An Ecuador family holiday review from a travel expert (and parent)

Kat has returned from Ecuador and is still enjoying the afterglow –read on for her sum up of their family adventure as we ask her about all things Ecuador.

Where have you just been?

I have just returned from Ecuador where I spent 3,5 weeks with my husband and two young daughters (3 and 5).

What did you see and do?

Ecuador is a (comparatively) small country so we managed to see and do so much.

We travelled north of Quito and stayed with a wonderful family in the small rural community of San Clemente  near Ibarra, explored the jungle at Liana Lodge, travelled along the Avenue of the Volcanoes and finished off with a few relaxing days in Puerto Lopez at the coast.

Train rides, markets, volcanoes, condors, guinea pigs, monkeys and other jungle creatures, horse riding, cooking classes, walking, swimming in hot pools, beach time, diving, whales and dolphins … we had it all!

Dressing up

In 20 words, describe your favourite…

Place: For me, Liana Lodge is a special place (having worked there) – and it was so fantastic to take the kids to the jungle.

Arriving to Liana Lodge

Hotel: Hacienda Porvenir – a fantastic hacienda in amazing surroundings, with views of Cotopaxi. We could  have easily stayed longer!

Loving Hacienda Porvenir

Excursion: From San Clemente we climbed Cubilche mountain (3800m)– for our daughter  it was a great achievement and for us a return to hillwalking!

Cubilche Walk

Who would love these treks/trips?

Families, but also anybody who enjoys an itinerary of different landscapes with leisurely activities. The homestay at San Clemente is wonderful if you want to experience life and warm hospitability in rural Ecuador.

Essentials to bring?

Sunscreen and sunhats – the sun is strong. If you are travelling with kids – sticker books (lots!).

Puerto Lopez

Best place for….

Food:  Hacienda Porvenir.

Beer: the ice cold Pilsener we enjoyed at one of the beach bars in Puerto Lopez, while watching the girls play in the sand as the sun went down.

Coffee: La Cosecha Café in Otavalo

Cocoa

 Advice or top tips?

Travelling with kids was exciting, seeing it all through their eyes. But it also required flexibility – and lots of playground visits!

We took a bag for each child filled with small toys, sticker and colouring in books, which was good on the plane but also passed time on journeys within the country and allowed them to engage with other children they met.

Keep travelling distances small – easily done in Ecuador, where you can travel from the Andes to the jungle in a mere 3 hours.

Enjoying the views, Quilatoa

Holiday in a nutshell?

A great family adventure taking in mountains, jungle and the sea – with a lot of action along the way.

Where to find out more?

Get in touch with Kat for her tips on travel in Ecuador and family holidays.