The first time I visited Ecuador in 2011, I wanted to find a connection with my father’s homeland. The second time I went in 2018, I sought a deeper connection with my heritage, especially with where my last name comes from.
When I returned in 2024, for the first time with the whole family and our newest additions, it felt like a homecoming. And like any family homecoming, it had its ups and downs. But we still found moments of joy, celebration, and awe.
This travel log will take a slightly different form. Since my mom, my dad, and I have visited together before, we hit some old spots we knew the newcomers would like. And, it gave us a new perspective on the Ecuador we’d already experienced. But we also tried new adventures and places, so I decided to divide this blog post by that.
Quito, Ecuador: Staying in the City
As we did on my first two visits, we ascended to the mirador de los volcanes by the teleferico. By now, the trip felt familiar, even though I hadn’t visited in 6 years. I already knew the magic those mountains held, but I loved seeing my brother, nephew, and sister-in-law experience it for the first time. Although a hailstorm cut our time short and kept us stranded in the visitor center, it still made for a great start to the trip.
Later that night, we strolled through the Centro Histórico among the locals. It felt as alive as New York City, with street performers, teens and young adults hanging out, and vendors taking advantage of the last hours of the day. But it doesn’t have the same manic energy as the Big Apple.
Our host family took us to a restaurant at Palacio Arzobispal for a culinary delight of traditional Ecuadorian food. We even drank a classic canelazo, a cocktail that mixes cinnamon, panela (brown sugar), citrus, and aguardiente.
We returned to the Old Town at the end of the trip for a slow, last day before we headed home. Seeing La Basilica again reminded me of my first visit and learning its history. The cathedral’s architecture and stained glass windows never cease to stun.
Puerto Lago and Parque Cóndor
On our way to explore Otavalo, Ecuador, we made a quick stop at Puerto Lago. This peaceful resort stands at the foot of the lake and offers a big swing for a different view. I want to make this a place to stay on a future visit.
After that, we returned to Parque Cóndor, where my dad had surprised me on our first visit. In 2011, stopping at a birds of prey park when I had a terrible fear of birds was not his brightest moment. But this time, I was ready. Sharing it this time with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, we experienced a falconry demonstration that gave me a better appreciation for these avians.
Mitad del Mundo Again
We only went to the main attraction and its inner museum, but I noticed something different since my last visit. The whole park had expanded, with so much more added to cater to families with kids. Playgrounds and a train ride catered to the young ones, while plenty of shops and food vendors catered to the parents. We watched a dance group dressed in traditional garb perform dances passed down through generations.
I wish we could have had more time there. I would have liked to see some more of the new attractions and take the train ride with the family. But I guess this means I’ll just need to keep coming back.
A Different Perspective of Baños, Ecuador
We’d been to Baños before, but this time we experienced it differently. We did a trolley tour that took us to attraction points throughout the path, including a zipline car between mountains and adventure park attractions. The ride took us under one of the cascades in the mountains, letting it fall all over us.
This time around, we ended up in El Pailón del Diablo — a legendary waterfall. Mom and I got vertigo on the downward hike, so we cut out before the bridge. We waited up at the tour bus stop for our party to come back. They barely made it in time before the trolley left, as my sister-in-law had slipped down at the waterfall and returned limping.
Our first time to Ecuador as a whole family certainly turned into a memorable experience. I found a new outlook on old paths as we explored this now-familiar destination together.