Weathering a Storm: Ecuador Freedom vs Nationwide Strike

Ecuador is one of the most peaceful nations in South America. According to the World Happiness Index, it’s also one of the most cheerful: Ecuador ranks third on the continent when it comes to happiness.

We’re not surprised. We’ve been living, working, and sharing motorcycle adventures in Ecuador for over a decade. We’ve made lifelong friends among the locals, brought thousands of travelers to experience Ecuador on two wheels, and supported Ecuador through tough times when the country was affected by earthquakes.

Our Pack for a Purpose program has been in full swing for several years now: we encourage riders to bring down and distribute school supplies during their motorcycle adventures here in Ecuador. We deeply value the connections we have made here, as well as the relationships we continue to cherish across the country.

So, for the most part, the biggest motorcycle tour disruptions we’ve seen so far have been flat tires, small landslides, and a rogue waterfall flooding a road here and there.

Recently, however, we found ourselves in the middle of an unexpected storm. Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, signed a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund, lifting the fuel subsidies that had existed here for decades. This resulted in gas prices doubling overnight, deeply affecting Ecuadorians and threatening to push the country’s poorest further into poverty.

For twelve days following the move, Ecuador went on a nationwide strike. The protests were first started by people in the public transport sector and were soon joined by Indigenous Ecuadorians who opposed the president’s decision. Within a few days, many of the country’s main roads were blocked by protesters, and Ecuador entered a long and tumultuous strike as people pushed the government to soften the blow.

Nothing like this had happened in Ecuador in the ten years we’d been living here, and it took us all by surprise. However, it’s times like this, when adventures are taken to the next level and our abilities are put to the test, that strengthen us all.

During the days of the strike, the Ecuador Freedom team in Quito worked around the clock to provide support to our riders and tour participants, creating detours on the spot, rerouting riders onto safer roads, and calling on our friendships with locals to help out.

As luck would have it, October also marked our very first all-female motorcycle tour.

Five adventurous women from the US and Canada, accompanied by our tour guide Hannah and guest guide Egle, set out to ride the Andes and the Amazon on our motorcycles. As the nationwide protests spread, however, the group had to wait out the storm in the small Andean town of Cotacachi, reroute, ride a little more dirt than they expected, and experience Ecuadorian culture firsthand.

We’re proud to share that our fearless women riders showed no signs of anxiety over the situation and instead turned it into an unforgettable experience. They brought food supplies to the Indigenous people of Cotacachi, visited local families, met with the town’s mayor, Auki Tituaña, and left school supplies for a local orphanage.

They had to change course, adapt, make friends, see humanity at its rawest, work as a solid team, and find positives every step of the way. They met local leather tanners, Indigenous leaders, cacao growers and chocolate makers, fellow travelers, sugarcane farmers, and villagers. Every encounter left us all richer for the experience.

While helping our Ladies on the Loose team navigate the strike, we were also working overtime to provide support to other riders and tour participants exploring Ecuador on our bikes.

This is where our local knowledge, connections, and friendships played a vital role. Because of our deep roots and experience here in Ecuador, we were able to offer alternative routes and accommodations, provide support, and make sure our riders were safe during the strike.

We also provided information and support to independent motorcycle travelers who happened to be in Ecuador during the protests. Our doors are always open to anyone on two wheels, and we’re glad that we were able to help several riders who found themselves in need of a little extra guidance.

As Ecuadorian residents, we’re also proud to say the protesters we encountered did not threaten our riders or single them out. They simply asked everyone to respect the strike.

The nationwide protests ended almost as suddenly as they began, with the country’s president offering a new deal and promising a compromise. Quito returned to normal quickly, as did the rest of Ecuador.

At the time, travel around the country resumed, and we hoped that the short period of uncertainty would leave Ecuador with a new vision and a renewed sense of unity. If you are planning to ride Ecuador and have any questions, please feel free to send us a message and we’ll do our best to help you choose your routes.

We’re extremely grateful to all our riders and tour participants for trusting us and helping us create memorable experiences under extraordinary circumstances. We thank you all for your patience, resilience, and sense of adventure.

Most of all, we are grateful for the local Ecuadorians who supported us and offered assistance during this unusual situation. To the hoteliers who worked with us to ensure our riders could change accommodations and stay safe, to the local mechanics and support drivers, to the police officers and Indigenous community leaders, to the road workers and gas station attendants — a big, heartfelt thank you for your kindness and support.

Together, we weathered a storm — and redefined the meaning of adventure.