About Ecuador
A&K Ecuador
More South America
Quito
Quito is without doubt amongst South America’s most beautiful capital cities. Located high up in the Ecuadorian Andes at 2,850 metres (9,350 ft), it comes as no surprise that it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its extraordinary colonial centre built on the ruins of a once thriving Incan city boasts 87 churches including the breathtaking La Compañia which is adorned with seven tonnes of gold and frescoes that have led to its nickname of Quito’s Sistine Chapel. A host of other impressive buildings make this South America’s largest colonial city centre. Not only does the city hold immense architectural beauty brought to life by the surrounding Andean peaks, but its proximity to the equator, only 22 kilometres (16 miles) away from the city centre, lends the destination a noteworthy geographic facet.
The Galapagos Islands
This world famous archipelago – consisting of 13 main islands, six smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets – is a must for anyone travelling to Ecuador. The islands became famous following Charles Darwin’s visit in 1835 when he spent five weeks studying the wildlife in the area and before reaching his ground-breaking conclusions in his book The Origin of Species where he laid out the theory of evolution.
Not only does the wildlife astonish, but much of it is unique to the islands which boast an impressive number of endemic species found only in the Galapagos Islands, and in many cases only on one island. These include the world’s northernmost penguin, land and marine iguanas as well as the enormous Galapagos tortoise. Be it swimming eye to eye with sea turtles or watching the mating dance of the blue-footed boobies from just a few feet away, nowhere else in the world will provide such an intimate experience with the natural world. The islands are best uncovered by expeditionary cruise allowing for the exploration of various islands on foot and in the water during a four to seven day trip, whilst also taking time to enjoy the equatorial climate or strolling along the fantastic beaches throughout the archipelago.
Otavalo
The market town of Otavalo provides a captivating insight into the daily interaction of the locals from Ecuador’s Northern Andes.Two hours north of Quito, Otavalo also offers the opportunity to seek out some of the locally produced handicrafts and fabrics that make the dress of the Andean people so colourful. Nearby settlements such as Ibarra and Cotacachi - famous for the quality of its leather goods - make for an interesting pause on the way into the patchwork of fields and Andean hamlets beyond. Once out in the countryside, the sublime landscape of the surrounding Andes, lakes and valleys comes alive and is well complimented by a stay at one of the many haciendas in order to fully appreciate this stunning region of Ecuador.
The Avenue of the Volcanoes
“The Avenue of the Volcanoes”, a term first coined by the Prussian scientist Alexander Van Humboldt, runs south from Quito to Cuenca, passing through the rugged volcanic landscape of the Central Andes. Overland travel through this region takes the traveller beneath the conical peak of Mount Cotopaxi before passing the imposing Chimborazo volcano on the way to the southern Ecuadorian city of Cuenca. The important Incan ruins of Ingapirca are also well worth a visit, displaying typically fine Incan architecture and a spectacular view over the surrounding Andean panorama.
Cuenca
Ecuador’s third city and one of the country’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Cuenca is one of the lesser visited areas of Ecuador. Described as Ecuador’s most beautiful city by many who pass through, it is easy to see why with its quaint cobbled streets and wrought iron balconies. A fantastic city to discover on foot, the easily navigable centre boasts a cathedral with a capacity for 9000 people and a flower market where Ecuador’s famous roses can be found in abundance, as well as a number of excellent museums highlighting the strong cultural and artistic aspects of this part of Ecuador.
In addition, Cuenca is where the best Panama hats can be found. This famous accessory was wrongly named due to the fact that they arrived in Europe from Panama having transited through there on their way from Ecuador. They are actually still made in Ecuador today, and there are no finer examples to be found in the world than those made in Cuenca.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil, the country's second largest city, is situated on the banks of the Guayas River with excellent access to the Galapagos Islands and a host of attractions within the city itself. No visit to Guayaquil would be complete without a stroll along its famous Malecón 2000, a myriad of shops, parks and walkways spanning 2.5 kilometres along the banks of the river Guayas. Heading south from the Malecón brings the visitor into the warren-like Las Peñas district, the last remaining neighbourhood demonstrating colonial architecture following the catastrophic fires of the early 20th century. A stroll through the streets reveals glimpses of the city’s waterfront and a number of colourful art galleries. The final stop not to be missed in Guayaquil is a visit to the Parque Seminario, where the strange spectacle of dozens of land iguanas relaxing in the gardens and often in the trees as well as being fed by the locals on park benches can be seen.
The Amazon
The Ecuadorian Amazon is one of the world’s true biodiversity hotspots supporting 50% of the country’s mammals and a staggering 5% of the world’s plant and bird species. Largely untouched in colonial times and remaining to this day a true wilderness, the Ecuadorian jungle is extremely accessible from Quito with a short 35 minute flight to the jungle town of Coca before an onward journey by river to one of the jungle lodges.
For those looking for a more remote setting, a visit to the southern Ecuadorian jungle accessible only by light aircraft is sure to provide a unique experience. Lucky visitors to these regions will have the chance to see the spectacled bear, two species of fresh water dolphins as well as howler monkeys, a plethora of bird life, and of course the mighty jaguar. Additionally, the Ecuadorian rainforest is a culturally fascinating destination with many indigenous tribes including the Shuar, Cofani, Huarani and Secoya all found here.
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