Get Ready to Ride Motorcycles in Ecuador

Riding Ecuador rewards a little preparation. The roads here are different from what many riders are used to at home: steep mountain switchbacks, constantly changing elevations, unpredictable weather, natural dirt roads, and riding days that can demand plenty of concentration even when the mileage doesn’t look particularly high.

If this is your first time exploring South America on two wheels, there are a few things you can practice before you arrive that will make the riding easier and a lot more enjoyable once you get here.

Get Ready to Ride Ecuador: Roads

When it comes to motorcycling in Ecuador, we’ve got two words for you: mountain twisties. Ecuador is an Andean country, which means many of the best motorcycle routes here are mountain roads with countless bends, switchbacks, and corners. Sound like a motorcycling paradise? It certainly is, but if you’re not used to riding mountain roads, it’s worth getting some practice before you arrive. If most of your riding happens on interstates or wide-open roads, the steep switchbacks of the Andes may take some getting used to.

To avoid sweating on the hairpins, get in some mountain riding practice before you ride Ecuador. Look for scenic, twisty routes in your area, use motorcycling apps like Calimoto or Scenic to find good roads near you, reach out to other riders, or simply start looking for the curviest roads you can find. Get some twisty miles under your belt before you come down here, and you’ll have a much better time once the Andes start throwing corners at you.

You can also practice riding through traffic cones. Set up a course and first ride it like a slalom, gradually increasing your speed as your control improves. Then ride the same course as slowly as possible without putting a foot down. See how much slower and smoother you can become with practice. Being able to control your motorcycle confidently at both higher and walking speeds will help considerably when you are riding in Ecuador.

Ecuador Off-Road

Ecuador is a true off-roading heaven for dirt bike maniacs, but exploring Ecuador on dirt isn’t quite the same as riding your local BDR. Our routes can take you from low elevations to well above 10,000 feet in the Andes, sometimes within the same riding day, bringing major changes in temperature, weather, and terrain along the way.

Every once in a while, you might come across a landslide that will take some skill to get over, and weather in the Andes can turn a dry dirt road muddy or leave sections washed out. The natural dirt roads here are working roads used by farmers, local communities, livestock, motorcycles, trucks, and buses, so conditions can change constantly.

It’s worth getting some off-road practice before you hit the dirt in Ecuador. Sign up for dirt bike training, head out riding with experienced friends, or spend some time practicing on natural dirt roads near home. The more comfortable you are when the motorcycle starts moving around underneath you, the more fun Ecuador off-road is going to be.

Rider Endurance

This is something many riders don’t think about enough before a motorcycle tour in Ecuador: endurance. We’re not saying you need to be in exceptional shape, but riding a motorcycle for seven or ten consecutive days through constant curves, changing road surfaces, steep terrain, and major elevation changes can wear you down.

Daily mileage in Ecuador may look modest compared with a highway trip back home, but the roads require much more concentration and physical input. Go on some longer rides before your trip, commute on the motorcycle when you can, ride even when the weather isn’t perfect, and hit the gym once in a while. Building some endurance before you arrive means you’ll have more energy left to enjoy the riding instead of simply surviving the last hour of the day.

Navigation in Ecuador

Navigating in Ecuador is relatively straightforward once you’re comfortable using a dedicated motorcycle GPS. Here at Ecuador Freedom, we use Garmin Zümo XT units on our self-guided tours.

The Zümo XT is no longer Garmin’s newest motorcycle GPS, and we use it deliberately. We have spent 17 years developing and refining our motorcycle routes with Garmin BaseCamp, and the Zümo XT works directly with that route-planning system. Garmin’s newer motorcycle GPS units do not give us the same BaseCamp compatibility that our route-development process depends on.

For us, the XT is solid, proven technology. We know how it behaves, we know how our routes perform on it, and we have spent years riding, testing, correcting, and refining those routes in the real world. That matters much more to us than replacing a reliable navigation system simply because something newer has appeared.

If you mostly navigate with your phone at home, don’t worry. We go over the GPS with you before departure so you understand how to use it and how the routes are organized.

Packing and Luggage

Light is right. The same rule applies to traveling in Ecuador.

When you’re thinking about your packing list, try to minimize what you carry and stick to the essentials. Your riding gear, a reasonable amount of clothing, base layers, toiletries, and the electronics you actually need will cover most of it.

The lighter you pack, the easier the motorcycle is to manage and the less time you spend wrestling with luggage every morning and evening. This matters even more when riding two-up.

We have put a lot of time into the Ecuador Freedom website so you can see detailed information about each motorcycle, including its installed accessories, luggage configuration, specifications, and other equipment. You can see what your motorcycle is equipped with before you arrive rather than guessing about how much space you’ll have.

When you book a tour, we also send you detailed packing information based on the type of riding you’ll be doing. You can also review our motorcycle tour packing guide before your trip so you know what is worth bringing and what can stay at home.

Carrying less weight also makes the bike easier to balance and maneuver, which means less fatigue at the end of a long riding day. Pack light and your motorcycle will thank you.

When you sign up for a tour with Ecuador Freedom, you’ll also receive 20% off riding gear from Klim, which can be a good opportunity to upgrade a jacket, pants, or other riding equipment before your trip.

Packing for a Purpose

Save some space in your luggage to carry items that will benefit children at an isolated school located in a rural area of Ecuador. Construction paper, watercolor paints, quality volleyballs, and other useful school supplies can be difficult to find in some of the communities we visit. If you can bring them from home, you may be able to make a personal delivery as part of our Ride for Purpose Program!

Hola, ¿Qué Tal?

Ecuador is a Spanish-speaking country. You’ll find English speakers in many hotels and tourism businesses, but once you start riding through smaller towns, farming communities, and rural areas, a little Spanish becomes much more useful.

You don’t need to become fluent before your trip. Learning how to say hello, ask a simple question, order something to eat, thank someone, and wish them a good day will get you a long way. Apps like Duolingo can help you pick up the basics, and even making the effort usually gets a smile.

A little preparation before you arrive can make a big difference once the riding starts. Practice your corners and slow-speed control, get some dirt experience if your tour calls for it, build enough endurance for consecutive riding days, pack light, and learn a few words of Spanish. Then come down and put it all to use.