Jennifer
I had an abbrievated visit to Ecuador four years ago. Abbrievated because I came down with an intestinal problem and after 2 1/2 weeks decided to go home.
We rented a condo in Salinas for what was suppose to be five weeks. Salinas was nice as we were one block from the ocean and had an unbelievably nice condo with a clear view to the ocean. We walked the boardwalk (malecon), spent time on the beach etc.
We got a ride to the airport in Guayaquil and flew to Vilcabamba which was cool. Picture a small town with dirt roads and an occasional person on horseback who would tie their horse up to a post like they did in the Old West. Worth a visit but not for more than two days.
I would highly recommend you go visit Otavalo and Cotaccachi which is about 1 1/2 hours by car north of the new Quito airport. We had planned on flying there until I got sick.
The other thing we did not get to do was to fly to Cuenca which I am sure you will do. The other thing to do would be to fly to Manta and rent a car and drive up and down the coast to see the ocean villages. There is quite a bit of new condo developments along the coast and I would think this would be a worthwhile thing to do. As a matter of fact I intend to get back to Ecuador to do the things I mentioned to you that I did not get to do. Just be careful to not eat at some of the little hole in the wall restaurants on the ocean because I think that is where I picked up the intestinal problem.
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