I am pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Solo Travel Society member Joy, to complement an earlier one from Wen-Ting. Both are from the United States, and each submitted reports from their solo trips: Joy traveled to Quito, Ecuador and Wen-Ting visited both Quito and the Galapagos Islands. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Languages spoken: Spanish, limited English
Costs at Destination: Cheap (local transportation, dining, tours, events and attractions)
The Presidential Palace
Joy’s Visit to Quito, Ecuador
Quito is packed with historic churches, government buildings, and museums. Because it’s inexpensive, shopping is a pleasure.
There is an option to take a cable car for a fantastic view of the surrounding areas. Short visits to the thermal baths in Banos and to the equator are also available but you may need to find a tour company to get to these places.
The US dollar is accepted as currency. In historic Quito there are not a lot of expensive dining options. Simple meals are available for a few dollars.
The equator
Church of La Merced
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 2 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 3 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 2 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 2 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult)
Quito at night
Wen-Ting’s Visit to the Galapagos Islands and Quito
Quito is the capital of Ecuador, sitting at 2850 meters high and surrounded by beautiful mountains. The city itself has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Old Town is particularly interesting because of the historic buildings.
Safety was a concern for me as some local people warned me that it was not safe to walk around by yourself at night, and that pickpocketing was a major problem. It is a big city with the typical big city problems, however, exploring during the day was fine. I joined a free walking tour and a day trip to Quilotoa. Both were highly recommended.
The Galapagos Islands are a different story than mainland Ecuador. It is a wildlife and nature heaven if you enjoy being outdoors and observing unique animals. It is a highly regulated region with everything inspected to protect the species of the islands. There are options for land tours as well as multi-day cruises. A lot of people chose the multi-day cruise, during which you get to see almost every island, however, it is relatively expensive. I chose the land tours and stayed in Santa Cruz and Isabela for a few days each. I then took day trips from the islands and simply just explored locally. It saved me money and also allowed me to experience local life.
A dancing blue-footed booby
Crater Lake at Quilotoa
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 2 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 3 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 2 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 2 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult)