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 Travelers can visit the Ecuador year-round. Certains areas are better at certain times of the year, but there are no general cut-and-dried rules.
Quito definitely has its own rhythm. It is a "mountain" city. The dry season is normally from June to August, which is when most foreign visitors arrive.
The Ecuadorian people divide themselves into categories which reflect the immense cultural variety of Ecuador. One division is between the mountain and coastal cultures. This is a natural definition, that goes back to pre-Columbian times. Mountain people see themselves as more industrious, more reserved, conservative, and quiet. Coastal people are proud of being happy and gregarious.
 The traveler will most likely find all Ecuadorian people to be extremely helpful and kind. However, anyone having been here for a while can tell you stories of frustration with telephones, banking, water pressure and temperature changes.
This page can help you to anticipate these obstacles, as well as to put a little more magic into your vacation.
Ecuador is a wonderful vacation destination, it's very inexpensive also. Transportation is amazingly good, although the schedules are sometimes unreliable and you need to re-confirm information before setting out.
Visas & Documents
All tourists entering Ecuador need a passport (valid for at least 6 months) and a T-3 tourist card, which is available on arrival and is free. Don't loose it , because you'll need it to extend your stay, at passaport checks and when you leave the country.
The maximum stay is for 90 days but less is often given. You can get an extension in Quito at the immigration office.
Once inside the country, you should always carry your passaport because there are occasional document checks on public transportation. It's a good idea to have a copy of the important pages of your passport kept separately from it. On the back, list emergency phone numbers and your airline tickets, traveler's checks, credit cards and other important documentation. You should also make copies of your airline ticket and insurance policies.
All this will make it much easier to prove who you are if your documents are lost or stolen.
Health
 Many people have little or no difficulty with the altitude. Just take it easy and drink lots of water. Anything that improves circulation is good, such as ginger tea. Be conservative with your diet until your stomach adjusts to the change. Anyone who have been out of his country have to allow time for his body to adjust to a difference in food.
Because of the climate, the sun, the lack of winter, Ecuadorians take for granted many types of food which are considered rare or seasonal treats elsewhere. For example, berries may be bought all year round. Many fruit cannot be found elsewhere in the world, so eat as much as you want while you are here! And taste the typical dishes as well.
Here in Quito one can get all of these taken care of at reliable clinics and pharmacies have all the latest medications for the most part.
When you return home, have yourself tested for tropical parasites. This is just simply reality; even Ecuadorians get tested every year and take medication. When we say that Ecuador has bio-diversity, we mean it in every sense of the word, and we must live with it as well as love it. Consult your physician and embassy about shots and vaccinations.
Drastic changes in diet experienced while traveling can often make you susceptible to minor stomach ailments, such as diarrhea. The major problem which can result is fluid loss leading to severe dehidration. To combat this, drink plenty of liquids, such as herbal tea, mineral water and caffeine-free soft drinks. Avoid milk. If you are hungry, stick to a light, bland diet, such as crackers, toast and yogurt, until you fell better. Following this precautions, you can get rid of diarrhea naturally in about 24 or 36 hours. Rest as much as you can.
Malarial mosquitoes dont't live above 2,500 meters, so here in Quito you don't need to worry about it. But, if you plan to visit the coas or the jungle, you should purchase anti-malarial pills in advance. They have to be taken 2 weeks before and after your visit. The always - asked question is whether to take the medicine, with its side effects, or not. Plenty of people do go without medication, and have no problem. However, sometimes people do contract malaria. One can be safe and sure taking the strongest one with its side effects, or, be more comfortable without it, and take a risk.
Money
Since September 2000 the official currency is the US dollar.
 Travelers checks are widely accepted, and Visa, Mastercard and American Express have offices that can help you in Quito. Credit cards are convenient and accepted, but businesses are likely to charge an additional fee. Airline tickets however, can be charged without the extra 12 percent fee.
For services in Quito, you are likely to pay a 12 percent sales tax, and a 10 percent service charge. Some restaurants add this to the bill; others do not. We advise people to give extra personal tip when you receive good service.
Security & Safety
First, check with your airline about their lost luggage policy BEFORE you fly. Luggage is sometimes mistakenly routed to other cities, and during the days you are waiting for its return, some airlines will give you a monetary allowance for every day that you are without it. It is best to know your airline's policy before you travel.
Don't forget that, although it is a small country, Quito is a big city, with big city problems. Having said this, would like to say that there has been (and still has) some journalistic exaggeration of the unrest here. During the occasionals strikes, travelers have felt relatively safe walking around the city and even throughout the country, although transportation during these times is unreliable. Strikes are used here as a way of communicating dissatisfaction, the main repercussion being inconvenience, not violence.
 Quito is
probably relatively one of the safest capitals in the world. Considering the crime that is inherent to large cities, the robbery that some travelers find here is at most a disappointing inconvenience. Of course there is serious crime, but nothing similar that of any other large city in Europe or North America.
The problem is that as a tourist, you have become a target; you stand out as a person with valuable possessions. Keep your eyes and hands on your possessions at all times; in crowded areas, pick-pockets are common. Carry your pack or bag in front of you; leave nothing of value in any outside pocket; take taxis, specially at night. We can give you phone numbers for the best taxi services in the city.
You are in danger whenever you are in isolated places alone, such as in the public parks, or on the streets at night. So, stay away from deserted areas. Manuela, the owner of Posada del Maple Hostel, has begun a neighborhood watch program and there is extra security here at night.
Do not leave valuables out in the open. Put them in the safe. This is also as much for the peace of mind of the hotel workers as for its guests.
What to bring
- this is always good advice. Just bring what is really important to you.
Clothes are relatively inexpensive in Ecuador, though shoes bigger than 43 - Ecuadorian size (10 - American size, 9 - British size) are hard to find.
 As the highlands are aften cold, you should bring a windproof jacket and warm clothing, although we have beautiful wool sweaters and long-sleeved cotton shirts that can be bought inexpensively at the Indian markets.
Tampons are expensive and available only in the major cities; sanitary pads are cheaper and more common. Condoms are widely sold, but spermicidal jelly for diaphagms is hard to find. Oral anticonceptives are limited in supply, so bring your preferred brand from home.
Luggage storage is offered by many hotels in the bigger towns, so it is always a good idea to divide your gear into 2 piles: one for what you'll need for the next section of your trip, and the other to stash in the storage room at your hotel base.
It´s always a good idea to bring a guidebook, there should be some good ones about South America or Ecuador on your bookstores, and a Spanish-English dictionary and phrasebook, if you are not fluent in the
native language. Try to learn some Spanish phrases before coming to Ecuador - it's polite and appreciated.
More Information
For the widest spectrum of information on Ecuador or to learn how to travel independently without guides, we recommend visiting and becoming a member of the South American Explorers. The Quito clubhouse is a great place to hang out and is only a few blocks away from the Posada del Maple. Malaria medicine can be purchased in the club house, at a reduced cost.
You can, also, check on internet some sites about Ecuador.
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