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Seven Magical Treasures for Your Ecuador Travel ItineraryOct 31 '08 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Must-see places in Ecuador! From the Galapagos, to Cuenca, to Quito. Through the jungles of the Amazon basin to the volcanic peaks of the Andes. Thinking about taking a trip to Ecuador? GREAT IDEA! Ecuador is a green paradise for any eco-traveler, plus a wonderful opportunity to explore some historical and cultural gems. Here's seven ideas for places you might want to add to your Ecuador travel itinerary... Galapagos Islands and Evolution A trip to the Galapagos Islands should help you make up for years of snoozing through biology classes and National Geographic specials. It's a place where you can see amazing lifeforms that are found nowhere else on earth --- like the giant Galapagos tortoise. The islands are almost certainly a very different place than they were back in 1835, when Charles Darwin arrived on the HMS Beagle. Darwin was astounded at what nature had done to animal life in the Galapagos, and his studies gave birth to his magnum opus, Origin of Species, and with it the ideas of natural selection, survival of the fittest, and evolution. The islands are Ecuador's biggest eco-travel draw, and every year thousands of visitors come to tour the islands and experience their beauty and biodiversity. Sailing vessels that ply the waterways are probably the most common way to tour the Galapagos, but scuba diving trips to the islands are quite popular as well. Info about the Galapagos: * www.gct.org * www.galapagos.com Jungles of the Amazon Basin The mighty Amazon River comes to life in the rainforest jungles deep in South America's heart. The river springs to life in the mountainous region of western Brazil, eastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador. In Ecuador, the Napo, Tigre, and Pastaza Rivers are the most significant Amazon tributaries. There's tours to get you into this region, and most will include a river tour and a visit to one or more biosphere reserves. The jungles here teem with life and you'll probably see lots of monkeys, some caiman in the rivers, colorful birds like wild macaws, a capybara or two, maybe some coatimunid, and if you're very unlikely, even a hungry jaguar or panther out on the prowl. If you do the Amazon basin trips, remember that yellow fever vaccinations may be required. Info about touring the Ecuadorian Amazon basin: * www.yuturi.com Volcano Alley Mountain climbers, backpackers, mountain bikers and backcountry adventurers of every persuasion love volcanoes, and there's a whole string of them through Ecuador. Some of them quite close to major cities like Quito (and quite active too). The most scenically popular volcano is Cotopaxi --- one of the highest volcanos in the world, with a height of 19,342 feet. It amazes me to think that this peak lies less than 100 miles from the ecuator, yet it's a frozen snow-capped peak. Cotopaxi is a great weekend retreat if you're staying in Quito and there are fun trips there, like horseback riding, climbs to the peak, and at least one outfitter that will drive you and a mountain bike up to the top in a 4WD Jeep, then you're on your own to bounce and jounce your way back to the bottom! Chimborazo is the highest peak in Ecuador (and until the exploration of Mt. Everest, was regarded as the highest peak on earth). It too sports a stylish white cap of ice and snow, and there are climbing expeditions that will take you up if you have the money, stamina, and will. One of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, El Reventador, is also perilously close to the capital and during its big eruption in 2002 it spewed ash onto the city. There are guides who will take you there too, though it's definitely not one of those "cruise up the road in a bus" kind of volcanoes. Info about climbing volcanoes in Ecuador: * www.ecuador-climbing.info * www.volcanoclimbing.com Quito: Where Old Meets New Quito is a wonderful city whose colonial heritage and modern business sensibilities blend smoothly to make a wonderfully cosmopolitan capital, a mile and a half up in the Andean clouds. The city has a wonderful arts tradition, excellent transportation, colorful restaurants, and affordable places to stay and shop. It's a great place to explore a new culture, perhaps by taking a few weeks of Spanish classes at any of the many language schools. You'll almost certainly pass through Quito, which is Ecuador's transportation hub, and it's a delightful place to spend a few days of urban exploration, or to use as a base for birdwatching or adventure excursions. Info about Quito: * www.quito.com.ec Andean Cloud Forests as a Bird-Watching Mecca Ecuador is one seriously DINKY little country, but that should be a big plus for bird watchers and naturalists because the country provides habitat for 18% of all bird species on Earth. The bird watching opportunities are everywhere. There are several very well known areas in the Andean cloud forests, located within an hour or so of Quito. One of the easiest and cheapest day trips from Quito is to simply get a guide to take you to one of the bird watching hot spots. These include Mindo, San Jorge, and the Yanacoche Reserve. There are places where you can see myriad different species of hummingbirds, many kinds of parrots, and maybe, even one of the majestic Andean condors. Info about birdwatching in Ecuador: * www.birdingpal.org/Ecuador.htm * www.geodyssey.co.uk/ecuador/birdwatching/birdwatching.htm * www.exoticbirding.com/ecuador-birding-tours.html Andean Highland Tradition in Cuenca Cuenca is arguably Ecuador's most historically scenic city. It was old long before the Spanish took it over from the Inca (who didn't build it either). It's a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site where cobblestone streets and colonial era cathedrals give the place an atmosphere of grace and dignity. Cuenca is famous for its 50 churches, not to mention its colorful flower markets. Info about Cuenca: * www.cuenca.com.ec Guayaquil and the Coastal Lowlands The Pacific coast of Ecuador offers bonuses for the eco-traveler who takes the time to explore the region. Humpback whales migrate along the Ecuadorian coast during the summer months, scuba and snorkling opportunities are available at offshore islands, and parks like the Machalilla National Park are often overlooked by international tourists. Beach bums will find a few sandy spots for some surfside relaxation while surfers head to Canoa or maybe try their luck with Mompiche. Guayaquil is Ecuador's primary port city, though it is not generally regarded as a particularly powerful tourist draw (some tourists use it as an embarkation point for Galapagos tours). Info about Ecuador's coast: * www.ecuador.com/beaches/ * www.inguayaquil.com/ Bottom Line... Lots of things to do in Ecuador. Lots to see. Most people can't fit it all in with just one vacation. But that's what NEXT year is for!! More Reviews of Ecuador... * Quito * Markets of Otavalo and Saquisili * Colonial Ecuador * Good travel guides to Ecuador  |
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