What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in Ecuador?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-08-08

The short-term rental market in Ecuador spans 84 cities tracked in AirROI's 2026 dataset, ranging from mature urban markets with thousands of active listings to emerging destinations where early operators still have pricing leverage. Supply growth, regulation, and seasonal demand vary significantly across the region — making market selection one of the highest-leverage decisions an Airbnb investor can make.

This page ranks the best Airbnb markets in Ecuador across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Quito, Pichincha leads by market size with 3,549 active listings and $261/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 20.6% with $334/month in average revenue and $96/night ADR. 84 of 84 markets carry a low regulation profile — a key consideration for investors evaluating compliance costs and time-to-market.

Rankings based on AirROI's analysis of 20,000,000+ short-term rental listings across revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation. See ranking methodology.

Explore Live Market Data

Top Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Active Listings

Active listing count is the most direct measure of a market's depth, maturity, and investor confidence. Cities with the most Airbnb listings in Ecuador attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Quito, Pichincha leads with 3,549 active short-term rental listings and $261/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Quito, Pichincha	3,549	$261	$45	31.0%	Low
2	Cuenca, Azuay	2,319	$297	$58	26.8%	Low
3	Guayaquil, Guayas	1,749	$241	$52	25.6%	Low
4	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	861	$374	$115	18.4%	Low
5	Manta, Manabí	799	$307	$85	21.5%	Low
6	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	766	$306	$105	17.5%	Low
7	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	514	$323	$71	19.6%	Low
8	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	415	$480	$162	16.5%	Low
9	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	364	$657	$92	31.6%	Low
10	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	341	$312	$127	13.4%	Low
11	Loja, Loja	317	$133	$35	24.8%	Low
12	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	289	$404	$90	22.9%	Low
13	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	245	$492	$100	22.2%	Low
14	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	232	$694	$167	20.5%	Low
15	Baños, Tungurahua	219	$263	$76	19.9%	Low
16	Riobamba, Chimborazo	198	$111	$34	20.8%	Low
17	Ambato, Tungurahua	192	$139	$36	22.3%	Low
18	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	191	$566	$67	34.7%	Low
19	Machala, El Oro	189	$118	$43	19.3%	Low
20	Ibarra, Imbabura	163	$152	$42	21.3%	Low
21	Olón, Santa Elena Province	155	$591	$158	20.8%	Low
22	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	152	$666	$94	28.3%	Low
23	Puerto López, Manabí	141	$182	$60	18.0%	Low
24	Mindo, Pichincha	131	$367	$85	20.5%	Low
25	La Aurora, Guayas	122	$278	$76	27.9%	Low
26	Tena, Napo	118	$185	$62	20.7%	Low
27	Atacames, Esmeraldas	112	$127	$79	13.2%	Low
28	Samborondón, Guayas	110	$469	$92	34.7%	Low
29	Crucita, Manabí	100	$385	$129	16.1%	Low
30	Otavalo, Imbabura	97	$136	$50	19.0%	Low
31	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos Province	96	$387	$51	35.4%	Low
32	Portoviejo, Manabí	94	$159	$59	20.0%	Low
33	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	90	$295	$102	15.5%	Low
34	Puyo, Pastaza	89	$131	$44	19.9%	Low
35	Playas, Guayas	88	$319	$141	16.0%	Low
36	Punta Blanca, Santa Elena	85	$506	$179	18.3%	Low
37	Cumbaya, Pichincha	84	$469	$68	33.3%	Low
38	Cojimíes, Manabí	79	$675	$199	18.3%	Low
39	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	79	$552	$159	17.2%	Low
40	Parroquia Puerto Ayora, Islas Galápagos	72	$302	$54	33.5%	Low
41	Santo Domingo de Los Colorados, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	68	$120	$38	23.2%	Low
42	Canoa, Manabí	67	$364	$100	18.4%	Low
43	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	67	$244	$118	13.1%	Low
44	Tumbaco, Pichincha	67	$249	$60	25.9%	Low
45	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	66	$203	$54	23.9%	Low
46	Pedernales, Manabí	65	$456	$135	17.1%	Low
47	Cotacachi, Imbabura	64	$184	$39	26.9%	Low
48	Jama, Manabí	62	$999	$195	21.4%	Low
49	Charapotó, Manabí	60	$434	$159	15.4%	Low
50	Vilcabamba, Loja	56	$113	$50	21.9%	Low
51	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	52	$136	$45	18.7%	Low
52	Sangolquí, Pichincha	52	$159	$47	23.2%	Low
53	Olon, Santa Elena	50	$520	$163	20.9%	Low
54	Same, Esmeraldas	47	$527	$162	18.3%	Low
55	Montecristi, Manabí	46	$224	$108	16.5%	Low
56	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	45	$206	$83	15.2%	Low
57	Santa Marianita, Manabí	45	$266	$110	16.9%	Low
58	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	44	$361	$89	22.0%	Low
59	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	43	$173	$60	17.4%	Low
60	Malacatos, Loja	43	$226	$124	13.2%	Low
61	Ayampe, Manabí	37	$417	$86	26.3%	Low
62	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	36	$272	$117	18.3%	Low
63	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	35	$997	$215	23.5%	Low
64	Ulba, Tungurahua	35	$379	$102	18.0%	Low
65	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	34	$264	$102	15.2%	Low
66	Muisne, Esmeraldas	33	$93	$40	21.1%	Low
67	Santa Isabel, Azuay	32	$554	$187	16.6%	Low
68	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	32	$145	$39	28.4%	Low
69	Tababela, Pichincha	32	$222	$86	17.7%	Low
70	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	32	$196	$97	12.0%	Low
71	Curia, Santa Elena Province	31	$1,155	$247	18.1%	Low
72	Catamayo, Loja	30	$194	$86	16.8%	Low
73	Macas, Morona-Santiago	30	$162	$66	17.1%	Low
74	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	28	$221	$115	12.9%	Low
75	Patate, Tungurahua	27	$255	$127	12.1%	Low
76	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	25	$169	$75	13.3%	Low
77	Cayambe, Pichincha	25	$224	$112	18.7%	Low
78	San Lorenzo, Manabí	24	$278	$103	17.9%	Low
79	Machachi, Pichincha	24	$546	$132	18.7%	Low
80	Baños, Azuay	23	$392	$83	22.6%	Low
81	Jaramijó, Manabí	22	$165	$79	18.3%	Low
82	Ballenita, Santa Elena	22	$518	$172	19.5%	Low
83	Machalilla, Manabí	21	$123	$56	13.7%	Low
84	Conocoto, Pichincha	21	$145	$40	24.0%	Low

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in Ecuador are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Curia, Santa Elena Province leads with $1,155/month at $247 ADR and 18.1% occupancy. Whether you are evaluating your first STR investment or benchmarking an existing property, these top-earning Airbnb markets show where vacation rentals generate the greatest short-term rental income.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Curia, Santa Elena Province	$1,155	31	$247	18.1%	Low
2	Jama, Manabí	$999	62	$195	21.4%	Low
3	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	$997	35	$215	23.5%	Low
4	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	$694	232	$167	20.5%	Low
5	Cojimíes, Manabí	$675	79	$199	18.3%	Low
6	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	$666	152	$94	28.3%	Low
7	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	$657	364	$92	31.6%	Low
8	Olón, Santa Elena Province	$591	155	$158	20.8%	Low
9	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	$566	191	$67	34.7%	Low
10	Santa Isabel, Azuay	$554	32	$187	16.6%	Low
11	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	$552	79	$159	17.2%	Low
12	Machachi, Pichincha	$546	24	$132	18.7%	Low
13	Same, Esmeraldas	$527	47	$162	18.3%	Low
14	Olon, Santa Elena	$520	50	$163	20.9%	Low
15	Ballenita, Santa Elena	$518	22	$172	19.5%	Low
16	Punta Blanca, Santa Elena	$506	85	$179	18.3%	Low
17	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	$492	245	$100	22.2%	Low
18	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	$480	415	$162	16.5%	Low
19	Samborondón, Guayas	$469	110	$92	34.7%	Low
20	Cumbaya, Pichincha	$469	84	$68	33.3%	Low
21	Pedernales, Manabí	$456	65	$135	17.1%	Low
22	Charapotó, Manabí	$434	60	$159	15.4%	Low
23	Ayampe, Manabí	$417	37	$86	26.3%	Low
24	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	$404	289	$90	22.9%	Low
25	Baños, Azuay	$392	23	$83	22.6%	Low
26	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos Province	$387	96	$51	35.4%	Low
27	Crucita, Manabí	$385	100	$129	16.1%	Low
28	Ulba, Tungurahua	$379	35	$102	18.0%	Low
29	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	$374	861	$115	18.4%	Low
30	Mindo, Pichincha	$367	131	$85	20.5%	Low
31	Canoa, Manabí	$364	67	$100	18.4%	Low
32	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$361	44	$89	22.0%	Low
33	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	$323	514	$71	19.6%	Low
34	Playas, Guayas	$319	88	$141	16.0%	Low
35	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	$312	341	$127	13.4%	Low
36	Manta, Manabí	$307	799	$85	21.5%	Low
37	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	$306	766	$105	17.5%	Low
38	Parroquia Puerto Ayora, Islas Galápagos	$302	72	$54	33.5%	Low
39	Cuenca, Azuay	$297	2,319	$58	26.8%	Low
40	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	$295	90	$102	15.5%	Low
41	San Lorenzo, Manabí	$278	24	$103	17.9%	Low
42	La Aurora, Guayas	$278	122	$76	27.9%	Low
43	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	$272	36	$117	18.3%	Low
44	Santa Marianita, Manabí	$266	45	$110	16.9%	Low
45	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	$264	34	$102	15.2%	Low
46	Baños, Tungurahua	$263	219	$76	19.9%	Low
47	Quito, Pichincha	$261	3,549	$45	31.0%	Low
48	Patate, Tungurahua	$255	27	$127	12.1%	Low
49	Tumbaco, Pichincha	$249	67	$60	25.9%	Low
50	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	$244	67	$118	13.1%	Low
51	Guayaquil, Guayas	$241	1,749	$52	25.6%	Low
52	Malacatos, Loja	$226	43	$124	13.2%	Low
53	Cayambe, Pichincha	$224	25	$112	18.7%	Low
54	Montecristi, Manabí	$224	46	$108	16.5%	Low
55	Tababela, Pichincha	$222	32	$86	17.7%	Low
56	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	$221	28	$115	12.9%	Low
57	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	$206	45	$83	15.2%	Low
58	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$203	66	$54	23.9%	Low
59	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	$196	32	$97	12.0%	Low
60	Catamayo, Loja	$194	30	$86	16.8%	Low
61	Tena, Napo	$185	118	$62	20.7%	Low
62	Cotacachi, Imbabura	$184	64	$39	26.9%	Low
63	Puerto López, Manabí	$182	141	$60	18.0%	Low
64	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	$173	43	$60	17.4%	Low
65	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	$169	25	$75	13.3%	Low
66	Jaramijó, Manabí	$165	22	$79	18.3%	Low
67	Macas, Morona-Santiago	$162	30	$66	17.1%	Low
68	Sangolquí, Pichincha	$159	52	$47	23.2%	Low
69	Portoviejo, Manabí	$159	94	$59	20.0%	Low
70	Ibarra, Imbabura	$152	163	$42	21.3%	Low
71	Conocoto, Pichincha	$145	21	$40	24.0%	Low
72	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	$145	32	$39	28.4%	Low
73	Ambato, Tungurahua	$139	192	$36	22.3%	Low
74	Otavalo, Imbabura	$136	97	$50	19.0%	Low
75	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	$136	52	$45	18.7%	Low
76	Loja, Loja	$133	317	$35	24.8%	Low
77	Puyo, Pastaza	$131	89	$44	19.9%	Low
78	Atacames, Esmeraldas	$127	112	$79	13.2%	Low
79	Machalilla, Manabí	$123	21	$56	13.7%	Low
80	Santo Domingo de Los Colorados, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$120	68	$38	23.2%	Low
81	Machala, El Oro	$118	189	$43	19.3%	Low
82	Vilcabamba, Loja	$113	56	$50	21.9%	Low
83	Riobamba, Chimborazo	$111	198	$34	20.8%	Low
84	Muisne, Esmeraldas	$93	33	$40	21.1%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Nightly Rate

The average daily rate (ADR) measures how much guests pay per night in each market, making it the clearest indicator of a city's short-term rental pricing power. Curia, Santa Elena Province commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Ecuador at $247/night, generating $1,155/month at 18.1% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#	Market	ADR	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Curia, Santa Elena Province	$247	31	$1,155	18.1%	Low
2	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	$215	35	$997	23.5%	Low
3	Cojimíes, Manabí	$199	79	$675	18.3%	Low
4	Jama, Manabí	$195	62	$999	21.4%	Low
5	Santa Isabel, Azuay	$187	32	$554	16.6%	Low
6	Punta Blanca, Santa Elena	$179	85	$506	18.3%	Low
7	Ballenita, Santa Elena	$172	22	$518	19.5%	Low
8	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	$167	232	$694	20.5%	Low
9	Olon, Santa Elena	$163	50	$520	20.9%	Low
10	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	$162	415	$480	16.5%	Low
11	Same, Esmeraldas	$162	47	$527	18.3%	Low
12	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	$159	79	$552	17.2%	Low
13	Charapotó, Manabí	$159	60	$434	15.4%	Low
14	Olón, Santa Elena Province	$158	155	$591	20.8%	Low
15	Playas, Guayas	$141	88	$319	16.0%	Low
16	Pedernales, Manabí	$135	65	$456	17.1%	Low
17	Machachi, Pichincha	$132	24	$546	18.7%	Low
18	Crucita, Manabí	$129	100	$385	16.1%	Low
19	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	$127	341	$312	13.4%	Low
20	Patate, Tungurahua	$127	27	$255	12.1%	Low
21	Malacatos, Loja	$124	43	$226	13.2%	Low
22	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	$118	67	$244	13.1%	Low
23	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	$117	36	$272	18.3%	Low
24	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	$115	861	$374	18.4%	Low
25	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	$115	28	$221	12.9%	Low
26	Cayambe, Pichincha	$112	25	$224	18.7%	Low
27	Santa Marianita, Manabí	$110	45	$266	16.9%	Low
28	Montecristi, Manabí	$108	46	$224	16.5%	Low
29	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	$105	766	$306	17.5%	Low
30	San Lorenzo, Manabí	$103	24	$278	17.9%	Low
31	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	$102	90	$295	15.5%	Low
32	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	$102	34	$264	15.2%	Low
33	Ulba, Tungurahua	$102	35	$379	18.0%	Low
34	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	$100	245	$492	22.2%	Low
35	Canoa, Manabí	$100	67	$364	18.4%	Low
36	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	$97	32	$196	12.0%	Low
37	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	$94	152	$666	28.3%	Low
38	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	$92	364	$657	31.6%	Low
39	Samborondón, Guayas	$92	110	$469	34.7%	Low
40	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	$90	289	$404	22.9%	Low
41	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$89	44	$361	22.0%	Low
42	Tababela, Pichincha	$86	32	$222	17.7%	Low
43	Ayampe, Manabí	$86	37	$417	26.3%	Low
44	Catamayo, Loja	$86	30	$194	16.8%	Low
45	Manta, Manabí	$85	799	$307	21.5%	Low
46	Mindo, Pichincha	$85	131	$367	20.5%	Low
47	Baños, Azuay	$83	23	$392	22.6%	Low
48	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	$83	45	$206	15.2%	Low
49	Atacames, Esmeraldas	$79	112	$127	13.2%	Low
50	Jaramijó, Manabí	$79	22	$165	18.3%	Low
51	La Aurora, Guayas	$76	122	$278	27.9%	Low
52	Baños, Tungurahua	$76	219	$263	19.9%	Low
53	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	$75	25	$169	13.3%	Low
54	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	$71	514	$323	19.6%	Low
55	Cumbaya, Pichincha	$68	84	$469	33.3%	Low
56	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	$67	191	$566	34.7%	Low
57	Macas, Morona-Santiago	$66	30	$162	17.1%	Low
58	Tena, Napo	$62	118	$185	20.7%	Low
59	Tumbaco, Pichincha	$60	67	$249	25.9%	Low
60	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	$60	43	$173	17.4%	Low
61	Puerto López, Manabí	$60	141	$182	18.0%	Low
62	Portoviejo, Manabí	$59	94	$159	20.0%	Low
63	Cuenca, Azuay	$58	2,319	$297	26.8%	Low
64	Machalilla, Manabí	$56	21	$123	13.7%	Low
65	Parroquia Puerto Ayora, Islas Galápagos	$54	72	$302	33.5%	Low
66	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$54	66	$203	23.9%	Low
67	Guayaquil, Guayas	$52	1,749	$241	25.6%	Low
68	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos Province	$51	96	$387	35.4%	Low
69	Otavalo, Imbabura	$50	97	$136	19.0%	Low
70	Vilcabamba, Loja	$50	56	$113	21.9%	Low
71	Sangolquí, Pichincha	$47	52	$159	23.2%	Low
72	Quito, Pichincha	$45	3,549	$261	31.0%	Low
73	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	$45	52	$136	18.7%	Low
74	Puyo, Pastaza	$44	89	$131	19.9%	Low
75	Machala, El Oro	$43	189	$118	19.3%	Low
76	Ibarra, Imbabura	$42	163	$152	21.3%	Low
77	Conocoto, Pichincha	$40	21	$145	24.0%	Low
78	Muisne, Esmeraldas	$40	33	$93	21.1%	Low
79	Cotacachi, Imbabura	$39	64	$184	26.9%	Low
80	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	$39	32	$145	28.4%	Low
81	Santo Domingo de Los Colorados, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$38	68	$120	23.2%	Low
82	Ambato, Tungurahua	$36	192	$139	22.3%	Low
83	Loja, Loja	$35	317	$133	24.8%	Low
84	Riobamba, Chimborazo	$34	198	$111	20.8%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in Ecuador

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Puerto Ayora, Galápagos leads Ecuador with 31.6% occupancy, $657/month revenue, and 364 active listings. Markets with the highest STR occupancy rates reflect strong, sustained guest demand — a critical signal for investors evaluating where properties will stay consistently booked year-round. This ranking is filtered to markets with 300+ listings to ensure statistical reliability.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	31.6%	364	$657	$92	Low
2	Quito, Pichincha	31.0%	3,549	$261	$45	Low
3	Cuenca, Azuay	26.8%	2,319	$297	$58	Low
4	Guayaquil, Guayas	25.6%	1,749	$241	$52	Low
5	Loja, Loja	24.8%	317	$133	$35	Low
6	Manta, Manabí	21.5%	799	$307	$85	Low
7	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	19.6%	514	$323	$71	Low
8	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	18.4%	861	$374	$115	Low
9	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	17.5%	766	$306	$105	Low
10	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	16.5%	415	$480	$162	Low
11	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	13.4%	341	$312	$127	Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in Ecuador

No single ranking tells the full story. The best Airbnb market for a given investor depends on their capital, risk tolerance, operating model, and income goals. The four ranking dimensions on this page — market depth, revenue, ADR, and occupancy — serve different investor profiles.

If you prioritize predictable cash flow, start with the occupancy rankings. Markets where occupancy exceeds 55% offer consistent bookings and lower vacancy risk. High-occupancy markets may not have the highest nightly rates, but their revenue stability makes them better suited for mortgage-backed investments where monthly debt coverage matters more than peak earnings.

If you're targeting maximum income per property, use the revenue rankings. Revenue is the product of nightly rate and occupancy — it captures the combined effect of both. The highest-revenue Airbnb markets in Ecuador tend to be destination cities where travelers stay longer and pay a premium for entire-home listings.

If you're evaluating luxury or premium positioning, the ADR rankings show where guests are willing to pay top dollar per night. High-ADR markets reward property upgrades, professional photography, and amenity investments. However, a high nightly rate with low occupancy may generate less income than a moderately priced listing that stays booked consistently.

If you want the deepest market data, the active listings rankings identify cities with the largest short-term rental supply. More listings mean more comparable properties for pricing, more data points for revenue projections, and typically a more liquid resale market if your investment thesis changes.

In all cases, check the regulation column before committing capital. A profitable market with high regulation may require permits, annual caps on rental days, or costly compliance steps that erode returns. Markets with low regulation offer faster time-to-market but may tighten rules as STR supply grows.

Short-Term Rental Regulation in Ecuador

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in Ecuador. Regulation affects licensing costs, annual operating limits, tax obligations, and the long-term viability of a short-term rental strategy.

Across the 84 markets ranked on this page: 84 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 0 have high regulation (strict licensing, annual rental day caps, or active enforcement). Markets with low regulation offer the lowest barrier to entry, while high-regulation markets may still be profitable — but require careful compliance planning and often limit the number of properties a single operator can manage.

AirROI classifies regulation as a market-level signal based on available ordinance data and platform registration patterns. This is not legal advice — always verify current local ordinances, as short-term rental rules can change rapidly, especially in high-growth markets where municipalities are actively responding to STR expansion.

How We Rank the Best Airbnb Investment Markets in Ecuador

This page ranks Airbnb markets in Ecuador across four dimensions that matter most to short-term rental investors and operators: market depth (active listings), revenue potential (monthly income per listing), pricing power (average daily rate), and booking demand (occupancy rate). Each ranking uses the same underlying dataset but sorts by a different metric, giving you multiple lenses to evaluate where to invest in Airbnb in Ecuador.

No single metric tells the full story. A market with high ADR but low occupancy may underperform one with moderate pricing and strong demand. Revenue captures the combined effect of rate and occupancy, while active listings signal whether a market has enough depth for reliable benchmarking and a liquid resale environment. We include regulation data alongside every ranking so you can weigh compliance risk before committing capital.

Ranking Methodology & Data Sources

Active Listings (TTM): The count of active short-term rental listings in each market over the trailing twelve months — a proxy for market maturity, data reliability, and investor confidence in Ecuador.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in Ecuador and projecting cash flow.
Average Daily Rate (ADR): The mean nightly booking price across all active listings — the clearest measure of a market's short-term rental pricing power.
Occupancy Rate: Percentage of available nights booked — the demand signal that determines how much of your nightly rate converts to actual income. Occupancy rankings are filtered to markets with 300+ listings to exclude small markets with unreliable averages.
Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate in Ecuador, from low (operator-friendly) to high (strict licensing and enforcement) — essential for assessing compliance risk.

All data is sourced from AirROI's proprietary analytics pipeline, which tracks 20,000,000+ properties across 190+ countries. Metrics are recalculated on a rolling basis using trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Airbnb Markets in Ecuador

These quick answers summarize the most common investor and operator questions using AirROI's latest market data for Ecuador.

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in Ecuador?

Quito, Pichincha leads this ranking for Ecuador with 3,549 active listings — the largest market by depth. Markets are ranked by listing count because deeper markets offer more comparable data, more pricing benchmarks, and a more predictable operating environment for investors. Each row also shows revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation so investors can evaluate based on what matters most to them.

Which market has the highest Airbnb revenue in Ecuador?

Curia, Santa Elena Province posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $1,155. Revenue leaders often combine healthy rates, solid occupancy, and enough listing scale to support repeatable operations rather than one-off outliers.

Which market has the strongest Airbnb occupancy in Ecuador?

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos Province has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 35.4%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which Airbnb markets in Ecuador have the lowest regulation?

Quito (Pichincha), Cuenca (Azuay), Guayaquil (Guayas) currently show low regulation profiles in this ranking. Lower regulation can reduce compliance costs and time-to-market for new hosts, but investors should always verify local ordinances before purchasing — rules can change quickly as short-term rental markets grow.

Is short-term rental investing still profitable in Ecuador in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 20.6% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,155 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across Ecuador for well-researched investors.

How often are AirROI's top Airbnb market rankings updated?

AirROI updates these rankings using the latest market snapshot available in the dataset, which for this page is anchored to 2026. Rankings should be treated as current market intelligence rather than permanent truths because pricing, demand, regulation, and supply can all shift over time.

What metrics should I use to evaluate Airbnb investments in Ecuador?

The most important metrics for comparing short-term rental markets are active listing count (market depth and data reliability), occupancy rate (demand consistency), average daily rate (pricing power), monthly revenue (income potential), and regulation level (compliance cost and risk). This ranking sorts by market depth first; use the other columns to filter for the profile that fits your investment strategy.

What makes a good Airbnb market for first-time investors in Ecuador?

First-time investors in Ecuador should prioritize markets with high occupancy (55%+) and low regulation, which reduce the risk of empty calendars and compliance surprises. Markets with 200+ active listings also provide better benchmarking data and a more predictable operating environment. Revenue is important, but consistent demand is more forgiving for operators still learning pricing and guest management.

What is a good Airbnb occupancy rate in Ecuador?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in Ecuador is 20.6%. Occupancy above 50% is generally considered healthy for short-term rentals, and above 65% signals strong, sustained demand. However, the best occupancy rate depends on pricing strategy — some hosts maximize revenue by targeting fewer bookings at higher nightly rates rather than maximizing booking volume.

How does regulation affect Airbnb investment returns in Ecuador?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In Ecuador, 84 of 84 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 0 have high. High-regulation markets often require permits, limit annual rental days, or impose occupancy taxes — all of which reduce net returns. Low-regulation markets offer faster time-to-market and lower compliance costs, but rules can tighten as STR supply grows.

What is the difference between ADR and RevPAR for Airbnb investing?

ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average nightly price guests pay, while RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Rental night) factors in both price and occupancy. A market with $200 ADR and 50% occupancy has $100 RevPAR — the same as a market with $125 ADR and 80% occupancy. RevPAR is a better single-number benchmark for comparing markets because it captures how effectively nightly rates convert to realized income. AirROI's city-level reports include RevPAR with percentile breakdowns for deeper analysis.

How many Airbnb listings does a market need to be investable in Ecuador?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this Ecuador ranking has about 67 listings. Larger markets (500+) offer more reliable data, more comparable properties for pricing, and typically a more liquid exit if you decide to sell. Smaller markets can still be profitable, but investors should treat the data as directional rather than precise.

How do seasonal and year-round Airbnb markets differ in Ecuador?

Seasonal markets in Ecuador experience dramatic swings in booking demand — often earning 60-70% of annual revenue in just 3-4 peak months. Year-round markets deliver steadier cash flow with lower peak-to-trough variation. Investors who need predictable monthly income should prioritize high-occupancy markets with low seasonal variance, while those comfortable with cash-flow timing can target seasonal markets where peak rates compensate for off-season softness.

About AirROI Market Data

AirROI tracks over 20 million properties across 190+ countries and maintains 15+ years of historical performance data, making it one of the deepest Airbnb and STR intelligence platforms available. The analytics pipeline aggregates listing-level data monthly — revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, RevPAR, guest demographics, booking patterns, and competitive supply — so investors and operators can benchmark any market against its own history and against neighboring destinations.

Real estate investors, property managers, financial institutions, hospitality consultants, and academic researchers rely on AirROI data to underwrite acquisitions, optimize pricing, model macro trends, and conduct peer-reviewed research. Data is available through in-depth market reports, the data portal for bulk downloads, the Airbnb API with 22 endpoints, and an Airbnb MCP Server for AI agents.

All metrics reflect trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings as of 2026-08-08. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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