Visit These 7 Mountain Towns of Ecuador

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In case you missed my last post about living in Ecuador, check it out here for background information. During my six months living in this gorgeous country, I traveled quite a bit. I took advantage of the incredibly cheap bus system and journeyed through many of the mountain towns of Ecuador.

There are many small towns and really neat little communities that deserve a visit, whether you are an expat or a tourist in Ecuador.

I’ve excluded Quito and Otavalo since they’ve already been highlighted as the best places to visit in Ecuador. From north to south, these are my top picks for the mountain towns of Ecuador that are worth a visit:

Cotacachi

Located just outside of Otavalo, which is about 2 hours north of Quito, Cotacachi is an adorable little town offering some of the finest handmade leather products in the region.

Fast becoming a major expat haven as well, Cotacachi offers tourists and expats alike a quaint escape into the stunning mountains.

The nearby city of Ibarra is where most people head for urban amenities, whereas Cotacachi harkens back to simpler, quieter times.

If you’re looking for a tranquil retirement spot, this may be what you need. If you’re looking for quality handmade leather and an adorable town to meander through, look no further than Cotacachi.

Visit Cotacachi Ecuador, best mountain towns of Ecuador

Cotacachi Volcano as seen from Otavalo, Ecuador

Mindo

A quick trip from Quito, Mindo offers some fun outdoor activities and a beautiful setting.

Go tubing down the easy rapids and hike through the mountain trails; visit the butterfly farm and enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie as you swing your day away surrounded by pristine nature.

Zipline across canyons and don’t forget to check out the chocolate factory!

Visit Mindo Ecuador, best mountain towns of Ecuador

Tubing in Mindo, Ecuador

The Quilatoa Circuit

South of Quito, and headed west from Latacunga, you’ll find Quilatoa National Park and the gorgeous Quilatoa Lake. 

Bring an extra jacket and stay the night at the top of the volcanic crater in one of the modest accommodations available. Spend the day hiking along the ridge if you’re brave, or simply head down

Spend the day hiking along the ridge if you’re brave, or simply head down into the crater lake to paddle around on a kayak for a while, taking in the unbelievable views and the intense colors of the water around you.

Baños

South of Latacunga and headed east off the Panamerican Highway, Baños deserves several days of a visit so you can truly take in everything it has to offer.

Hiking, volcano viewing, bridge jumping, waterfall touring, good eating, cheap sleeping, and warm bathing.

Yep, you’ll also find thermal baths here because of – you guessed it! – the nearby volcanic activity. If you’re lucky you’ll get to witness the volcano spewing some lava, just don’t be unlucky enough to have it ruin your trip.

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Beautiful waterfalls of Banos, Ecuador

Riobamba

Go see The Devil’s Nose. Sounds strange, right? That’s because it is.

Take a train – and, of course, sit on top of the train for better views – that zig-zags between the mountains that form what appear to be giant nostrils.

Watch out that the devil doesn’t suddenly have to sneeze…

Visit Riobamba Ecuador, best mountain towns of Ecuador

Riding on top of the train through the Devil’s Nose

Cuenca

The sweetheart of all expat information, Cuenca deserves its fame as a colonial city filled with culture and cuisine, offering a unique blend of people in a charming little city.

The old city center is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Walk the cobblestone streets, venture out to the nearby national parks, and enjoy the convenience of location for day trips in any direction toward sea or mountains.

Cajas National Park is just outside the city and offers interesting hiking trails. Ingapirca is an ancient ruins site of the Cañari people, which is a quick trip from Cuenca and well worth a short visit.

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Ingapirca ruins near Cuenca, Ecuador

Vilcabamba

One of my all-time favorite spots I’ve ever visited!

Vilcabamba simply stuns.

I stayed outside of town on the hillside overlooking the valley where the village sits. I can honestly say, those views of the Andes will never get old – unlike the people of this area, which is known as the Valley of Longevity.

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Stunning mountain views in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Ecuador offers such variety within its rather small territory. If you are heading there for a visit, take into account how much time you have.

Bus rides can take hours to travel short distances because of the nature of the mountain roads. And rushing through town after town just to check them off the list won’t be enjoyable at all.

I spent six months slowly and carefully traveling all around Ecuador – so don’t think you can see everything I did within only a week or two!

Slow travel is always best in my opinion, so if you only have a week to check out an entire country, just know you will merely scratch the surface. You better plan on a return trip soon!

Want to learn more? Check out my lifelong love affair with Ecuador plus the places I visited coming down from the Andes.


Ready to visit Ecuador? Grab your Lonely Planet guidebook and start planning. My own guidebook was highlighted, dog-eared, and marked up constantly!

Six months of remote mountain villages and beach towns with limited WiFi made the book my lifesaver. Get your own here:


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After Quito and Otavalo, these are the 7 best mountain towns to visit in Ecuador.

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