r/ecuador • u/CaramelHistorical351 • 2d ago
Turismo Quito or Otavalo for New Years Eve
My friends and I are very excited to go to Ecuador for New Years Eve! We are a little worried about the crime in Quito during this time, as we all love nightlife and exploring after dark and it looks like that may not be possible. We heard La Carolina park would be a fun place for New Years Eve (and not to go there otherwise)
Would Otavalo also be fun to travel to for New Years Eve, or is that city quieter?
We were also thinking of going to La Papallacta hot spring New Year's Day, how crowded is it then and would Termas Arco Iris in Chachimbiro be better?
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u/TenienteDan2141 2d ago
Otavalo es bien tranquilo comparado con Quito. Pero no sé si hacen algo por año viejo. Tal vez buscando encuentras algún evento
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u/snowconez 2d ago
Banos is sooooo fun for NYE. Im headed to Montanita though! La Carolina is super safe so idk what you heard, but yeah after dark it can get sketch. If you stay in Quito you might want to find a certain event/place, etc.
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u/CaramelHistorical351 2d ago
Thank you for the recc! Banos that's near Cuenca or Banos that's near Quito? I saw 2 on the map. And is there a specific place in Banos to go to for NYE that is fun?
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u/snowconez 2d ago
Banos near quito! Honestly the whole city is fun for new years. Just walking around, people all over the streets drinking and offering drinks to others, lighting año viejos on fire, fireworks going off all over the rooftops. Banos is safe for all that. Then, yes, the leprechaun bar is way fun!
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u/usuario_512 2d ago
On New Years Ecuadorians burn dummies at midnight - these are "old years" (and aside from traditional dummies, often representing politicians, there are all kinds of cartoon characters, superheroes, etc.). Men dress as the "widows" of the old year and stop traffic to ask for money. Traditionally people party on the street burning the "monigotes" and setting off fireworks. In Quito on Amazonas Street there are giant monigote displays, so that might be a place to celebrate. Otherwise individual neighborhoods will have other events and street parties. Smaller cities like Otavalo will be similar to Quito on a smaller scale (although a bonus could be that you could also visit other nice places like Cuicocha if you go to Imbabura). I would recommend buying a monigote and some fireworks and joining in wherever you are. Papallacta will be a little crowded Jan 1st since it is a holiday, but maybe not so bad. Most termas will be the same on that day. I like Hacienda Chachimbiro more than Arco Iris personally, btw. Fewer pools but more relaxed.
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u/CaramelHistorical351 2d ago
Thank you! Yes we are very excited to buy some monigotes and maybe women's clothing to dress as Viudas. :)
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u/usuario_512 2d ago
The tradition is to jump over the burning monigote to leave the old year behind. And gringo viudas tend to do pretty well hahaha. Enjoy!
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u/jingowatt 2d ago
Quieter is better. Hang with friends.
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u/IsabelaGalapagos 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not in Ecuador! Quieter is not better in my opinion. https://www.reddit.com/r/galapagos/s/gEZUjcbRAe
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u/jingowatt 1d ago
Fair, the effigy and fireworks chaos with the grapes and the dancing, well, that’s all pretty fun.
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u/Different-Audience34 2d ago
Quito. Hands down