Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, a fact made even more remarkable by its small size. Straddling the equator on South America's northwestern coast, it packs the Amazon rainforest, Andean highlands, Pacific coast, and the Galapagos Islands into a country barely larger than the United Kingdom. The result is a destination of almost bewildering variety.
The Galapagos Islands, 900 kilometres off the Pacific coast, are Ecuador's most famous attraction and one of the world's great natural wonders. The volcanic archipelago that inspired Darwin's theory of natural selection still supports wildlife that has evolved without fear of humans — marine iguanas bask on black lava beaches, blue-footed boobies perform mating dances at arm's length, giant tortoises lumber through highland cloud forest, and Galapagos sea lions treat visitors as mildly interesting furniture. Liveaboard cruises and island-hopping both reveal different facets of this extraordinary place.
Back on the mainland, Quito is one of South America's finest capitals. Perched at 2,850 metres in an Andean valley, it has the best-preserved colonial centre in Latin America — a UNESCO site of gilded churches, Jesuit splendour, and whitewashed convent walls. The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, whose interior is almost entirely covered in gold leaf, is one of the continent's most opulent baroque interiors.
The Andean highlands south of Quito form the Avenue of Volcanoes, flanked by a series of snow-capped peaks including Cotopaxi (5,897m) and Chimborazo (6,263m — the point on Earth's surface farthest from the centre). The weekly indigenous market at Otavalo north of Quito is one of South America's largest and most colourful, selling textiles, leather, and crafts from across the region.
The Ecuadorian Amazon — particularly around Tena and the Yasuni National Park — offers jungle lodges, river canoe trips, and wildlife including pink river dolphins, caimans, and hundreds of bird species.
Ecuadorian food varies by region. Ceviche on the coast, locro de papa (potato soup) in the highlands, and maito (river fish wrapped in bijao leaves) in the Amazon each tell a regional story. The best time to visit the Galapagos is June to December; the mainland highlands are pleasant year-round.
