Ecuador: A Budget Traveler's Paradise

Are you looking for an inexpensive and unique travel destination for your next trip? Somewhere with unrivaled natural beauty and a favorable exchange rate for the weakening US Dollar? How about Ecuador!?

Ecuador is a small country in northwest South America, about the size of Colorado. Despite its small size, Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the entire world. Natural wonders abound within its borders, where you can find exotic beaches, unique cloud forests, the great Andes Mountains, the mysterious Amazon rainforest, and the famous Galapagos Islands; all within 3-6 hours of one another.

Despite offering so much, the country is still an incredible deal for the budget conscious traveler. Having switched its national currency over to the US Dollar in 2000, the plunging dollar in international exchange rates is not a concern in Ecuador. Accommodations cost just a fraction of what you are used to paying back home, as nice hotel rooms generally run from $25-$50 per night. If you are on a tight budget, check out one of Ecuador's thousands of budget hostels that offer a clean and safe albeit simple room for just $5-$10 per night. After you've found a place to stay, grab a bite to eat at one of Ecuador's many international restaurants, or opt for a traditional Ecuadorian dish. A meal at one of country's most elegant restaurants will set your back about $15-$20 per plate, or just $2-$7 per plate at an average restaurant.

After you've found a place to stay and gotten some food in your belly, you can enjoy the hundreds of activities and wonders this extremely diverse country has to offer the traveler.