As far as crazy nightlife goes, Ecuador might be one of the furthest countries from what comes to mind. This South American country is best known for its Andean views, Amazon excursions, and the famed Galapagos Islands. Ecuador’s nightlife scene tends to be an afterthought. Sure, it’s no Brazil or Colombia but you would be surprised to learn that Ecuador does get pretty crazy once the sun goes down. A crisp beer in the Andes, a margarita along the Pacific Coast, or a hazy boogie in a historic city center, Ecuador has got some range.

If you’re looking to have a little fun while backpacking across South America, these are the best party destinations in Ecuador.

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9. Tena

This is a wild card spot, to say the least. The Ecuadorian Amazon town has a small but lively backpacker bar scene built around the rafting and adventure crowd. Tena represents a completely different flavor of Ecuador nightlife from anything else on the list. It may not be a headliner destination, but it is so unique that it feels wrong to leave it off. After adrenaline-filled days of white-water rafting or excursions into the Amazon, a strip of riverside bars welcomes travelers with cold drinks.

The crowd is almost exclusively backpackers, which makes meeting people easy and the atmosphere immediately social. I enjoy the vibe of places where you can sip on a beer and meet other adventurous souls whose kindred spirits lead them to the same unexpected destinations. Everyone’s comparing their horror stories from the rivers and jungles, then at the same time seeking out fellow travelers to undertake those same Type 2 travel experiences again the next day. It’s a specific kind of fun that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Ecuador.

The places to know are Dogman Tena for cocktails, Ayahuasca Lounge for a more atmospheric vibe, and El Callejón Bar for craft cocktails and live music. All of Tena’s bars are concentrated in the same area, so if you can’t find one you like, just keep walking. It makes for easy and convenient bar crawling vibes in a truly one-of-a-kind setting.

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8. Baños

With Baños being the popular tourist destination that it is, nightlife and fun-loving backpackers will naturally follow. However, Baños is as beloved of a destination for Ecuadorian travelers as it is for international tourists, providing a diverse crowd and a wide variety of nightlife options. The gringos will mostly stick to Leprechaun Bar but the bar street has everything from tequila bars to salsatecas and more. The drunk food scene in Baños is also top-notch.

Despite being the adventure capital of Ecuador, Baños is a very laid-back town. You can laze around all day recovering from the night before, go on a wild adventure in the afternoon, and then start the night all over again. Baños had me in a good rhythm as far as partying and traveling went.

The only thing I didn’t like about Baños is how aggressively the police would shut everything down at 3 AM. I had a couple of friends get injured or even pepper sprayed by the police because they were slow to leave the bar. There’s a big police presence in Baños for some reason, although I never felt unsafe on my walks home.

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7. Riobamba

Riobamba was an unexpected gem. Come for Chimborazo, stay a night for local eats and a couple of beers, then leave the next morning having seen a side of Ecuador that most backpackers speed past. Riobamba doesn’t often make travelers’ highlight reels, but it will make your trip feel more complete. As far as backpacker presence goes, Riobamba is calmer and more chilled out than Baños. There are fewer hostels and less nightlife, but offers much closer contact to everyday Ecuadorian life.

The student population here drives a low-key but authentic nightlife scene. Ecuadorians are very friendly and easy to make friends with, and Riobamba is a great place to do it. The colonial center has a handful of decent bars, and the crowds are almost entirely local. It is one of the few places in Ecuador where you’re drinking alongside Ecuadorians rather than exclusively with other gringos.

For travelers en route between Quito to Cuenca, Riobamba, along with Baños and Alausi, make for excellent detours to break up the journey.

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6. Quito

The nightlife in Quito gets pretty crazy, especially at Plaza Foch — or La Mariscal as the locals refer to it — and the surrounding area. I had quite a few great nights out in Quito, although I honestly couldn’t tell you where. The nights were that wild. If you are looking to go out and have fun, I’d recommend staying at Community Hostel. It is easy to meet other travelers and the hostel often arranges nightly events such as bar crawls and karaoke nights. They definitely didn’t see this Filipino coming when they offered free shots for people to come up and sing. It is great fun before heading out with the crew to take on Quito’s nightlife together. Honestly, you might have more fun at the hostel than the night out itself!

The only unfortunate part about Quito is that it has a pretty bad reputation for being a dangerous city, even more so in recent years. Plaza Foch is undeniably the best area for backpackers to go out in Quito but also among the most dangerous. I didn’t have any problems aside from the taxi driver giving me change in counterfeit bills. However, I definitely wouldn’t risk going it alone.

La Floresta is a good substitue for La Mariscal, featuring a more local and alternative clientele. Gonzalez Suarez is where you’ll want to be for a classier scene, with a number of upscale rooftop bars showcasing Andean views. Even if it isn’t the best option for the wildest night out, it’s hard to beat sipping on a cocktail while taking in views of the mountains and Quito’s historic colonial churches.

Try to have a squad with you if you go out in Quito and definitely don’t walk anywhere sketchy at night. Keep your wits about you, and you should be fine, but I know that’s often hard once the cervezas start flowing.

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5. Cuenca

Cuenca is my favorite city in Ecuador. It is one of the largest cities in Ecuador as well as one of the country’s most popular travel destinations. Naturally, it is going to have some pretty wild nightlife. Before I even got to Cuenca, I was told by a local that no one in Ecuador drinks like the Cuencans do. I would say that is true. I went out a few times in Cuenca but genuinely enjoyed day drinking in the beautiful city just as much.

Most travelers will be staying within the historic district of Cuenca. Luckily, close to the Tomebamba River and historic center is a bustling bar and restaurant street — Calla Larga — where most crazy Cuenca nights begin and end. There are a lot of things to do in Cuenca during the day and plenty of dancing to be done at night. Cuenca is a nice mix of a big city but with a walkable feel to it. It almost feels inevitable that a place like this has developed an upstart craft brewery scene. And with the high altitudes, those IPAs sure do hit a bit harder, hey?

Before heading out for the evening, staying connected is an essential. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Coordinating your travel plans with new hostel friends, ordering a ride, using Google Translate to flirt with the locals… having an eSIM simply makes life that much easier on the road. Data packages for Ecuador start at just $6, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 10% off of your first Saily eSIM.

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4. Salinas

Salinas is a local Ecuadorian favorite when it comes to beach resort towns. The nightlife is concentrated along the waterfront malecón and the streets alongside behind it. The waterfront is filled with bars and restaurants where you can have a drink watching the sunset, followed by stumbling into an electronic or Latin party. For a proper club night, RockaBar is the go-to in Salinas, featuring a lively atmosphere, Latin music, and a fun crowd that is looking to dance.

Salinas won’t quite give you the anything-goes energy of Montañita, but for travelers who want ocean, cocktails, dancing, and minimal risk of waking up the next morning without their phone (and dignity), Salinas is an excellent alternative.

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3. Manta

This city right on the ocean is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Ecuador. From yacht parties to late nights spent dancing along the Malecon, Manta offers quite a lot in terms of nightlife. It has among the best variety of nightlife that I’ve encountered in Ecuador. If you want something classy, maybe hit up Botelo’s for a fancy dinner, cocktails, and then live music and DJs spinning til about 3 AM before proceeding to Level to wrap up the night.

Another great thing about Manta is that it is a city that I felt extremely safe partying in. I didn’t dread figuring out how to get back to my place like I did in Quito or Guayaquil. Right now, Manta is at a perfect size where it has everything you could ask for from a big city while being small enough that you feel safe just walking around. It mixes the best of places like Quito and Montañita.

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2. Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and home to arguably the best nightlife in the country, depending on your taste. When I arrived in Guayaquil, I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve heard from many people that Guayaquil is worth skipping but it is a beautiful city with a warm tropical climate and a lot of coastline. On paper, Guayaquil definitely makes a strong case for being the best city to party in Ecuador. The most popular place to party in Guayaquil is Las Penas. Things get pretty wild here, so prepare for a good time.

While Guayaquil has the infrastructure for a great night out, the current safety situation does warrant a lot of caution. Unfortunately, it appears to be continuing on a downwards trend, and until the circumstances improve, Guayaquil is a tough sell for a drunken, reckless night out. One will have to be more strategic, heading out with groups, using ride-hailing apps to get anywhere, and perhaps, stopping short of blacking out. When Guayaquil does bounce back, I’m sure the streets will be filled with a raucous nonstop fiesta.

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1. Montañita

Montañita is an entirely different animal altogether. This small beach town only has a population of about 4,500, although it grows exponentially during surf competitions and especially so during Carnival season. During the day, this backpacker hotspot might be one of the sleepiest little towns I’ve ever seen. But once the sun goes down, the nightlife comes out in full force. Make sure that you are staying at a social hostel like Hidden House, Esperanto, or My Little House. They usually have something going on, like an all-you-can-drink night where all you pay is a $5 entry fee.

Once you finish pre-gaming at one of the wild party hostels, you can let the night properly begin. There are an abundance of night clubs packed into the small but bustling downtown area of Montañita. However, it is inevitable that the party will spill out onto the beach.

Every day is the weekend in Montañita. And by that, I mean it’s either Friday or Sunday. You’re either partying until 7 in the morning or doing absolutely nothing all day. I somehow spent nearly two weeks in this city that offers nothing besides partying and surfing. I managed to get out and surf only once, too. So yeah, there was a lot of partying. I’ve also found the small surf towns to have the most unexpectedly wild parties. San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, Weligama in Sri Lanka, Mancora in Peru… Add Montañita to that list. Compared to the rest of Ecuador, Montañita is next-level.

For a complete guide on partying in Montañita, check out my other post here.

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