Ecuador is a relatively small country located in South America, bordered in the north by Colombia, in the South and east by Peru, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. It has a population of 14 million people and spans 256 square kilometers. The local currency since 2000 is the U.S. dollar, which gives travelers coming from the United States a convenient way to pay and manage local prices. The official language is Spanish, while English is widely understood in major cities and tourist areas. Ecuador's biodiversity provides the opportunity to have it all in one country with four amazing regions - The Galapagos Islands, the Jungle, the Beach and the Mountains.
We begin with the Enchanted Islands, which are part of the Republic of Ecuador since 1832; these Islands offer unparalleled beauty and nature at its purest, with great accommodations at land or at sea in luxury cruises or hotels. The temperatures range from 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry and rainy season; the sea water temperature ranges from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During your stay in the Galapagos, you can plan hiking trips to active volcanoes, snorkel with incredible marine life, dive with sharks or tour around the islands, but most of all, enjoy just being so fortunate as to be so close to nature. Breathe it in and embrace it, if you get a free moment to relax while trekking through this adventurous part of Ecuador.
The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest on Earth and encompasses eight South American countries and spans the range of 40 percent of the entire South American continent. The Amazon Rain Forest is made up of a mosaic of ecosystems and vegetation types including rainforests, seasonal forests, deciduous forests, flooded forests, and savannas. The tropical rain forests are part of the Amazon jungle, where you can experience incredible exotic bird watching and canopy or river rafting, all while enjoying the beauty of the Amazon and native tribes. The history of the Amazon is rich with culture and the colors of the flora, fauna and native species will delight all your senses as you journey deeper into the rainforest.Experience the lush waterfalls or simply the beauty of silence while listening to only the sounds of nature that surround you and know that you are in one of the most protected, awe-inspiring places on the planet. Allow yourself to be pulled into another world, another dimension, free of the constraints of the world outside. In here, you are one with nature and the Earth and you can practice meditation or feel your creative juices flow.The accommodation ranges from eco-lodges to comfortable hotels in cities like Tena, Puyo, Baeza and many more. The weather in the rain forest is humid with high temperatures during summer. However, despite the high temperatures, this is one aspect of your trip that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is possible that never again will you experience beauty in quite the way you have had the chance of doing here.
The breathtaking beaches along the Pacific Coast are equipped with warm, inviting waters all year long, which is perfect for swimming or surfing. Locations such as Montanita and Canoas are well known, particularly by surfers around the globe. These locations offer several national parks, such as "Machalilla" with amazing virgin beaches, with white crystal sands. The accommodations range from eco-lodges to luxurious hotels that offer incredible seafood cuisine, which makes this a favorite destination for tourists looking for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
The last region, completely different from the others, is the highlands and mountains such as the "Cotopaxi" which is 5,897 meters (19,347 ft) above sea level. This region offers the adventurous-type of activities such as hiking, trekking and climbing to the summit.Do not forget to visit the "Chimborazo" volcano; with 6.268 meters above see level, the highest summit in Ecuador and the closest point to the sun on earth, with amazing views, or the spectacular vistas of driving the Quilotoa Loop Lagoon through the Andes Mountains.The majority of mountains in Ecuador are active volcanoes and along with them are several lakes that surround this beautiful site. These makes the Andes makes a perfect destination for a getaway.
Longevity ValleyOne of the main attractions between the mountains is the well-known "Longevity Valley", which hides the city of "Vilcabamba", a little town located 30 miles away from Loja City. Vilcabamba, with rivers fed magnesium and iron, is well known for the long life span of its people, and its favorable climate, which many compare to the summer of France, its clear nights, its lush vegetation all make this small valley a lost paradise, a meeting point for tourists from around the world. The name is composed Vilca coming from huilco (Wilco) which is the name of a tree (Anadenanthera colubrina) with hallucinogenic properties that the Incas and other tribes there considered inhabited with magic and sacred meaning bamba pampa, therefore, Vilcabamba means "Valley of the sacred tree." Currently, the tree is nearly extinct except for some reservations in the area. Still, the magic remains "Vilcabamba" houses have been characterized by older people, and it is common to find passengers who decide to remain here to take advantage of the wonderful climate and relaxed atmosphere offered to the public.The site presents excellent opportunities for hiking and horseback riding into the mountains surrounding the valley. Many want to find out why individuals here are living longer and if the herbs and the thermal water can really "work miracles", as some claim. Other benefits are the abundant flora and fauna between the peaks and valleys of the Andes. You would be able to find several spas in this location with mineral water treatments and massage services ranging from $15-25 USD.Ibarra and its SurroundingsTwo hours away from the capital you can find the city of Ibarra, with boutique hotels and spas like the "Mirage Garden Hotel and Spa", offering volcanic mud treatments, hot stone treatments, purification treatments and many other natural health treatments. You can also visit the 300-year-old hacienda "La cienega" located near Latacunga city on the outskirts of the Cotopaxi volcano and its National Park. Another great place for overnight guests is the Inca hacienda "San Agustin del Callo" which offers a great view of the volcano and outdoor activities as well as a wonderful restaurant for the leisure traveler.QuitoEcuador's Capital, Quito has over 2 million people and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It offers travelers several attractions, one of them being the fact that it's located in the middle of the world (0 ,latitude). The weather in Quito is spring-like year round, with temperatures ranging from 55 F (at night) to 82 F (at noon), and the average humidity level is 50 percent. The city's center is the most significant and best preserved Colonial City in all of the Americas.Tours of Quito Old Town are offered by a variety of tour and travel agents and operators, offering visitors the chance to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through some of the oldest and most beautiful architecture in South America. Travelers can also walk portions of Old Town, discovering and admiring century-old churches covered with gold dust in their altars, stone streets still lined with colonial houses and popular plazas where visitors can sit and watch locals. From the "Plaza de la Independencia" to the Government Palace, Quito Old Colonial City offers visitors a variety of sights, sounds, and exciting opportunities to taste diverse street or restaurant food throughout the city.Quito offers several spas with top of class attention for the international traveler with prices ranging from $25-60 USD.Quito nightlife offers a wide variety of concerts, live music or underground bars and clubs. Local gastronomy consists of award-winning restaurants specializing in international food and typical local cuisine. Quito is a mere four hours away by land and just 30 minutes by plane from the beach or jungle. You can visit any of the various biodiversity parks, indigenous markets or Inca ruins, along with adventure trips to the Amazon rain forest or yacht cruises in the Galapagos Islands. There is so much to see and do in Quito, that you will probably want to extend your trip a couple of days before heading back home.All in all, Ecuador is indeed a hidden gem of a country; a slice of paradise nestled amongst the beauty of mountains, waterfalls, exotic species and pristine beaches. It is the perfect spot for travelers to rest their weary heads and for the adventurous, thrill-seeking to find their next natural "high".
