About traveling in Ecuador

Ecuador is a fantastic tourist destination with tours to the Galapagos Islands, tours into the Amazon Rainforest, Treks to the Andean Mountain Range and bird watching tours as main highlights.

It is also relatively easy and safe to travel around Ecuador, but its public transportation system and tourist information centers are not very well organized yet. It is important to be well informed and/or speak a few words of Spanish before you travel to Ecuador. We can help you with actual travel information about the safety in Ecuador, the political situation, the weather, etc. Depending on available travel time and budget, we can organize virtually each type of customized tour within Ecuador, including hiking in Vilcabamba.

To give you a better impression about the optional travel destinations, tours and treks within Ecuador, we have already made a small selection of Ecuador tour options, which can al be adjusted to your travel preferences.

Ecuador information

Tours to Ecuador offer travelers a wide variety of sights, with relatively short travel distances. Despite the fact that Ecuador is seven times the size of the Netherlands, it is a small country by South American standards. Still, it is a country rich in cultural and natural attractions. A tour through Ecuador is actually a world trip in a nutshell.

Galapagos Islands tours

Ecuador’s most famous tourist attraction is the Galapagos Islands. This group of islands is located on the Equator, about 1000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador. Due to this isolated location, the flora and fauna on the Galapagos Islands have been able to develop for thousands of years, virtually without external influences. The flora and fauna of the Galapagos were therefore ideal for Charles Darwin’s research. He based his Evolution Theory mainly on the small differences between the finches that lived on the different islands. These finches are now called the Darwin Finches and are one of the many unique animal species that occur on and around the Galapagos Islands. Other animal species that appeal to the imagination include: the blue-footed Gannets (better known as ‘The Blue Footed Boobies), the impressive giant tortoises, the Marine iguanas, the penguins and the many, many sea lions. For the average visitor, however, it is not so much the many different animal species that make a visit to the Galapagos Islands so special, but the fact that these animals do not seem to be afraid of us. This provides a more intimate experience and many beautiful photos. Tours to Ecuador are not complete without a visit to the Galapagos Islands. But this certainly does not mean that a tour through Ecuador is not also worthwhile without a visit to the Galapagos Islands.

Mountain landscapes in Ecuador

Personally, I am particularly impressed by Ecuador’s beautiful mountain landscapes to travel and walk through. The route from Quito to Riobamba is sometimes called the Avenue of Volcanoes, because you drive past more than seven volcanoes, two of which are active. There are no fewer than 1,289 mountains and volcanoes throughout Ecuador that are high and/or distinctive enough to have their own name. Each mountain and hilltop offers a view over a different valley with its own microclimate and impressive natural beauty. This ensures that your ‘travel days’ during your tour through Ecuador will not be boring. The mountains and volcanoes in Ecuador also offer great options for the adventurous traveler who enjoys long walks and/or mountain climbing.

Cotopaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes

The Cotopaxi volcano (5897 m) and the Chimborazo volcano (6263 m) are among the highest and most famous volcanoes in Ecuador. The impressive cone of the Cotopaxi volcano is the highest active volcano in the world and appeals to the imagination of mountain climbers from all over the world. A little less known is that the top of the Chimborazo volcano is actually the highest point on Earth! At least if we were to measure from the center of the Earth. Even when you walk to the Whymper shelter at 5000 meters above sea level, you are actually a little closer to the stars than when you are on the top of Mount Everest. Doesn’t it sound great if, after your tour through Ecuador, you can say at home that you climbed higher than the top of the Mount Everest.

Laguna Quilotoa

Ecuador not only has active volcanoes, but also volcanoes that have long since become extinct and whose craters are now full of water. The minerals left behind in these craters often give these crater lakes special colors. The crater lake of Quilotoa is a good example of this. When the sun and wind are favorable, the surface of this lake turns emerald green. This is a magnificent sight and it is therefore not surprising that Laguna (lake) Quilotoa is high in the top ten of most beautiful crater lakes in the world! A visit to Laguna Quilotoa should not be missing from your travel itinerary to Ecuador.

The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador

The huge Amazon Rainforest is spread across several countries in South America. Despite the fact that only 2% of the Amazon Rainforest is located in Ecuador, this area covers no less than 48% of the territory of Ecuador and is still three times the size of the Netherlands! For tourism, the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador has a major advantage over other countries, as the rainforest in Ecuador is relatively easy to reach. The starting point of the Amazon tours is approximately an 8-hour bus ride from Quito, or a flight of less than an hour. It is important to mention that the standard group trips and tours to Ecuador, offered by large travel agencies, do not actually travel into the Amazon Rainforest. They often stay on the edges in the Tena area. The nature here can also be beautiful, but due to the constant activity of the people living in this area, you will encounter little wildlife during these tours. It is better to travel to the Cuyabeno Amazon Reserve or the Yasuni Amazon Reserve where you can spot monkeys, anacondas, caimans, parrots, and many other wild animals.

Inca history in Ecuador

In addition to natural highlights, tours to Ecuador also offer a special cultural experience. For example, in Cañar you can admire the southernmost Inca ruins. This archaeological site is called Ingapirca and is built on the foundations of temples of the indigenous Cañar people. The round Inca temple of Ingapirca closely resembles the sun temples at Machu Picchu and Cusco, which is why it is commonly thought that this was an important place for the Incas. It is difficult to say whether this was also the case for the city of Tomobamba. Just before the Spaniards arrived at this city on their tour through Ecuador, the Incas razed the city to the ground. The Inca people wanted with all their might to prevent the Spanish conquerors from living in their beautiful city. Some foundations and terraces of the Incas can still be admired in an open-air museum in the colonial center of modern Cuenca.

Colonial cities in Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador and Krakow (Poland) were the first cities on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. In the center of Quito you can find several beautiful colonial churches, cathedrals and other colonial buildings. My personal favorite is La Basilica, with an almost Gothic appearance. Yet I think that Cuenca is the most beautiful city in Ecuador. Perhaps this is because the city feels much more relaxed. It is the third largest city in Ecuador after Guayaquil and Quito, but when you walk through the center the city does not feel large. If you want to take beautiful pictures of the colonial buildings in Cuenca, I recommend doing so on a Sunday, when there is little traffic in the narrow streets. Tours to Ecuador are also not complete without a visit to the impressive cathedral in Cuenca. The domes on the roof in particular are a real example of craftsmanship. Other sights in Cuenca include visiting the Panama Hat museum (indeed, these hats are originally from Ecuador and not from Panama), a stroll along the Tomobamba River. And, for enthusiasts, a treasure hunt along the many small museums, art galleries, theaters and impressive murals. Cuenca is certainly the most cultural city in Ecuador.

Visit Otavalo

There are several villages in Ecuador where most of the residents have an indigenous background and keep centuries-old traditions and customs alive. Otavalo is perhaps the most famous indigenous village and is known for its ponchos and its Saturday markets. Many tours to Ecuador promise a visit to the cozy, colorful Saturday market in Otavalo. People also often visit a workshop where local people still weave rugs and ponchos in a traditional way with a back strap. However, few tourists seem to know is that Otavalo is one of the few places in South America where the indigenous population has successfully integrated with Western culture.

Enterprising Otavaleños

Unfortunately, many indigenous peoples in the Americas continue to face discrimination. They regularly struggle with a lack of sense of identity and there are many alcohol problems among native men, especially when they have no or little meaningful work. The Otavaleños have found a solution to this. They have invested in commercializing and advertising their age-old traditions. For example, they have combined their age-old weaving techniques and designs with modern designs, production methods and sales techniques. There are even Otavaleños who travel the world and sell their products in New York, Tokyo, Milan and Barcelona! And if you saw musicians playing traditional South American music in Amsterdam, they probably came from Otavalo. The money they earn from their trips to and performances in other countries is often invested in their own company in Ecuador. In short, the Otavaleños are an independent and proud indigenous population.

Ecuador and La Casa del Arbol swing

Another thing that few people know is that the current tourist trend of placing swings in iconic locations started in Ecuador. To be precise, on a barren hill between Baños and the Tungurahua volcano. Here, former soldier and volunteer firefighter Carlos Sanchez Carrasco built a simple tree house in 2006 to better observe the activities of the Tungurahua volcano. Later he added a simple swing so that his grandchildren would visit him more often. Photos on Facebook attracted the attention of young travelers in particular. However, this all changed when a photo of a tourist on a swing with a smoking Tungurahua volcano in the background, won an award from National Geographic as the best photo in the category ‘Travel’ in early February 2014. The swing with view became enormously popular and for many a tour through Ecuador is no longer complete without visiting Casa del Arbol.

For more information about tours to Ecuador, I recommend viewing the above trips and/or sending us a message without obligation: info@fairtravel4u.org For our Ecuador tours we work together with the experienced and reliable Julio Verne Travel.