Ecuador Travel

San Vicente Thermal Springs Complex

San Vicente Thermal Springs Complex

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Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Travel Budgets

A very frugal traveler in Ecuador can get by on $20 to $25 per day by staying in hostel dorms, eating at cheap restaurants with fixed price lunches, and traveling by bus. On about $30 to $60 per day you can sleep in a modest hotel room, expand your restaurant and beverage choices a little, and afford an occasional night on the town or day trip such as rafting or hiking. One the other hand, if you want to enjoy Ecuador in style, without concern for price, you can spend more than $60 in a day than the backpacker crowd does in a month, sleeping in 4 or 5 stars hotels. Seek out the fine-dining restaurants and luxury hotels in Quito, Cuenca, Manta and Guayaquil, visit an eco-lodge/spa in the Amazon , cruise the Galapagos on a floating boutique hotel, and substitute half-hour plane flights for eight-hour bus rides.

Traveler’s Etiquette in Ecuador

Ecuadorians greet people politely. In restaurants, stores, bus stations and other places of business, greet the staff with buenos días, buenas tardes, or buenas noches, depending on the time of day.

Greetings among friends and family consist of a kiss on the right cheek of each lady present (including young ones) and a handshake among men; greet a woman before a man when you have to choose.

In business meetings, or when meeting indigenous people, a handshake with a woman is appropriate.

In the major cities, Ecuadorians tend to be better dressed than tourists wearing sandals and safari clothes. You will be treated politely in all situations. However, if you wish to visit an elegant restaurant or fashionable club, you might wish to respect the other patrons’ desire to enjoy a certain atmosphere by dressing appropriately. A blouse and a formal pant well be nice for ladies, always think in the cold weather or maybe a strong rain in the city, the men will dress a casual shirt and and dockers will be nice.

When Ecuadorians are invited into a home for a meal or party, they customarily bring a small gift such as a dessert, wine or beer, or fresh flowers. A small souvenir from your country will always be admired, but try not to embarrass your host with outlandish generosity. Also remember that in Ecuadorian tradition giving a direct “no” to any invitation or offer is hurtfully rude.

Begging is common throughout Ecuador, and most Ecuadorians will give small change to disabled and elderly people. On the other hand, children who beg are learning to exploit others and are often being exploited by adults. You can help discourage this practice by politely refusing to give money in the streets and instead volunteering with or contributing to children’s charities. Take care always because some of them acts like beggars but are part of pick pocketing bands so always take care.

Basic Spanish Phrases in Ecuadorean slang and formal language

Conversation

• Please - Por favor
• Thank you - Gracias
• You’re welcome - De nada
• Excuse me - Permiso
• Yes- Sí. No - No. Hello - Hola
• Good morning - Buenos días
• Good afternoon - Buenas tardes
• Good evening - Buenas noches
• Good bye - Chao
• Do you speak English? - ¿Habla inglés?
• I don’t speak Spanish - No hablo español
• I don’t understand. No entiendo
• My name is... - Me llamo...
• What is your name? - ¿Cómo se llama?
• I am from... - Soy de...

Money

• How much does it cost? - ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Change in return - Cambio
• Small change - Sueltos
• One dollar / Dollars - un dólar / dólares
• Credit card - Tarjeta de crédito
• Taxes/fees/service - Impuestos/tarifas/servicio

Getting around

• Where is…?¿Donde está…?
• The bus station - la estación de bus
• A bank - un banco
• An ATM - un cajero automático
• A restaurant - un restaurante
• A hotel - un hotel
• An internet café - un café internet
• The airport - el aeropuerto
• I want to go to…- Quiero ir a…
• How do I go to…? - ¿Cómo voy a…?
• I want to buy a ticket - Quiero comprar un boleto
• Where does it leave from? - ¿De dónde sale?
• When does it leave? - ¿Cuándo sale?
• Tell me when. (e.g., when to get off the bus) - Avísame cuando
• I am lost - Estoy perdido
• Where am I? - ¿Dónde estoy?
• I need a taxi - Necesito un taxi

Accommodations

• I want a room - Quiero una habitación
• Single / Double / For a couple - Simple / Doble / Matrimonial
• How much does it cost per night? - ¿Cuánto cuesta por noche?
• Does that include breakfast? - ¿Incluye el desayuno?
• Does that include taxes? - ¿Incluye los impuestos?

Health and Emergencies

• Help! - ¡Socorro!
• It’s an emergency - Es una emergencia
• I need... - Necesito….
• a doctor - un médico
• an ambulance - una ambulancia
• a hospital - un Hospital
• the police - la policía
• I am sick - Estoy enfermo/a.
• He/she is sick - Está enfermo/a
• I am allergic to…- Soy alérgico/a a…
• Antibiotics - Los antiobióticos
• Penicillin - La penicilina
• Nuts- Nuez