Ecuador…the country we couldn’t do without, but the country that made us really uncomfortable at times. Ecuador receives an enormous amount of tourists every year and the culture, the moral and the people adapt to this. Often you feel like a wandering wallet – a victim. But in Ecuador we made some friends. The first local young people on our trip we met on Galapagos and they showed us how to have a good time, how to dance Salsa, how to drink Caña Manabíta and they took us to the islands not regularly visited by tourists, where we stayed with their relatives. The communication was limited because it was in Spanish, but it seemed unimportant! We spend three unforgettable weeks on the Galapagos Islands – a paradise! The first week cruising the islands (the second cheapest boat touring the islands!) where we made many good friends from all over the world and two weeks of fun with the locals…the next Ecuadorian friends we made were on the coast of Ecuador and these we came back to visit several times. It was nice to feel that someone knew you!
Ecuador is beautiful and diverse, and the country itself is not too big. The only downside is all the gringos visiting. It is possible to avoid the herds and this is where the real Ecuador enchants you!

Ecuador is an "Easy-travel-country" and there is lots of turists, language schools etc. You get ripped of constantly (especially if you don't know Spanish), but it is part of travelling in poor countries - you shouldn't hesitate on bargaining though.

Quito
Otavalo (dead city with a good market - one day at the most!)
Guayaquil
Montañita (cozy, turisty surfer/party beach)
Canoa (Like Montañita once was, tranquil "Bounty-beach", few turists, good waves)
Galapagos (a min. of 5 days on a cruise and a visit to the Island of Isabela - the prettiest of them all!)

Again, meet the locals: it makes it all a bit more fun!