Golf in Ecuador: A Local Player’s Guide to Courses, Travel & Experiences

Cover of the Ecuador golf guide, showing a golf course with mountains and a city in the background.

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I have made Ecuador my home, and golf has become one of my favorite ways to experience the country. I have played every course in this guide, and each has its own character: the tropical surroundings of Samborondón, a demanding coastal round shaped by wind and sand, and golf high in the Andes, where the landscape and altitude change the way you play.

Through AmerExperience Golf™, I want to help put Ecuador on the map as an international golf destination. A golf trip here can bring together distinctive courses, excellent hotels, Ecuadorian cuisine, historic cities, mountain scenery and experiences beyond the fairways. Another special part of golf in Ecuador is the people you meet. The game brings people together, and I’ve found it easy to make good friends here, both on and off the course.

As a destination management entrepreneur, I have spent decades planning and organizing leisure, business and group travel, including trips to Formula 1 races, the FIFA World Cup and other major sporting events. I can say with confidence that Ecuador is one of the world’s most beautiful and diverse destinations. Its extraordinary variety—from the Pacific coast and the Galápagos Islands to the Andes and Amazon rainforest—makes Ecuador an especially rewarding place to combine golf with a wider journey.

Plan a golf trip in Ecuador

Start with the course, then build the journey

Contact each club directly to confirm visitor access and tee times. Then choose a nearby hotel and leave time for the food, scenery and culture that make Ecuador such a rewarding golf destination.

Check the Ecuador Golf Federation ↗   Download its golf app ↗

Affiliate disclosure: Some hotel, experience and golf links in this guide may earn AmerExperience a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

In this guide

Ecuador Golf at a Glance

Ecuador’s golf journey moves between the Pacific coast and the Andes. Use this quick comparison to decide which region fits your trip, then confirm course access and playing conditions with each club.

My Course Notes

Guayaquil Country Club — My Home Course

This is where I feel most at home. The club’s new Samborondón location has excellent facilities, and I think of it as a place where you can spend the whole day: play golf, enjoy the restaurants, swim, or take part in other sports.

Course facts: The club describes an 18-hole, par-72 layout across 51 hectares, with seven artificial lakes, designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Official course details ↗.

FEG tee ratings: Course Rating (CR) and Slope for each tee. Par is 72.

FEG teeSlopeCRPar
Negra (70)12773.172
Azul (65)12371.072
Blanco (60)11969.072
Dorados (55)11666.972
Amarillo (50)11065.272
Silver (45)10863.672
Naranja10562.372
Celeste10060.172

If you have time, don’t make the visit only about your round. The club experience is part of what makes this a good introduction to golf in Ecuador. Read my Guayaquil Country Club guide ↗.

Course and contact: Official golf page ↗ | Km 9 Vía a Samborondón, Av. León Febres Cordero | atencionalsocio@gcc.ec. Ask the club about visitor access and tee-time arrangements.

LaCosta Club de Campo — Golf Among the Greenery

Course facts: The FEG’s 2026 National Open at LaCosta used a 54-hole medal-play format and designated hole 17 for its hole-in-one prize. The federation described it as one of the country’s most challenging courses. Read the FEG tournament notice ↗.

LaCosta is one of the courses I would choose for golfers who enjoy a demanding round in a lush setting. It feels surrounded by tropical vegetation, and I find it more rewarding when I take time to plan the round rather than simply play one shot at a time.

Course and contact: Official LaCosta Club de Campo website ↗. Use the site’s contact option to ask its administration about visitor access and golf arrangements.

Mocolí Golf Club — A Nine-Hole Round I Enjoy

Course facts: The club describes a nine-hole course within its private residential development on Isla Mocolí in Samborondón. Confirm visitor access directly before planning a round. Club website ↗.

Mocolí is a course I like playing. My advice is simple: keep the ball straight, and give yourself a chance to use your length. The greens are well shaped and add interest to the round.

Course and contact: Mocolí Golf Club ↗. Ask the club directly about access for visiting golfers before planning a round.

Montecristi Golf Resort & Villas — Wind, Sand and the Pacific Coast

Course facts: The resort lists an 18-hole, par-72 public course across 56 hectares. Its facilities page also lists a driving range, putting green and golf school. Official course and facilities details ↗.

Montecristi is unique. The course winds through a landscape of sand dunes, and the wind can make it a demanding test. I would give myself time to enjoy the setting instead of treating it as a quick stop on the way to somewhere else.

After golf, make room for fresh seafood from the Pacific. Montecristi is also a historic centre of Ecuador’s fine toquilla-straw-hat making—the hats known internationally as Panama hats. The Prefecture of Manabí’s Montecristi overview ↗ describes this local craft tradition.

Course and contact: Official course and experiences page ↗ | Km 1.5, Vía Montecristi–Manta | info@montecristigolf.com. The club confirms the course is open to the public.

Cuenca Tenis & Golf Club — A Different Kind of Andean Round

Course facts: The club lists a nine-hole layout measuring 3,340 yards (about 3,054 metres), at 2,630 metres above sea level. Its nine holes comprise two par 3s, five par 4s and two par 5s. The club also lists a 180-yard (about 165-metre) practice range and nine-hole mini-golf. Official course details ↗.

For me, the setting makes this round memorable: you are in the Andean forest, in a very different atmosphere from the courses around Guayaquil.

Cuenca is also an excellent place to stay for its food, architecture, markets and cultural life. I would plan time to explore the city instead of arriving only to play golf.

Course and contact: Official course page ↗ | Contact the club ↗. The club is private; ask about access and reciprocal arrangements well in advance.

Arrayanes Country Club — One of My Favourite Andean Experiences

Course facts: FEG scorecards record an 18-hole layout with a total par of 71: the front nine is par 36 and the back nine par 35. Arrayanes is in Puembo, around 2,415 metres above sea level. Club website ↗ | FEG directory ↗.

I love playing Arrayanes. The course gives me a feeling of being properly in the highlands. One of the moments I remember is crossing a bridge out on the course. I also recommend asking about the club’s breakfast buffet and starting the day there if it is available.

Course and contact: Arrayanes Country Club ↗ | Contact page ↗ | atencionalsocio@arrayanes.com.

Los Cerros Club de Golf — Cotopaxi Views and a Demanding Test

Course facts: FEG scorecards list 18 holes at par 72, with both nines at par 36. The federation’s 2026 National Open here was a 54-hole event. FEG event information ↗.

Los Cerros, in the Los Chillos Valley, is a course where accuracy matters. I find the fairways demanding and the greens fast. On a clear day, you may see Cotopaxi from the course. The clubhouse is a pleasant place to unwind after the round.

Course and contact: Los Cerros Club de Golf ↗. Contact the club to confirm visitor arrangements and playing conditions.

Club Los Chillos — A Nine-Hole Course That Requires Attention

Course facts: The club lists a nine-hole, par-36 course, sustainable irrigation and a permanent golf school with certified instructors. Official golf page ↗.

In the Los Chillos Valley, this is not an easy practice loop: it asks you to pay attention and manage your shots carefully. It is a good addition to an Andes itinerary for golfers who like variety.

Course and contact: Official golf page ↗ | servicio.cliente@clubloschillos.com.

Quito Tenis y Golf Club — Tournament Golf in the Andes

Course facts: The club lists a par-72 course at about 2,900 metres above sea level. For the 2026 Kia Open, PGA TOUR listed a tournament setup of 7,412 yards (about 6,778 metres). Club course page ↗ | PGA TOUR course statistics ↗.

The course is demanding but playable when you choose tees suited to your game. At this elevation, plan for different ball flight and carry distances from what you are used to at sea level.

Course and contact: Official golf page ↗ | golf@qtgc.com.

A Samborondón Practice Stop

If you want to practise or play a short round, include the Samborondón Driving Range. It has a driving range and a short nine-hole par-3 course for practice. For current hours, access and course details, see its Facebook page ↗.

Find a Course by Region

Guayaquil | Samborondón

Guayaquil Country Club

My home course: an 18-hole, par-72 Robert Trent Jones II design across 51 hectares, with lakes, pools, restaurants and other sports.

Read my course notes ↗

Guayaquil | Vía a la Costa

LaCosta Club de Campo

A FEG National Open venue, with hole 17 selected for the hole-in-one prize. I find the tropical-forest round demanding and plan each hole carefully.

Read my course notes ↗

Samborondón | Isla Mocolí

Mocolí Golf Club

A nine-hole course in the private Isla Mocolí development. I enjoy it: hit straight and long, and pay attention to the shaped greens.

Read my course notes ↗

Manabí | Montecristi–Manta

Montecristi Golf Resort & Villas

Eighteen holes, par 72, across 56 hectares of coastal dunes. Expect wind, Pacific seafood and Montecristi’s toquilla-straw-hat tradition nearby.

Read my course notes ↗

Andes | Cuenca

Cuenca Tenis & Golf Club

Nine holes at 2,630 metres, with a 3,340-yard (3,054-metre) layout, a 180-yard (165-metre) practice range and nine-hole mini-golf.

Read my course notes ↗

Andes | Puembo

Arrayanes Country Club

FEG scorecard: 18 holes, par 71. I love the highland setting, mountain scenery and memorable bridge crossing.

Read my course notes ↗

Andes | Los Chillos Valley

Los Cerros Club de Golf

FEG scorecard: 18 holes, par 72. A demanding course with narrow lines, quick greens and, on a clear day, views toward Cotopaxi.

Read my course notes ↗

Andes | Los Chillos Valley

Club Los Chillos

Nine holes, par 36, with sustainable irrigation and a permanent golf school. I find it an engaging test, not an easy practice loop.

Read my course notes ↗

Andes | Quito

Quito Tenis y Golf Club

Par 72 at about 2,900 metres. The PGA TOUR’s 2026 tournament setup measured 7,412 yards (about 6,778 metres).

Read my course notes ↗

Plan Your Ecuador Golf Trip

I would plan the trip by region rather than trying to play every course from one base. In and around Guayaquil, Samborondón gives you access to Guayaquil Country Club, LaCosta, Mocolí and a local practice facility. Montecristi makes a memorable separate stop near Manta. In the Andes, Quito, Puembo and the Los Chillos Valley offer several different courses; Cuenca deserves its own stop for golf, food and the city’s cultural life.

  • Build a regional route. Four to six days can work well for one cluster. Around ten to fourteen days gives you more time to combine the coast and Andes.
  • Ask about access before you book the rest of the trip. Montecristi states that its course is open to the public. Several other clubs are private or member-based and may require an introduction or reciprocal arrangement.
  • Plan for elevation. The ball can travel differently at high altitude. Use our Course and Tee Selection guide with four golf calculators ↗ to plan course handicap, playing distance, altitude and wind.
  • Prepare for changing conditions. Coastal wind and Andean weather can shape a round. Ask the club about current conditions, maintenance and tournament dates.
  • Leave room for Ecuador. Plan time for local food, city visits, scenery and experiences beyond the course. A golf trip here is richer when every day is not only a tee time.

Ecuadorian Golf and the Kia Open

Quito Tenis y Golf Club hosts the Kia Open de Ecuador presented by Diners Club, part of PGA TOUR Americas. Golfers may remember the earlier PGA TOUR Latinoamérica name; the current tour is PGA TOUR Americas. Check the PGA TOUR Americas calendar ↗ and the Ecuadorian Golf Federation’s schedule for current dates.

Nico Gross, a good friend and passionated golfer, CEO of ProGolf Ecuador and a promoter of the event, has done a great job for Ecuadorian golf, helping bring international professional competition to the country and giving local golfers a stage to follow.

Ecuadorian players to follow include Daniela Darquea on the LPGA profile ↗, along with Felipe Garcés ↗, Renato Naula ↗, Ben El Cohn and junior golfers developing through national competitions.

Federation App: Courses, Handicaps, Tee Times and Events

The Federación Ecuatoriana de Golf app is a useful companion for visiting golfers, and it includes GPS hole maps for its listed courses. The map view uses satellite imagery and shows hole and par, distance markers and shot tracking; the course selector includes Arrayanes, Cuenca Tenis Golf Club, Guayaquil Country Club, LaCosta, Los Cerros, Los Chillos, Montecristi and Quito Tenis y Golf Club. The app also brings together course information, score posting, handicap tools and the federation’s event calendar. I recommend downloading it before your trip so you can check the course map and current federation information. Confirm visitor access and tee-time arrangements with each club directly.

Federation resources: Official directory of affiliated clubs ↗ | Federación Ecuatoriana de Golf ↗ | Event calendar ↗

More Than Golf: Food, Hotels and Experiences

Ecuadorian golf works especially well as part of a broader trip. On the coast, combine golf with seafood, warm weather and time by the Pacific. In the Andes, add historic city centres, local markets, mountain landscapes and Ecuadorian food. Quito and Cuenca both offer strong culinary experiences, while the country’s regional cooking changes considerably from coast to highlands.

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Disclosure: As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page at no extra cost to you.


For hotel choices, use Expedia’s Ecuador hotel search ↗. For excursions and local experiences, explore Ecuador activities on Viator ↗. For golf courses with online tee-time listings in other destinations, browse Golfscape ↗. For Ecuador rounds, contact the clubs directly and confirm access.

Affiliate disclosure: Expedia, Viator and Golfscape links may earn AmerExperience a commission if you make a booking, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international visitors play golf in Ecuador?

Yes. Montecristi Golf Resort & Villas states that its 18-hole course is open to the public. Many other clubs are private or member-based, so contact each club directly and ask about visitor access, a host or reciprocal arrangement before booking your travel.

How many days should I plan for an Ecuador golf trip?

Four to six days is a useful starting point for one regional cluster. Around ten to fourteen days gives you more time to combine the coast and Andes without rushing between courses and cities.

Does altitude affect golf in Ecuador?

Yes. Several Andean courses sit above 2,400 metres. Expect the ball to fly differently from sea-level golf, and use a course handicap and distance calculator before your round. Wind matters especially at Montecristi and can also affect coastal play.

Where can I find Ecuador golf events and handicap information?

Use the Federación Ecuatoriana de Golf app and its event calendar ↗ for available course, tournament and handicap information. Confirm reservations directly with the course.

A Final Word from a Local Golfer

I believe Ecuador deserves a place in the plans of golfers who want a varied and memorable journey. The scenery changes between regions, the courses have distinctive personalities, and there is plenty to discover between rounds. I live here, I play these courses, and I want more international golfers to experience what I have found.

Plan your next round

Build your Ecuador golf journey

Start with the region that interests you, confirm course access, and use the federation calendar and app to plan around events. Then add the hotels, food and local experiences that make the trip your own.

Plan your course, tee, handicap, altitude and wind ↗   Explore golf tee times worldwide ↗

About the Author

Lassi Pensikkala, economist, golfer and international business developer

Lassi Pensikkala is an economist and digital publisher who has made Ecuador his home. He writes about golf, travel and the experiences that connect them.

About the destination expert
Lassi Pensikkala — With four decades in the travel industry, economist Lassi Pensikkala has worked as a professional travel guide, destination management entrepreneur, and international travel consultant, serving 700+ B2B clients from 55 countries. He is polyglot and his experience spans global mega-events (Formula 1, football world championships, international trade fairs, and congresses) as well as incentives, themed group tours, and tailor-made cultural journeys. This expertise is built over 40+ years as the founder and operator of a destination management company in Germany, Europe and Latin America. He is the author of 37 Europe travel guides, 60 USA and 20 Latin America destination guides, and a growing collection of multilingual Travel Destination Magazines EN ES DE SE FI on AmerExperience.com. Learn more
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