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Ecuador

7

Reasons To
Visit Ecuador

  • Amazon rainforest

    Easily accessible from Quito, the Ecuadorian Amazon offers some of the best run eco-lodges in the whole of Latin America. Whether it is Sacha, Napo or Haourani Lodge, you are best placed for some excellent wildlife vieiwing as well as learning about the indigenous population that manage and run the lodges.

    Amazon rainforest

  • Colonial Architecture

    In addition to the traditional farmhouse haciendas, the cities of Quito and Cuenca offer fine examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. Both are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the fabulous historical centres are complimented with lovely cafes and great restaurant options.

    Colonial Architecture

  • Colourful Markets

    Markets form an integral part of Ecuadorian life. Ranging from vast colourful textile markets geared towards tourists around Otavalo to local markets in the central highlands selling everything from corn and bananas to refrigerators and satellite dishes - there is a market that will engross visitors, no matter what their age or interest.

    Colourful Markets

  • Haciendas

    Traditional farmhouse haciendas are dotted across the high Andean countryside but are concentrated around the town of Otavalo and the Cotopaxi National Park. Dating back as far as the 16th Century, they are full of character and offer guests an opportunity to step back in time. They make for a great base for walking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

    Haciendas

  • Panama Hats

    Even thought it isn't widely appreciated, the fact remains that the Panama hat wasn't in fact invented in Panama, but instead originated in Montecristi, northwest Ecuador! The name was derived when the hats were shipped to Panama to protect the canal construction workers from the sun in the early 1900s. Today a number of factories continue to produce hats around the southern city of Cuenca.

    Panama Hats

  • Rainforest

    The Rainforest in Ecuador offers a wealth of options to the visitor. Yasuni National Park is home to some of the best run eco-lodges in South America, each boasting comfortable accommodation and great wildlife viewing opportunities. In the southeast of the country, some eco-lodges provide the added cultural experience of living with the indigenous Amazonian population.

    Rainforest

  • Volcanoes

    Due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of fire', Ecuador boasts no less than 28 volcanoes, many of which are active. 10 of Ecuador's volcanic mountains are over 5000m in altitude and best viewed along the 'Avenue of Volcanoes' between Quito and Cuenca. Here there is a wonderful mix of local farming communities and National Parks all overlooked by snow-capped peaks - great for the outdoor enthusiast.

    Volcanoes
 
 

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Excursions in Ecuador: Quito City Tour

Visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Old Town of Quito.
Colonial Courtyard, QuitoQuito, EcuadorColonial QuitoChurch San Francisco, QuitoThe Old Town of Quito.

Quito City Tour

Quito, Ecuador
  • Culture & History
  • Walking & Biking

Visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace.

You also visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior before continuing on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World. It has an impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar.

Lunch is taken at one of the excellent restaurants in Quito or the equator area before continuing to the Equatorial Monument, 16 miles north of Quito, which marks the Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere. There is the chance to visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator!

Please note that this is a walking tour at an altitude of 2800 metres (9200 feet) and involves some climbing of stairs.

Further reading:
EcuadorWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout EcuadorCountry Guides

Other countries in South America:
ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaParaguayPeruThe Falkland IslandsThe Galapagos IslandsUruguayVenezuela

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