Ecuador

Coast
The main feature of the Coast of Ecuador is the several beaches located along the Pacific Ocean. Five provinces are part of the Coast and four of them limit with the ocean to the west.

Also important are the many farms where bananas, cacao, plantain and many other fruits are grown as well as cattle is farmed.

Our recommendation, arrive in Guayaquil, main city of the Costa, visit the city and its surroundings, specially farms, and then travel by land from South to North in the called La Ruta del Sol (the Sun Route) where several beaches are located.

Main spots in the Pacific Coast:
• Guayaquil
• Salinas
• Montañita
• Puerto López
• Manta
• Bahía de Caraquez
• Atacames
• Esmeraldas

Ecuadorian Andes
Crossed from north to south by the Andean Range, this region's geographical and weather conditions are specially determined by the elevations that are part of this range.

Here you can find colonial cities and towns with displays of art and handcraft markets as well as lakes and volcanoes where you can climb, trek and hike.

The capital city of the country, Quito, is located on this region and it is a good starting point for trips in the Andes.

Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador is located in the Sierra, the highlands of Ecuador at about 2500m (8200 ft) above sea level. Its full name is Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca. The city's cobblestone streets, towering cathedrals, and marble and whitewashed buildings give it a colonial air. Cuencanos, known for their traditional demeanor and conservative cultural values, match their 18th century surroundings. The city's history is well preserved, earning Cuenca the honor of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site

Otavalo, the largest indigenous town in Imbabura Province is in a valley surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda volcanoes.

The Otavalo Indians are famous for the weaving of textiles, a practice which they have had for 400 years. Although its primary market day is Saturday, there are wares available for tourists throughout the week in the Plaza del Poncho.

Otavalo was traditionally an area made up principally of farming communities, but with the growth of tourism the town has begun to focus more on the making of handicrafts which have made the Saturday market a popular stop with visitors to Ecuador. Tourism had become the town's main industry and as a result many hotels have been set up in colonial buildings along with a number of restaurants.

The Saturday market in Otavalo, showing the colourful fabrics.As Otavalo is famous for its textiles, many of the nearby villages and towns are famous for their own particular crafts. Cotacachi, the center of Ecuador's leather industry, is known for its polished calf skins. In San Antonio, where the local specialty is wood carving, the main street prominently displays carved statues, picture frames, and furniture.

Otavalo is also known for its Inca-influenced traditional music and musicians. There are many musical groups currently traveling around the world promoting Inca music.

Finally, Loja recognized as being a friendly and pleasant city. Surrounded by two rivers the Zamora and malacatos, Loja provides for a variety of microclimates resulting in numerous ecological zones due to its unique position. Based between the humid Amazon basin and coastal sechura desert in Peru the environment comprises paramo, cloud forest and jungle landscapes. 86% of the province is covered by hills or mountains.

Its historical buildings and Colonial Architecture make the city of Loja a popular tourist attraction. Famous for the Vírgen del Cisne religious festivals it organizes in September every year, Loja is also famous for their musicians and have a number of important music academies Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, house of the most influent musicians in Ecuador. The city is commonly referred to as the ‘musical capital of Ecuador’ a person from Loja is a singer if not has to be a poet other wise would be an artist.

Other spots in the Highlands:
• Vilcabamba
• Baños
• Ambato
• Cotacachi & Ibarra

Ecuadorian Amazon
The humid Ecuadorian Amazon is full of dense vegetation, wild rivers and exotic animals such as piranhas, pink dolphins and black caymans.

Several ethnic groups speak their own language and some of them give the option to experience community tourism.

Adventure tourism is an important part of this natural spot, your main options are rafting and kayaking in pure, wild waters.

Galapagos
One of the Seven Wonders of the Marine World, World Natural Heritage by the Unesco and the place where Charles Darwin confirmed his evolution theory.

Galapagos is a group of volcanic islands with several endemic species. Six million years of evolution without the presence of men as a predator make these animals almost fearless to human presence, so you can observe them and take pictures with a high possibility of them not moving, but don’t forget to be respectful and please don’t touch them.

Although located on the Equator, the Humboldt Current brings cold water to the islands, causing frequent drizzles during most of the year. The weather is periodically influenced by the El Niño phenomenon which brings warmer temperatures and heavy rains.

During the season known as the "Garua" (June to November) the temperature by the sea is 22°C, a steady and cold wind blows from South and Southeast, and frequent drizzles (Garuas) last most of the day, along with dense fog which conceals the islands. During the warm season (December to May) the average sea and air temperature rises to 25°C, there is no wind at all, there are sporadic though strong rains and the sun shines.

Weather changes as altitude increases in the large islands. Temperature decreases gradually with altitude, while precipitation increases due to the condensation of moisture in clouds on the slopes. There is a large variation in precipitation from one place to another, not only with altitude but also depending on the location of the islands, and also with the seasons.

In 1959, the centenary year of Charles Darwin's publication of The Origin of Species, the Ecuadorian government declared 97.5% of the archipelago's land area a national park, excepting areas already colonised. The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded the same year, with its international headquarters in Brussels. Its primary objectives are to ensure the conservation of unique Galápagos ecosystems and promote the scientific studies necessary to fulfill its conservation functions. Conservation work began with the establishment of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island in 1964. During the early years, conservation programs, such as eradication of introduced species and protection of native species, were carried out by station personnel. Currently, most resident scientists pursue conservation goals; most visiting scientists' work is oriented towards pure research.

In 1986 the surrounding 70,000 square kilometres (43,496 sq mi.) of ocean was declared a marine reserve, second only in size to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In 1990 the archipelago became a whale sanctuary. In 1978 UNESCO recognised the islands as a World Heritage Site, and in 1985 a Biosphere Reserve.