humid and warm weather. The water temperature basically never drops more than 2-3 degrees and typical rain seasons do not exist. The biggest city in the province is the city of Esmeraldas, a quite developed coastal town that possesses many hotels, restaurants, a board walk and some beaches.

The beach of Samé is more relaxed and one of t h e m o s t e x c l u s i v e b e a c h e s a l o n g t h e coastline of Ecuador. The water temperature almost d o e s n o t c h a n g e throughout the year which is perfect for a warm weather getaway. Samé impresses with a broad white sandy beach and is nestled in the hills of a small mountain ledge which makes it a quite relaxing place to spend your vacation. If you are looking for some dining options for you and the kids, the city of Atacamas is only 20 min away.

During season (June - December) the local tour operator offer tours for whale watching as well as tours to the close by Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. The reserve is partly rainforest and contains different biological zones with different temperatures, a unique flora and fauna and the possibility to spot exotic birds and other animals such as monkeys and different types of reptiles.

Our hotel, El Rampiral is a family friendly hotel which is located directly at the beach of Samé. If you want to know more about us, check us out here.

Food

The variety of food in Ecuador is almost never ending. Each climate zone has its own unique cuisine, varying with altitude, and associated agricultural conditions. The coast spoils you with fresh seafood and rice, while traveling through the highlands you’ll encounter many dishes focusing on pork, chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Although, Ecuadorian cuisine really fills you up, make sure that you have enough space for some desert. Because Ecuadorians loooove their deserts.

To give you a better idea of how the Ecuadorian cuisine looks like, we put together a couple of kids-friendly dishes and desserts which are very popular around there.

Octopus

Those dorky looking creatures are not only healthy but also a delicious and entertaining food that your kids will love. The consistency of cooked and BBQ-ed octopus will not only occupy your kids for a while but also entertain them.

Fresh fruits (mango con sal)

Fresh fruits are everywhere! And nowhere else are they as delicious as in Ecuador. Fresh juices, fruit salads or cut Mango topped with salt. You’ll find those delicious and healthy treats literally at every street corner thought the country.

FioraVanti

FioraVanti is the Ecuadorian answer to pop. A sweet delicious pop with an apple flavour and pink colour. Although, Ecuadorians refer to pop as “cola” in general, FioraVanti doesn’t even come close to the typical Coca-Cola or Pepsi. It is quite sweet but also very refreshing and goes well with almost any traditional dish in Ecuador.

Ice cream in fruit flavors

Ecuadorians love ice cream! All kinds of it! Besides the commercial ice cream your kids really will enjoy the self-made ice cream in fruit flavours such as coconut or pineapple. Freshly-made, you’ll often find local venders in the small villages along the highway who sell those delicious treats.

Ecuadorian candy

Kids love candy! And during long road trips or travels a chocolate bar can come in handy if the nerves are on the rope. Ecuadorian chocolate is perfect for those emergency situations. The country’s diversity gives place to an array of flavours and scents. In addition, the country is worldly known for its exceptional “cacao” (chocolate beans). Your kids will love it - just avoid their sugar rushes…

Cocadas

Cocadas are a traditional coconut candy found in many parts of Latin America. Although, there are different versions out there, the essentials are always the same. Cocadas are egg-based confectionary topped with coconut shreds. They come in variety colours due to the modern use of food coloring. Cocadas are oven baked but served at room temperature. You’ll find cocadas almost everywhere in the country but their Ecuadorian origin lays in the coast province of Esmeraldas.

Tips for traveling with the family

Traveling with kids not only takes patience but also energy. The days are over where you just grabbed your backpack and hit the road. Going on vacation with kids, whether they are your own or someone else’s, it provides an extra challenge to your tr ip planning. To make your life a bit easier, we’ve put together tips on how to to simplify your life on vacation.

Take your time

When preparing the travel with your kids, there are many things to consider and to plan through. It often helps to start planning a couple of weeks / months earlier (depending of the destination and type of vacation). Start plan your journey early enough so you don’t face hectic situations before you even leave to the airport.

Organization - The list!

To keep the overview over things that need to be done or packed, create a list. If you plan to travel with more than just one kid, make a list for each one - and double check them.

Book ahead

Unlike your solo-travel habit, it is better to have accommodations, transportation and if possible attractions / sightseeing tickets booked in advance. You want to have as much planned out as possible. This will give you more freedom to relax and enjoy during your travels.

Let them become photographers

Kids get bored easily, let them participate in the journey by giving them a disposable camera and give them the chance to capture their travel experience as well and observe their surroundings and focus on what interests them. You might be surprised how artistic your kid’s picture turn out.

Prepare for the climate

It’s simple advice, but children dressed comfortably for the weather and terrain will be happier in a new environment. It also reduces the level of stress for them and gives them the opportunity to let go and enjoy the vacation - which gives you the break you deserve.

Control their food

Keyword moderation! Everyone’s going to be in a better mood if your kids don’t run around all day on a sugar rush. Although, it might sound funny first, in reality its really not. Make sure your kids stay hydrated throughout the travel. Small snacks are better than candy. Fruits and veggies, sandwiches, bagels or crackers and cheese are good options. Perhaps, save an emergency chocolate bar for when the nerves are on the ropes.

Conclusion

Ecuador has so much to offer. When traveling with kids you need to make cut backs. You’ll probably won’t be able to see all the countries of South America but Ecuador is a good all-around option that provides a secure travel environment but also offers many things to see for you and the kids.

The Rampiral, located between the small fishing villages of Sua and Muisne, the hotel not only lets you enjoy beautiful beaches, unforgettable sunsets and excellent service.

Built in 1984 and renovated in 2012 the Rampiral sets new standards for luxury vacations along the coast line of Ecuador. With the access to some of the best beaches in the country as well as a safe and quiet environment, the Rampiral is the perfect place to sit down, relax and enjoy a fresh breeze from the Pacific Ocean.

Check out our special offers now!