Ecuador Financial Summary

This page exists as part of our personal travel story.

When we travel, especially internationally, we choose to be thoughtful about how our money moves through the places we visit. Ecuador was no exception. This financial summary is not about a retreat, a program, or an offering. It is simply a transparent look at how we approached our own travel expenses and decisions while spending time in Ecuador.

Travel shapes how we see the world, but it also has real impacts on local communities, economies, and environments. We believe it matters to acknowledge that openly.

How much did we spend backpacking in Ecuador?

Ecuador is CHEAP, yo!  Here’s the breakdown!

Days in Ecuador: 37

Total Money Spent: $858

That´s an average of $11.59 per person per person per day.  So we came in under budget by more than $3 apiece!

Nifty pie chart breaking down the categories

Transportation was MUCH cheaper than in Colombia.  Buses cost an average of $1 per hour of travel.  So we saved there.

We continue to save on lodging by WWOOFing, housesitting, Couchsurfing, and camping.

Food was pretty cheap but we liked Ecuadorian food better than Colombian food so we ate a lot and splurged a few times!

We even bought a few souvenirs, but they were all so cheap it only counted as two percent of our spending.

If this doesn´t convince you to vacation in Ecuador, I don´t know what will.  You might actually  SAVE MONEY by not living in the U.S. for a couple weeks!

Why We Share a Financial Summary

We share this information because we believe transparency creates trust and accountability, even in personal experiences. Too often, travel stories focus only on the highlights while leaving out the realities of cost, privilege, and access.

By sharing a financial summary, we aim to:

• Be honest about what international travel actually costs

• Reflect on how money is spent while traveling

• Encourage more thoughtful and conscious travel choices

• Offer context for people curious about similar journeys

This is not a guide or a recommendation. It is simply our experience, shared openly.

How We Approached Spending While Traveling

During our time in Ecuador, we made intentional choices about where our money went. That included:

• Paying fairly for transportation and guiding services

• Choosing locally owned accommodations when possible

• Supporting small businesses, markets, and family-run restaurants

• Budgeting realistically for food, lodging, and movement

• Accounting for visas, insurance, and travel logistics

We do not see travel spending as separate from values. Every decision reflects what we prioritize and what we are learning along the way.

Travel as Relationship, Not Consumption

For us, travel is not about checking places off a list or finding the cheapest possible option. It is about relationship. Relationship with people, culture, land, and our own internal pace.

Sharing this summary is part of staying in relationship with the places we visit. It acknowledges that being able to travel is a privilege and that how we show up matters.

Context, Not Comparison

Everyone’s financial reality is different. This page is not meant to set expectations or create comparison. It is simply a snapshot of one experience, during one season of our lives.

If it sparks reflection, curiosity, or questions, that feels like enough.

Moving Forward

As we continue to travel, learn, and evolve, we will keep sharing honestly about what we experience, including the parts that are rarely talked about. Transparency helps us stay grounded and accountable, both to ourselves and to the wider world.

Thank you for reading with care.