The best places to visit in Ecuador, from blissful beaches to towering volcanoes
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Loading... - leo sebastin
- 04 Jan 2022
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The big question is where to start? To help you on your way, here are the best places to visit in Ecuador, from vibrant cities to wilderness escapes.
Quito, Ecuador's vibrant capital
Strewn across a mountain valley and surrounded by volcanoes, Quito is quite the spectacle. The Ecuadorian capital is a fascinating melange of cultures, and a living museum of Spanish-era architecture. For the full panorama, take the TelefériQo gondola up the Pichincha volcano, but give yourself a day or two to acclimatize to Quito’s lofty altitude before venturing to the high ground.
In the meantime, admire the faded grandeur of the charming, Unesco-listed old town, calling at Museo de la Ciudad to learn more about the city’s colorful backstory. And visit the churches – Quito has one of the largest collections of old churches in South America, with the Basilica del Voto Nacional and the gilded Church of la Compañía de Jesús among the highlights.
Quito’s markets are another must-see. Watch shamanic healers ply their trade at Mercado San Francisco, before sampling local specialties such locro de papas (potato stew), roast guinea pig and cow’s feet soup. And when the sun goes down? Head to La Ronda, a former red-light district turned entertainment quarter, which has live music and lots of cozy bars.
Stand on the equator
Straddling the equator – hence its name – Ecuador is one of the few places where travelers can take selfies of themselves with one foot in each hemisphere. A huge granite monument dubbed Mitad del Mundo (‘the middle of the world’) marks the location of the equator north of Quito – only it’s in the wrong place.
Modern GPS sets the record straight, placing the true equator by the Museo Solar Inti Ñan. Guides here will show you water swirling differently on each side of the line, plus other fun demonstrations relating to the equator. You’ll have to decide for yourself if it’s just a smoke-and-mirrors illusion or a real scientific phenomenon.
Volcano adventures at Baños
Baños is the place to go if you like living dangerously. Its main draw is the menacing Tungurahua volcano, which has been belching lava and ash since the nineties, periodically forcing residents to flee. Why do they come back? Well, the volcano also heats the thermal baths that the town is named after and revered for. The steamy spas are highly restorative after a day of trekking, rafting or mountain biking through the surrounding forests.
Natural encounters in The Oriente
Raindrops pattering on leaves, toucans darting between trees, lush greenery on all sides – The Oriente is a must for any naturalist. This steamy hotbed of biodiversity is where the cloud forests that flank the Andes plunge into the Amazon. More than 1600 bird species are found here, giving voice to one of the most glorious dawn choruses on the planet. Hidden in the trees like Bond villain lairs are wonderful eco-lodges such as Mashpi, which offer guided nature walks and canoe expeditions, with profits helping fund conservation. Read More…
