Hello, all.
Since I might be able to get a nearly free airline ticket to Ecuador arriving Quito around 8 Feb and staying two weeks in country. I'm wondering if there's any reason I might postpone my visit a due to Carnaval. I remember the chaos arriving in Rio during Carnaval without hotel reservations, trying to get busses elsewhere, etc. But that was a younger me and I rolled with it and had a good time. I have no idea if it would be the same in Ecuador. This trip would be an impulse, no set itinerary, improvising as I go. I prefer no stress. I was in Ecuador years ago and already did the Galapagos. I'd want to just wander and enjoy myself. Preferably be able to get buses, flights, hotels, etc, last minute.
Any thoughts please.
Thanks in advance.
No. Ecuador isn't a place where they have notable Carnaval celebrations. Buying tickets at the bus station 1/2 hour before the bus departs is the normal thing for everybody. If you want to fly, just like most places, you'll pay a lot more if you wait until the last minute.
If you've got a free ticket, head for Quito ASAP. It's a great colonial city for walking around, one of the best cities in SA. It's a mystery to me why it's not overrun with tourists, but somehow the tourists haven't caught on to it. I love Ecuador.
Over Carnival weekend, Quito is empty and the beaches are crowded. Otherwise, the only place that will be especially busy is Ambato, for the flower festival. Try and avoid bus travel on the Friday or Tuesday though. You'll get a ticket, but the journey will take forever because holiday traffic in and out of the city is always bad.
It's true you don't see Trinidadian or Rio-type celebrations, but the "tradition" of throwing water (or sometimes shaving cream or foam stringy stuff) is pretty obnoxious. The government has tried to curtail the practice to keep it localized among neighbors/friends/family, but not everyone pays attention. It's fun for about an hour, but water balloons whizzing past my head, being chased with water buckets down the street, and being dumped on from balconies and rooftops got old quickly. I usually laid low during Carnaval or went elsewhere for the duration.
Thanks for the quick and helpful feedback, guys.
By the way, what are the dates of Ecuadorean Carnaval?
Carnival dates are 8th and 9th February but I found that the 2 weeks around them are still celebrated some way or another and you have to watch out for water throwers. I have had wage thrown at me a few times but it has always missed me so I have been lucky I guess...
it has always missed me so I have been lucky I guess...
I wasn't lucky! I was in Cuenca at least 2 weeks before Carnaval so I was not expecting anything, and really annoyed at being hit (once thrown directly at my chest, once a balloon dropped off a balcony on my head).
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.
trusted partner
