🇪🇨Ecuador

Galápagos Islands

An isolated volcanic archipelago that helped shape Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, its wildlife, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies among them, famously unafraid of humans due to a lack of natural predators. Strict conservation rules limit visitor numbers and require licensed guides on most islands. A cruise or island-hopping itinerary is the standard way to see multiple islands' distinct ecosystems.

Quito's Old Town

One of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in Latin America, its colonial churches and plazas earning it recognition as one of UNESCO's first World Heritage Sites. The interior of the Compañía de Jesús church, covered almost entirely in gold leaf, is a particular highlight. Quito's high altitude, over 2,800 meters, gives it a notably cool climate despite sitting almost exactly on the equator.

Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)

A monument marking the equator just outside Quito, where visitors can stand with one foot in each hemisphere, though GPS measurements have since shown the true equatorial line sits slightly north of the original marker. A nearby museum, built at the more accurately measured location, offers science demonstrations related to the equator's effects. It remains a popular, if slightly kitschy, half-day trip from the capital.

Cotopaxi National Park

Home to one of the world's highest active volcanoes, its near-symmetrical snow-capped cone visible from Quito on clear days. A refuge partway up the mountain is reachable by a moderate hike, offering close views of the glacier above, while a full summit attempt requires technical climbing gear and a guide. The surrounding páramo grassland is also home to wild horses and Andean condors.

Baños de Agua Santa

A small town at the edge of the Amazon basin, its name referring to thermal baths fed by volcanic hot springs beneath the nearby Tungurahua volcano. It's built into something of an adventure sports hub, with waterfall routes, canyoning, and a well-known swing hung from a viewing platform overlooking a deep valley. The Pailón del Diablo waterfall nearby is among the most powerful in the country.

Amazon rainforest (Cuyabeno or Yasuní)

Ecuador's Amazon region, reached from either Quito or Coca, offers some of the most accessible rainforest lodges in South America, often just a short flight and boat ride from the capital. Guided walks and night canoe trips reveal caimans, monkeys, and an extraordinary diversity of bird life. Indigenous-led tours in some areas add cultural context alongside the wildlife viewing.