Neighbouring Colombia and Peru, Ecuador is a relatively small country that nevertheless offers an enticing array of scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife species and interesting cities. Dense Amazon rainforest, towering Andean mountain peaks, palm-fringed Pacific Coast beaches and fascinating historical sites are all part and parcel of Ecuador’s prolific charms. The former Inca town of Cuenca is the nation’s third-largest city and a Unesco World Heritage Site. This alluring city, with its cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and photogenic plazas, boasts a huge variety of museums and art galleries. The vibrant capital city of Quito is also worth a visit. Arguably the most dazzling jewel in Ecuador’s crown is the Galapagos Archipelago in the Pacific, about 1000 kilometres west of the mainland. Their magnificent, pristine landscapes and prolific wildlife, which inspired Charles Darwin, have made this cluster of islands a world-famous travel destination.
Deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon lies Providencia, a rural town set on the banks of the Napo River. Encompassed by dense swathes of the pristine jungle, nature lovers are in good company as the virgin wilderness hides bats, spider monkeys, tarantulas, caimans, anacondas and thousands of birds. Adventure seekers can revel in the variety of activities available including a canopy walk in the forest, taking in magnificent views of the landscape from Kopak Tower, swimming at Lake Pilchicocha, canoeing across a narrow creek and observing the many-coloured parrots at Parrot Salt Licks. Don’t miss a visit to Yasuní National Park, an enormous protected forest that is home to millions of species of plants, birds, insects and mammals, and is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.
