Romantic Getaways in Ecuador

October 19, 2026

Travel advisory, October 2026: Ecuador is under a state of exception in eight provinces, including Pichincha (Quito), declared for 60 days from 15 September 2026, and curfews have been imposed several times this year, so check the current decree. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the coastal provinces (Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, with airside transit at Guayaquil airport excepted) and to the 20 km strip along the Colombian border, which includes Lago Agrio. The US State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, with higher levels for named areas. Quito’s old town, the Andean highlands and the Galápagos lie outside the FCDO areas, but street crime, express kidnapping and taxi scams are real, so use registered taxis, stay on busy streets by day and keep valuables out of sight. Heavy rain and landslides are forecast for the 2026-27 El Niño. Read the current UK FCDO advice and US State Department advisory before you book and again before you fly. This page is written for the areas outside the warnings.

Ecuador suits couples who like dramatic scenery, quiet lodges and good food more than nightlife. The romantic options below are in the highlands, the cloud forest, the Amazon and the Galápagos. Rates are listed prices, mostly from operators, so confirm what is included before you book, and allow for altitude on the first days.

Galápagos

Sea lions and blue-footed boobies, guided naturalist walks and snorkelling make the islands the headline trip. Foreign visitors over 12 pay a US$200 park fee on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal, plus a US$20 Transit Control Card from the CGREG counter at the Quito or Guayaquil airport. Most sites need an authorised guide, and the rules ask you to stay 2 m from animals. Short cruises start from about US$2,000 per person and often cost much more, so compare itineraries and check life jackets. See the park tax table for current fees.

Mashpi Lodge, Chocó Andino

Mashpi sits in cloud forest on the west Andean slope. Listed rates run from about US$1,396 for a single to US$1,599 for a double per room per night, and you should check what the price includes. Treat the figure as a guide and ask the lodge for current rates.

Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, Cotopaxi

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

Cuenca

Cuenca is a UNESCO-listed colonial centre at about 2,560 m, with the blue domes of the New Cathedral, Parque Calderón and an evening meal along the El Barranco riverbank above the Tomebamba. It is a softer landing than Quito, and the Galápagos and the Cuenca area sit outside the FCDO coastal and border warnings.

Quito dining

Nuema, a tasting-menu restaurant, ranked No. 11 on Latin America’s 50 Best list in 2024. The tasting menu is about US$85, it opens Tuesday to Saturday, and you should book weeks ahead. Take a registered taxi back to your hotel after dinner, because express kidnapping often follows a street-hailed cab.

Baños thermal baths

Baños offers a spa day in thermal baths, which cost about US$3 to 5 on listings, though prices are not confirmed. Tungurahua has been quiet since 2016. Landslides and flash floods have caused deaths here, and El Niño raises the risk, so check road and weather news. Skip the rafting, canyoning and zip-lines unless a licensed operator runs them.

Yasuní lodge

Napo Wildlife Center is a Kichwa community-owned lodge on a lagoon, listed at about US$2,000 for four nights in a standard double, so confirm whether that is per person. It is reached by a LATAM flight from Quito to Coca and a motorised canoe. The FCDO advises Napo River travellers to take local advice, travel in daylight with a reputable official guide and carry an emergency plan.

Coastal beach resorts in Manabí and Santa Elena lie inside advisory areas and are not covered here.

Browse stays on Booking.com .