Starting at the crest of the Andes Mountains and stretching towards the coast and Peru, Ecuador’s Loja Province boasts magnificent nature reserves, beautiful historic towns and a rich traditional culture. The Parque Nacional Podocarpus boasts incredibly diverse nature (as it is a meeting point of four ecological systems: Northern Andes, Southern Andes, Amazoniana and Pacific) and is home to numerous endemic species, among its 560-odd species of birds and 46 mammal species. Several towns each offer unique destinations. The capital, Loja, is filled with wonderful plazas, churches, hotels, museums, and parks. Enjoy near-perfect eternally spring-like weather, pure air and mineral-rich water in Vilcabamba, and hike to a multitude of waterfalls. In smaller villages like Yangana, surrounded by mountains, watch see double rainbows decorate the cliffs.