Discover some of Ecuador Wonders

The historic centres of Quito and Cuenca are lined with photogenic plazas, 17th-century churches and monasteries, and beautifully restored mansions. Wandering the cobblestone streets amid architectural treasures from Spanish colonial days is a fine way to delve into the past.

Beyond the cities, there are Andean villages renowned for their colourful textiles and sprawling markets, Afro-Ecuadorean towns where days end with meals of fresh seafood and memorable sunsets, and remote settlements in the Amazon where shamans still harvest the traditional rainforest medicines of their ancestors.

Andean Adventure

Setting off on a trek into the Andes can seem like stepping into a fairytale: there’s the patchwork of small villages, gurgling brooks and rolling fields, and a condor slowly wheeling overhead. Although the view from the top is sublime, you don’t have to scale a mountain to enjoy the Andes.

These verdant landscapes make a fine backdrop for mountain biking, horse riding or hiking from village to village, overnighting at local guesthouses along the way. Ecuador’s other landscapes offer equally alluring adventures, from surfing breaks off the Pacific coast to white-water rafting Class V rivers in the Oriente.

Wildlife Watching 

The famed Galápagos Islands, with their volcanic, otherworldly landscapes, are a magnet for wildlife lovers. Here, you can get up close and personal with massive lumbering tortoises, scurrying marine iguanas (the world’s only sea-going lizard), doe-eyed sea lions, prancing blue-footed boobies and a host of other unusual species both on land and sea.

The Amazon rainforest offers a vastly different wildlife-watching experience. Set out on the rivers and forested trails in search of monkeys, sloths, toucans and river dolphins.

Sublime Scenery

After days of Ecuadorean adventures, there are many appealing places where you can go to relax amid awe-inspiring scenery. Head to the mountainous highlands to recharge at a historic hacienda, or find Zen-like beauty amid a cloud-forest lodge near Mindo. Peaceful, timeless mountain villages like Vilcabamba and picturesque former gold mining towns such as Zaruma offer a perfect antidote to the vertiginous rush of modern-day life.

And for a coastal getaway, there are tiny end-of-the-road settlements such as Ayampe and Olón to charming towns on the Galápagos, with great beaches and magnificent sunsets right outside your door.

ECUADOR’S TOP 5

1. Quito old town

A Spanish-colonial stunner, Quito’s vibrant Centro Histórico is packed with elaborate churches and mournful monasteries (some centuries in the making), people-packed plazas and looming bell towers. History lurks around every corner of this well-preserved centre. Delve into the past by stepping off the cobblestones and entering beautifully maintained museums, historic mansions and jaw-dropping sanctuaries. Afterwards, have a meal in one of El Centro’s old-world restaurants or join the festivities on lively La Ronda St before retiring to one of the many charming guesthouses in the neighbourhood.

2. Iguana spotting in the Galápagos

There aren’t many places that can beat the Galápagos Islands for close encounters of the prehistoric kind. Rather than scurrying away when approached, the unique lizard species of iguanas found throughout the archipelago go about their slow-moving business with little concern for the clicking cameras. The dark grey or black marine iguanas pile on top of one another like a messy pyramid of cheerleaders basking in the sun, whereas the imposing yellow land iguanas nibble on cactus plants for sustenance.

3. Local crafts at Otavalo Market

Every Saturday the world seems to converge on the bustling indigenous town of Otavalo in the Andes, where a huge market (which goes on in a rather redacted form every other day of the week, too) spreads out from the Plaza de Ponchos throughout the town. The choice is enormous, the quality immensely changeable and the crowds can be a drag, but you’ll find some incredible bargains here among the brightly coloured rugs, traditional crafts, clothing, striking folk art and quality straw hats.

4. Parque Nacional Yasuní

This vast tract of protected rainforest contains simply dazzling biodiversity matched almost nowhere else on earth. Excitement-filled canoe trips through tiny overgrown creeks and hikes across the jungle floor with experienced guides reveal all manner of flowers, plants and creatures, many of which you’ll not even have heard of before, let alone seen, while several populations of indigenous peoples continue to resist contact with the outside world here. This natural wonder remains, at present, unspoilt.

5. Beaches of the North Coast

Don’t associate Ecuador with sun and sand? Well think again, because the north of the country is packed with fishing villages, resort towns, surfer hangouts and totally pristine areas of golden sand, so head down or up the coast and take your pick. One of the best places for a sunny getaway is Canoa, where you’ll find a long picturesque beach backed by cliffs and some excellent surf. When the sun goes down, Canoa’s lively eating and drinking spots make a perfect cap to the day.

NEED TO KNOW

When to go?

High season (June — September)

• Sunny, clear days in the highlands; less rain in the Oriente.

• June to December is low season in the Galápagos, with cooler, drier weather and rougher seas.

• April to July is low season in the Oriente, when heavy rains are common.

Shoulder (October — November)

• Cooler temperatures, more showers (usually sun in the morning and rain in the afternoon) in the highlands.

Low Season (December — May)

• Cooler, rainier days in the highlands.

• December to April is high season on the coast: expect warm temperatures and periodic showers.

• January to May is high season in the Galápagos.

Daily budget

Mid-range: US$30-$100

• Double room in the mid-range hotel: $40-$60

• Dinner for two in a good restaurant: $18-$30

• Climbing, cycling and birdwatching tours: $60-$80 a day

• Jungle lodges: from $250 for four days