Romantic Escapes in Ecuador

October 19, 2026

Read before you book, October 2026: Ecuador declared a 60-day state of exception on 15 September 2026 across eight provinces, Pichincha and Quito included, and curfews have been imposed several times this year. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (airside transit at Guayaquil airport is the exception) and to the 20 km strip along the Colombian border, which takes in Lago Agrio. The US State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, at the time of writing, with named areas at higher levels. That means the beach resorts of Manabí and Santa Elena are not covered here. The Andean towns, the Galápagos and the cloud forest sit outside the FCDO areas, though couples should still guard against bag snatching, use a registered taxi after dinner and allow for El Niño rain and landslides this wet season. The latest advice is on gov.uk and travel.state.gov .

Ecuador suits couples who want mountain light, slow colonial streets and wildlife more than nightlife. This page runs from the cheapest romantic evenings to the most extravagant stays, so you can see what each level of spending buys. Rates are listed prices from operators and booking sites, and they change, so confirm what is included before you pay. Allow your first days for altitude, because Quito is at about 2,850 m and Cuenca at about 2,560 m.

Little or no cost: an evening in Cuenca

Cuenca is the softest landing in the country. UNESCO listed its historic centre in 1999, and the walk is flat and short: along the Tomebamba riverside to the El Barranco bank, where restaurants look over the water, then up to Parque Calderón and the blue domes of the New Cathedral. Wander in the late afternoon, eat along the river and walk back by lit main streets. The city is outside the FCDO regions, which makes it an easy base for a first romantic stop.

Around US$5: thermal baths in Baños

Baños offers a spa day in thermal baths, listed at about US$3 to 5, though prices are not confirmed. Tungurahua has been quiet since 2016. Landslides and flash floods have caused deaths in the area, and El Niño raises the risk, so read the weather and road news before you go. Skip rafting, canyoning and zip-lines unless a licensed operator runs them, because the FCDO reports deaths on all three in Ecuador.

Latin America’s 50 Best placed Nuema, a Quito restaurant, 11th in its 2024 ranking. Its tasting menu is about US$85, it opens Tuesday to Saturday, and tables go weeks ahead. Afterwards, ask the restaurant to call a registered taxi instead of hailing one on the street, since express kidnapping often follows a street-hailed cab.

Around US$2,000: the Galápagos

Sea lions, boobies, naturalist-led walks and snorkelling make the islands the headline romantic trip. Short cruises are listed from about US$2,000 per person and often cost far more, so compare itineraries and check life jackets. Foreign visitors over 12 pay a US$200 park fee to rangers on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal, and everyone needs the US$20 Transit Control Card from the CGREG counter at the Quito or Guayaquil airport. Most sites need an authorised guide, and the rules keep you 2 m from the animals. Current fees are on the park tax page .

From about US$1,400 a night: Mashpi Lodge

Mashpi stands in cloud forest in the Chocó Andino on the western Andean slope. Operator pages list 2026 rates from about US$1,396 for a single to US$1,599 for a double per room per night. Ask what the rate includes before you commit.

Around US$2,000 for four nights: Napo Wildlife Center

This Kichwa community-owned lodge stands on a lagoon in Yasuní. Ecoventura lists four nights in a standard double at US$2,000, without saying whether that is per person, so ask. Guests fly LATAM from Quito to Coca and finish by motorised canoe. The FCDO asks Napo River visitors to take local advice, travel in daylight with a reputable official guide and carry an emergency plan.

Rate on request: Hacienda San Agustín de Callo

The hacienda in Cotopaxi province is built on Inca stonework and a former Augustinian convent, and booking sites listed it in 2026. Confirm its operating status and rates with the hacienda directly. Cotopaxi is active, so check IG-EPN before you plan a visit.

Not covered

Puerto López, Montañita and the other beach towns of Manabí and Santa Elena sit inside advisory areas. The FCDO also warns of serious sexual assaults on foreign women in Montañita and of drowning on beaches without flags.

Browse hotels in Quito on Booking.com .