ECUADOR
Bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador is a fantastic starting point for traveling in South America. When traveling in Ecuador, it is easy to see why it is considered one world’s seventeen mega-diverse countries. With the Galápagos Islands just 1,000km (600 miles) off the coast and the Amazon and Andes Mountains on the mainland, Ecuador is a country with unlimited opportunities for adventure.
Ecuador at a Glance
Population: 15 million
Flight time from Miami: 4 hrs
Most popular tourist attractions: Galápagos Islands, Quito’s Historic District, Cotopaxi Volcano
Best known for: Being the only country named after a geographic feature, the equator
Most Famous Citizens: Jefferson Peréz, Olympic race walker who won Ecuador’s only two Olympic medals.
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Must Sees | Unique Sites | Activities | Start Your Adventure
Must Sees
The Galápagos Islands
A perfect way to start or end any trip in Ecuador, the Galápagos offer the most stunning, diverse, and friendly wildlife in the world. Come cruise with us to get the best views, of both land and wildlife!
Amazon Rainforest
Continuing to add to Ecuador’s natural wonders is the Amazon rainforest. An object of scientific investigation and intrepid exploration alike, come and experience it for yourself. Spend the days canoeing the river or hiking along its banks in this world famous destination.
Cloud Forest
In misty mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see, come explore one of the world’s richest ecosystems in flora and fauna biodiversity on the planet. The cloud forest is a specialized ecosystem rich in moisture and therefore, life! Any nature lover won’t want to miss out on this special place.
Quito
Set high amidst the Andes mountains on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, the historical district in Quito was one of the first places to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. Quito is a sprawling metropolis covering 143 sq miles and home to just over 2.5 million people and a great base for any and all adventures undertaken in Ecuador.
Unique Sites
Mashpi Reserve and Lodge
The ultimate nature destination, the Mashpi lodge is a fully immersive, and fully luxurious, nature reserve. Committed to preserving this priceless ecosystem, they offer their guests an intimate view of life in the cloud forest.
Otavalo
A small town thirty minutes north of Quito, you’ve never seen a sight quite like Otavalo on market day. The town becomes a bustling explosion of colors that eats away at space in your suitcase. All this is set against a backdrop of volcanoes and waterfalls. If shopping isn’t your thing then bring along your hiking boots.
Mitad del Mundo
Literally translated as the Center of the World and realistically translated as The Equator, this monument is only twenty miles north of Quito and marks the Equator line and the division between the hemispheres. As well as the opportunity to stand in both hemispheres at once, the site also includes a museum that commemorates mankind’s progress in astronomy and geography.
Devil’s Nose Train
In 1899 Ecuador began construction of a railway that would connect the two major cities, Quito and Guayaquil. The Devil’s Nose, or in Spanish El Nariz del Diablo, is a 765m cliff face along the line, a major obstacle that heavily delayed construction. Eventually the engineers overcame this problem by carving the tracks in a zigzag pattern down the cliff face, allowing the train to descend in a pattern similar to that of a falling leaf.
Activities
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Canoeing
Galápagos Yacht
Birding
Markets
Indigenous Learning
