Things to do in
Ecuador Destinations
Discover the incredible biodiversity of Eastern Ecuador’s
The Regions of Ecuador: El Oriente (Amazon) | La Sierra (Andes) | La Costa (Coast) | Galapagos Islands |
The Galapagos Islands
A modern Garden of Eden and a living laboratory of evolution, the Galapagos are unique on the planet. The Islands are peaks of enormous underwater volcanoes, and having never been connected with the South American continent, Galapagos’ flora and fauna developed in complete isolation, a fact that in many ways allowed Charles Darwin to form his theory of evolution. The Galapagos Islands are truly a wonder that should not be missed. Where else can you swim with hammerhead sharks, penguins, sea lions, and hundreds of tropical reef fish, and sleep on a volcanic peak?
Learn more about the Galapagos, or better, go there on a cruise!
El Oriente (Amazon)
The Amazon jungle is without a doubt Creation’s greatest achievement, moreover, Eastern Ecuador, known as El Oriente, is blessed with some of the Amazon’s most biologically diverse, pristine areas. Experience nature’s most impressive orchestration of life; canoe along meandering rivers; climb into the canopy; hike along primary forest trails, learn about medicinal rainforest plants, or just “be” amidst the teeming forest.
Learn more about the Amazon, or better, visit the Amazon by staying in a rainforest lodge.
La Sierra (Andes highlands)
Quintessential Ecuador, La Sierra is the most visited region in the country. Boasting condors, glaciated volcanoes, bustling Indian markets, grand old haciendas, cloudforests, Incan ruins, and high-altitude paramo grasslands, it is hard not to love.
The Andes form a mountainous backbone that divides Ecuador’s lowland coastal plains and its treasured share of the Amazon jungle. In addition to serving as the physical middle, or spine, of Ecuador, La Sierra, as home to nearly 50% of the country’s population, and Quito, its capital city, occupies a place of chief political and economic importance.
Quito, Ecuador’s capital is where most travelers arrive and tend to use it as their base for the rest of their travels around Ecuador.
Learn more about the Andes!
La Costa (Coastal lowlands)
Almost a three-hundred-mile stretch, Ecuador’s Pacific coast is a combination of bikini-friendly beaches, mangrove forests, marshes, estuaries, and small fishing villages. The North is wet, wild, relatively undiscovered, and renowned for its vibrant afro-Ecuadorian communities which highlight the year with a Marimba dance festival. The drier and cooler Central and Southern Coast regions offer popular beach resort destinations. Furthermore, the vigorous port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, sits tucked behind the Santa Elena Peninsula at the mouth of the Guayas River.
Learn more about the Coast!
Provider Spotlight
Free Galapagos Trip Planner at Galapagos Islands .com – easily plan your Galapagos vacation online, find great value, and a wide selection of customized Galapagos cruises and vacations.
Galapagos Tour Experts – Adventure Life Specialize in luxury Galapagos cruises, and land-based Galapagos tours. Adventure Life can help you design the perfect trip to Ecuador. As seen in Outside Magazine, NatGeo, and the New York Times.
Voyager Galapagos Tours haS excellent Galapagos cruise deals & last-minute offers, and land-based Galapagos tours (aka Island Hopping).
Galapagos & Ecuador Insiders use their local expertise to assist you in planning the perfect Galapagos cruise or Ecuador tour for your precise budget, needs, and interests.
Latin Trails craft customized journeys to the Galapagos Islands, the Ecuador mainland, the Amazon rainforest, and Peru. They operate the highly-rated Galapagos cruising yacht: Seaman Journey and the day tour yacht the Galapagos Hopper.
Andando Tours – Pioneers in Galapagos tourism. Two generations of sailing and shipbuilding showcase unparalleled knowledge in creating the most unique Galapagos Cruises. Owners & Operators of S/S Mary Anne & M/Y Passion.
Gulliver Expeditions – Learn more about our Ecuador Tours, Peru Tours, Ecuador Climbing Expeditions, Galapagos Land Tours, and Machu Picchu Tours. Gulliver Expeditions offer fantastic travel experiences since 2005.
Surtrek Galapagos Cruises – has offered exceptional custom-designed trips to the Galapagos for over 20 years. They now bring their brand of off-the-beaten-path trips to other countries in South America such as Peru’s Machu Picchu, Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats, and Chile’s Atacama Desert.
ViaNatura – provides excellent value Galapagos cruises on the Monserrat yacht, a luxury cruise experience on the Hermes yacht, and a variety of tours in Ecuador and Peru.
EcAwe-inspiring Destinations
Discover the incredible biodiversity of Eastern Ecuador’s
