Ecuador nightlife varies widely from the large cities of Quito and Guayaquil to the smaller towns of Banos and Montanita.
Generally speaking, the larger cities that feature modern bars and discotecas will cost you more than grabbing a beer in the Amazon, mountains, or beach.
Banos has an excellent reputation for partying, but the small surf and hippie hangout of Montanita on the Pacific Coast is the country's party capital.
During the Summer, it's typical for Ecuadorians from around the country to vacation in Montanita.
There's a whole contingent of young people from nearby Guayaquil who would prefer to escape the city for the beach every weekend.
Also, the surf town's casual vibe and relaxed policies on marijuana attract lots of other South Americans from Argentina, Chile, and Colombia and foreigners from around the world.
Montanita is especially well-known for being a crazy (and crowded) place to celebrate New Year's Eve.
Table of Contents
How to Party in Ecuador
Every Ecuadorian city features a Zona Rosa, or central nightlife district, where you'll find the highest density of bars, discotecas (clubs), and restaurants.
In Quito, it's Plaza Foch. In Guayaquil, there are a few places, with Las Penas being the safest and most easily accessible.
In Cuenca, you'll find the Zona Rosa along Calle Larga, within easy walking distance of the historic center.
Most of the bars and discotecas in the pueblos, such as Banos and Montanita, are centrally located.
Just follow the music, and you should have no trouble finding the action.
When to Go Out
Nightlife in Ecuador is pretty quiet Sunday through Wednesday unless you know the right places to go to (hint: ask the locals).
Otherwise, look for flyers advertising ladies' nights early in the week. Friday nights are popular, and Saturday nights are the busiest of the week.
Arrive early (before 11 PM) if you want to get a good table at discotecas on the weekends, and avoid any lines at the popular places.
Closing times vary by city; however, most regular bars close by 2 to 3 AM. Larger discotecas may stay open until 4 AM. Some late, late-night venues stay open until dawn.
For example, during the Summer in Montanita, you'll find people drinking and hanging out in the streets until sunrise.
What to Wear
Dress codes apply to a minority of discotecas in the major cities. 99% of the time, you won't need to worry about dressing up for a night of partying in Ecuador.
For both men and women, jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers are fine. Women tend to dress up more than men, which is the case for much of Latin America.
Related: Ecuadorian Food – Typical Dishes
Discotecas (Nightclubs)
Update: Based on the feedback of several Ecuadorian readers, I've revised this section.
You'll encounter a broad variety of music in Ecuador's nightlife. Generally, middle and upper-class Ecuadorians prefer electronic music, and these clubs are standard in large cities.
During the summer months, weekly raves are held at one particular club in Montanita. Heavy metal is also popular.
Caribbean music, such as salsa, bachata, and reggaeton, is frequently heard at bars and clubs.
A Warning About Cover Charges
Bars and discotecas in Ecuador handle cover charges in different ways. To save you money and possible arguments with bar staff, it's best to be aware before you go.
The possibilities include:
1. Paying a cover charge and buying individual drinks in the discoteca. This is the Western way of doing things.
2. Being required to spend a pre-defined amount of money on drinks instead of paying a cover charge.
3. You must pay a cover charge that includes one or more “free” drinks, though your options may be limited.
Some discotecas will issue you a debit card when you enter. This is then presented to the bar staff instead of paying with cash.
At the end of the night, you give the debit card and pay a cashier before you can leave.
You need to be aware that the discoteca may put a cover charge on the card directly, in which case, unless you are aware of it in advance, you may end up with an expensive surprise awaiting you at the end of the night.
Even when several friends and I asked the doorman and staff of Nite Discoteca in Cuenca about a cover charge, none of them indicated there was one.
An hour after entering, we decided to go somewhere else and were surprised to learn each guy had to pay a $20 cover, and each woman had to pay a $10 cover (and men are expected to pay for their dates in Ecuador, always).
Needless to say, nightlife in Ecuador can put a dent in any backpacker's budget.
Related: Introduction to Colombian Nightlife
Social Dynamics
Most Ecuadorians go out partying in groups mixed with friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, and siblings.
Early in the night (before 11 PM), everyone will be drinking and talking within their social groups.
As more alcohol is consumed, more and more people start getting up to dance. If you get to a club early, don't be surprised if you see everyone sitting around. Give it time.
As a result of the group dynamic, it can be challenging for travelers to meet Ecuadorians at bars and clubs.
The best approach is to be friendly and straightforward. The guys should ask women to dance or start a casual conversation.
Dancing
Dancing is a big part of nightlife in Ecuador. To enjoy yourself, take a few salsa lessons ($10/hour for private lessons).
Ecuadorians are polite, and most will dance with someone when invited (out of proper etiquette).
For the guys, reggaeton music is easy to dance to — ask the woman to dance (bailamos) or dance near her to get a feel for whether she's interested).
For foreign women, even if you're used to inviting guys to dance in your home country, it's not customary in Ecuador, and the men might feel uncomfortable if you approach or ask them.
Dating Tips
Ecuadorian Women
Overall, Ecuadorian women have a positive reputation as being very friendly and approachable; however, they are typically more conservative than their Colombian and Peruvian neighbors.
The prettiest ones know their status, so they're unlikely to have the patience for a foreigner who can't speak Spanish.
Ecuadorian society is still very traditional, and some women are on the lookout for their knight in shining armor.
Be aware that some women may be interested in you solely for your money or ability to help them move to your home country (USA, Europe, etc.).
Ecuadorian Men
The following advice was submitted by one of our readers, Brittany:
“I spent five weeks in Montañita in Ecuador and ended up dating my surf instructor there.
There was a bit of a language barrier as his English was bad, and my Spanish was even worse, but we engaged in a relationship regardless.
Dating a man from Ecuador was a very different experience for me and came with many frustrations.
Ecuador has a serious machismo culture – men are valued above women and are always in charge. Men make all the decisions, and women concede and agree.
Coming from Canada, this is not at all how we do things! Men and women are equal; in fact, women often end up having the last word and making decisions.
So you can imagine the head-butting that ensued between us. He was not used to having a woman disagree with him, and I was not used to having a man try to tell me what to do.
If you date a man in Ecuador, be aware of a few things. They are demanding and dominant, expecting you to be passive and do what they say. But more so, the men there often expect you to pay for everything.
Not having much money, they let you know right off the bat they can't pay for things, and once you offer once, they expect you to pay for everything and can become quite demanding of you, which can come across as rude and ungrateful.
If you aren't willing or able to pay for yourself and your partner to eat, sleep, and do activities, you must let them know this right from the start.
I'm not sure if this attitude persists outside of the beach town of Montañita, but I have heard that it does.
All the men I met there had girlfriends from Europe or North America who were sending them money from abroad to buy things for themselves, so it seemed a little suspicious, especially since none of these men with girlfriends were faithful to their long-distance partners.
I have no doubt there are wonderful, faithful men in Ecuador.
But please be aware that there are also many in long-distance relationships that they won't tell you about.
And many will come across as using you for your money and ask you to buy them all sorts of things as if you are their sugar momma.
So make your intentions known up front, ask if they have a girlfriend already, and be prepared to deal with the machismo culture.”
Check out more of Brittany's experiences in Latin America at her blog, www.borealblonde.com.
Sex in Ecuador
Most Ecuadorians live with their parents or extended family until they are married.
You're unlikely to spend the night at an Ecuadorian man or woman's home unless you're dating a professional.
Out of necessity, hourly hotels are widely available nationwide and offer privacy and comfort for couples seeking intimacy. Consider it a part of Ecuador's nightlife.
Condoms are available at all pharmacies and drug stores; even the cheap ones from a bar or discoteca bathroom are better than nothing. Bring your favorites from home if possible, as the selection is limited.
Last Updated on January 17, 2024 by Dave Lee
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He’s been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Sophie Lloyd
Tuesday 18th of September 2018
I really enjoyed this guide. It's got some really useful tips for the nightlife in Quito. If you fancy treating yourself one night, there are also a few great cocktail bars in Quito. I wrote a blog post about my favorite ones.
Camila
Tuesday 27th of February 2018
All this is bullshit, especially the dating parts. Just like everywhere in the world there can be men that are controlling, but the vast majority isn’t like that here. Brittany you should’ve known you were getting into that kind of relationship if you weren’t even able to communicate to this guy properly, so don’t make your bad experience a rule in Ecuador. I don’t know how long this was written but the “upper middle class” does dance al the Caribbean music. Also, texting is okay for girls. Don’t call that often it might come along as creepy. Ps: don’t write a blog on tips about something if you have no idea of what actually happens.
Dave
Wednesday 28th of February 2018
Hi Camila, thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
I originally wrote this article in 2011 based on my two months traveling in Ecuador, and and haven't updated it since except to add Brittany's experience (which was also many years ago). It was meant as a brief intro to nightlife, not an in-depth guide to the culture. And yes, it should be updated given it ranks highly in Google and is therefore seen as authoritative.
The blurb about the "upper middle class" not dancing to Caribbean music was added after a very angry Ecuadorian man wrote me nasty (abusive) messages saying what I wrote about that music only being for lower class citizens.
I thought it ridiculous too, but made the update so he would leave me alone. I realize how it's written now is perhaps just as insulting or off base as what I originally had which was to simply say Latin music is common and popular.
Sarah Lloyd
Friday 10th of November 2017
These are some really useful tips for nightlife in Ecuador. There's definitely a really lively dance scene in the clubs and bars in Ecuador. I recently wrote a blog post geared towards the best places to go dancing in Quito that I thought might be a useful addition to your article. http://blog.ailolaquito.com/2017/11/03/a-dancers-guide-to-quito/ My favorite in Salsoteca Lavoe!
Tom
Sunday 10th of September 2017
This all sounds pretty much right for me. After a lot of night life I needed some peace and tranquility in a more relaxed area. I'm now in Playa Santa Marianita near Manta. Very realaxing and perfect for kitesurfing in Ecuador. Absolut a perfect contrast to the normal night life.
guy
Friday 31st of March 2017
nice write up, ecuador is a very fun country to visit and you broke the nightlife down very well