If you are worried on how to spend your evenings here, then welcome to RocApply Ecuador Nightlife! The nightlife in the country is pretty quiet Sunday through Wednesday unless you know the right places to go to (hint: ask the natives).
Otherwise, check around for flyers advertising ladies’ nights early in the week. Friday nights are popular, and Saturday nights are the busiest of the week. Arrive early if you want to get a good table at discotecas on the weekends, and avoid any lines at the popular spots.
Bar closing times vary by city, however most regular bars close by 2 – 3 a.m. Larger discotecas may stay open until 4 a.m. Some late, late-night venues stay open until dawn. During the Summer in Montanita, for example, you will find people drinking and hanging out in the streets until the sun rise.
The country’s nightlife varies widely from large cities of Quito and Guayaquil to the smaller towns of Banos and Montanita. Generally speaking, the larger cities which fare characterized by modern bars and discotecas will cost you more than grabbing a beer in the Amazon, mountains, or beach.
Dress codes apply to a minority of discotecas in the major towns. Ninety-nine perecnt of the time you won't need to worry about dressing up for a night of partying here. For both men and women, jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers are perefct.
The women tend to dress up more than the men, which is the case for much of Latin American region. There's a broad blend of music in Ecuador. Generally, middle and upper-class Ecuadorians prefer electronic melodies, and these clubs are common in large cities.
During the summer months, weekly raves are held at one particular club in Montanita. Heavy metal is also well-known. Caribbean tunes, such as salsa, bachata, and reggaeton can also be heard at bars and clubs, but based on the feedback from some Ecuadorian readers, these genres are seen as being music for lower-class individuals.
The country has an excellent reputation for partying, but the small surf and hippie hangout of Montanita on the Pacific Coast is the party capital of the country.
During the Summer, it's common for people from around the country to vacation in Montanita. There is a whole contingent of young people from nearby Guayaquil who would opt to escape the city for the beach every weekend.
Also, the surf town's casual vibe and relaxed regulations on marijuana attract lots of other South Americans from Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, as well as foreigners from around the globe.
Bars and discotecas in the country handle cover charges in different ways. To save you money and possible arguments with bar staff, it's best to be aware before you go.
The possibilities include:
- Paying a cover charge, and buying individual drinks in the discoteca. This is the Western way of handling things.
- Being required to spend a pre-defined amount of money on drinks, instead of having to pay the cover charge.
Being required to pay a cover charge that includes one or more “free” drinks, though your options may be not allowing.
"A lot of places to go out for a drink" - Petrov from Russia
