Part of our Ecuador guide.
2 places and guides from our Ecuador coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: What It Costs In Switzerland, Things To Do In Ecuador, Hidden Gems In Ecuador, and Beaches In Ecuador.
What Do Things Cost In Ecuador?
A budget traveler in Ecuador can get by on $30–$40 per day, while a mid-range traveler should plan for $60–$80 per day. Those figures cover accommodation, three meals, local transport, and one paid activity.
A dorm bed in a hostel costs $8–$12 per night; a private room in a mid-range hotel runs $25–$45. A basic lunch set menu (almuerzo) is $2.50–$4.00; dinner in a casual restaurant costs $5–$10. A 20-minute taxi ride within a city is about $3–$5. A long-distance bus ticket between major cities (e.g., Quito to Cuenca) costs $10–$15. A domestic beer in a bar is $1.50–$3.00; a cappuccino in a café is $2–$3. Entry to most museums and national parks is $2–$10. These prices were current in 2023–2024.
Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a city centre ranges from $400–$600; outside the centre it drops to $250–$400. Utilities (electricity, water, internet) add $50–$80 per month. Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency, so there is no exchange-rate guesswork for American visitors.
How Much Does It Cost To Hike The Quilotoa Loop
The Quilotoa Loop is a multi-day trek through the Andean highlands, ending at the turquoise Quilotoa crater lake. A self-guided hike costs roughly $10–$15 per day for food and accommodation if you stay in basic hostels in villages such as Latacunga, Chugchilán, or Isinliví. A guided tour from Quito costs $100–$150 per person for two days, including transport, meals, and a guide.
Entry to the Quilotoa crater viewpoint is $2. A night in a village hostel costs $8–$12 per person. Meals along the trail (lunch or dinner) run $3–$5. Transport from Quito to Latacunga by bus is $3–$4; from Latacunga to the trailhead at Sigchos or Isinliví is another $2–$3 by local bus. The loop itself is 30–40 km (18–25 miles) and takes 2–4 days depending on pace. The trail is well marked, but many hikers hire a local guide for $30–$50 per day to navigate the high-altitude terrain (the crater sits at 3,800 m / 12,500 ft).
If you have extra time, consider exploring the Pululahua volcano and a hotel perched inside the caldera, a short drive from Quito. The volcano is one of the few inhabited craters in the world, and the hotel offers an overnight stay with views of the cloud forest. Our coverage of hiking and the outdoors in Ecuador includes other high-altitude treks and volcano climbs.
