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.
The Mashpi Biodiversity Reserve occupies an impressive 1,300-hectare (3,200-acre) expanse of untouched wilderness which harbors both cloudforest and rainforest, This exceptional reserve is part of the globally-important Chocó biodiversity ‘hot spot’. It’s home to pumas, kinkajous, hundreds of amphibian and reptile species, thousands of insect and arachnid species, and, it’s believed, more than 500 species of birds. A highlight of a visit to Mashpi is the two kilometers long, environmentally friendly, aerial tram gliding visitors through and above the rainforest canopy.
