Summary
Small by South American standards, Ecuador none the less boasts a pleasing array of attractions, from trains running through the foothills of the Andes Mountains to cityscapes rich in culture and tradition. Its relatively diminutive stature – roughly that of the UK or Arizona – is actually a positive for travellers, since it makes reaching the likes of Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil all the easier. That said, casting the net wider to include the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles from mainland Ecuador, is an absolute must. Roaming these isolated isles are a wealth of creatures found nowhere else on Earth, ensuring each and every visit is unique.
Explore Ecuador
Ecuador
Description
Bisected by the equator – which resulted in the nation’s name – Ecuador comprises many of the world’s most enthralling habitats. No wonder then that the country became one of the first in the world to grant constitutional rights to nature.
Of all its habitats, the Pacific Ocean’s Galapagos Islands are both the best known and the most special. Isolated for thousands if not millions of years, the animals here have developed into unique species which helped Charles Darwin formulate his Earth-changing theory of evolution. From giant tortoises and diving iguanas to basking sea lions and blue-footed boobies, there really is nowhere else like it on the planet.
Mainland Ecuador in the northwest corner of the South American continent is more than a mere jumping off point for tours to the Galapagos, as any guided tour to Ecuador should prove. Our Wonders of Ecuador tour ensures travellers get to see all sides of this fascinating country.
Its capital, Quito, lies in the Andean foothills at 9,350 feet, bringing a whole new meaning to the term breathtaking. But breathtaking it is, situated in a high valley surrounded by mountain vistas with a core of streets which date back to Inca times.
Now displaying the might and wealth of the Spanish Empire, it’s an area rich in grand colonial-era churches, noblemen’s mansions and attractive planted plazas. Just a short distance away lies the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument, where keen geographers can straddle both the northern and southern hemispheres at the equator.
The end point for the Tren Crucero, one of Latin America’s finest rail journeys, Guayaquil makes for a great rest stop whether stepping off the rails or returning from the Galapagos. Situated on the western banks of the Guayas River, taking to its waterfront promenade come evening will provide a fascinating insight into the city’s culture, alongside impressive views from its very own Ferris wheel.
Linking Quito to Guayaquil is the evocatively named Avenue of Volcanoes. A slender valley stretching through the country’s heartland, it offers some of the best panoramas in Ecuador, with lush green agricultural land leading to the cones of snow-capped mounts. Of them all, Cotopaxi is not only the most beautiful, but also the most active. Yet that shouldn’t stop you visiting the eponymously named national park which lies at its base and offers access to a wealth of outdoor activities within easy reach of indigenously-populated villages alive any day of the week.
