Last verified: 2026-03-20 | 8 contributors

Quito Acclimation Playbook

4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete

Pre-Arrival

Everything to sort before you board the plane to Ecuador

Visa and entry requirements

US passport holders can enter Ecuador visa-free for up to 90 days per year. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date. No visa application is needed — you receive a tourist stamp on arrival. If you want to stay longer, Ecuador offers a Rentista Visa (minimum $800/month passive income) and a Digital Nomad Visa that was under development as of early 2026 — check the Ecuadorian Consulate website before travel. Return or onward flight tickets and proof of sufficient funds (roughly $50/day is the informal standard) may be requested at immigration. Quito sits at 2,850 metres above sea level — altitude sickness is real and worth preparing for before you arrive.

Buy altitude sickness medication (acetazolamide/Diamox) from your doctor at home before you fly. Plan 2-3 days of light activity after arrival to acclimatise before any serious hikes or exertion.

The 90-day allowance is per calendar year, not a rolling 180-day window like Schengen. Plan accordingly if you intend a long stay.

Book short-term accommodation for the first 2 weeks

Do not sign a long-term lease before you have walked the neighborhoods. Book a furnished short-stay apartment or guesthouse for your first two weeks so you can explore La Floresta and La Mariscal in person before committing. La Floresta is the clear nomad favourite — walkable, safe, great cafe density, and quieter than La Mariscal at night. Furnished studios in La Floresta run USD 600-1,100/month for long-term leases. For short stays, expect USD 35-65/night on Booking.com or Airbnb. Cumbayá is a lower-altitude suburb (worth knowing if altitude hits hard) that also has a tech and expat presence.

La Mariscal has excellent nightlife and restaurants, but it has the highest petty theft rate in Quito. It is fine during the day but exercise real caution at night — prefer La Floresta for living.

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Get an eSIM before departure

Buy an eSIM through Airalo before you fly. An Ecuador-specific eSIM with 5-10 GB typically costs USD 10-20 for 30 days and gives you immediate data connectivity the moment you land at Mariscal Sucre International (UIO). This is essential for navigating the 37 km drive from the airport into the city, using Cabify or InDriver for a ride, and messaging contacts before you have a local SIM. Within the first few days you will replace it with a Claro or Movistar Ecuador physical SIM — Claro has the better coverage and data plans. A Claro SIM with 20 GB costs around USD 12-15/month.

The new airport area is called Aero City — there is a shopping area with SIM card vendors near arrivals. But having data the moment you land is worth the small eSIM cost.

eSIM: USD 10-20 for 30 days. Claro local SIM: USD 12-15/month

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Arrange travel insurance

Ecuador's public health system (IESS) is not accessible to short-stay tourists. Private hospitals in Quito — Hospital Metropolitano and Hospital Vozandes — are excellent by regional standards but bill at rates that will hurt without insurance. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (approximately USD 45/month) is widely used in the nomad community and covers Ecuador including emergency evacuation, which matters if you spend time in remote areas. World Nomads is another solid option. Note that altitude-related illness is a real risk in Quito — confirm your policy covers high-altitude sickness treatment.

Check your policy explicitly covers altitude sickness (cerro de montaña/altitude-related illness). Some basic plans exclude it.

USD 40-80/month depending on provider and coverage level

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