Quito, the capital of Ecuador, lies on the slopes of the Andes’ mighty Pichincha volcano in the Guayllabamba river basin. The city’s Old Town is its main attraction - one of the most well preserved in Latin America and the first-ever UNESCO heritage site. Wander among ancient, colourful streets; pop into glorious historic churches; or spend an afternoon browsing the vibrant Mercado (markets) and learning about the unique, traditional Ecuadorian Sierra culture. Other bucket list items in Quito include a visit to the impressive Casa Museo Guayasamín; the Museo de la Presidencia which provides insight into Ecuador’s history; and a climb up the iconic towers of the Basilica. Numerous gorgeous public parks and a thriving and exciting culinary scene complete the package.
Situated in the northwest corner of the Metropolitan District of Quito, the Mashpi Biodiversity Reserve is a unique and magnificent destination. Spread over 1,300-hectares of untouched wilderness, it harbours both cloud forest and rainforest, and forms part of the globally-important Choco biodiversity ‘hot spot’. Mashpi is home to pumas, kinkajous, hundreds of amphibian and reptile species, thousands of insect and arachnid species, and over 500 species of bird. Visitors can spend days exploring, spotting a vast variety of fauna and flora, and immersing themselves in the biodiverse ecosystems of the reserve. Don't miss the two-kilometre-long aerial tram gliding visitors through and over the rainforest canopy.
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Located in the central part of the Galapagos archipelago, the small, flat island of Baltra (also known as South Seymour island) is the only island that is not part of the Galapagos National Park as it operates as a military base and is home to the local airport. With its extremely arid landscape and its sparse vegetation consisting of little more than prickly pear cacti, salt bushes and palo santo trees, arriving on this remote island can feel like landing on another planet. As the island has been designated as a non-visitor site, travelers who arrive in Baltra will immediately be taken by bus to one of two docks where they will either board a cruise ship or a ferry that will take them to the island of Santa Cruz.
The spectacular Galapagos National Park is situated roughly 1000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador on the Santa Cruz Island of the Galapagos archipelago. The Park is often referred to as a ‘living museum’ owing to its phenomenal melting pot of species. The area inspired the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and is considered to be a living laboratory where evolution is still in process. The park is home to a variety of animals and plants which do not exist anywhere else. These factors, along with the ongoing volcanic and seismic activity, has earned the park UNESCO status. Visitors can spot animals such as land iguanas, giant tortoises, a diversity of finches, and many other animal and plant species. Set at the confluence of three ocean currents, there is also an incredibly rich and abundant marine life offshore.
Aptly dubbed, “Bird Island” due to its spectacular birdwatching opportunities, Genovesa (Tower) Island lies about 95 km northeast of Santa Cruz in the the Galapagos archipelago. This horse-shoe shaped island has a volcanic caldera whose wall has collapsed, forming the Great Darwin Bay. This exquisite bay is surrounded by cliffs and is home to frigatebirds and swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal species of gull in the world. The island also provides sanctuary to an impressive abundance of noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, storm petrels, Darwin finches and the world’s largest colony of red-footed boobies. Visitors will also find a magnificent crater lake in the centre of the island as well as a large Palo Santo forest. Genovesa Island’s remote location means it is typically only visited as part of longer itineraries but it’s remarkable birdlife as well as its diversity of exotic marine life make it well worth the extra effort.
Resting approximately 25 km northeast of Santa Cruz Island, in the exquisite Galapagos archipelago, the elongated shield volcano of Santiago Island, also known as San Salvador Island or James Island, is dotted with Holocene pyroclastic cones. The island’s best site is undoubtedly Puerto Egas where you will find a long, lava shoreline where eroded rock formations are home to an impressive variety of wildlife including an abundance of marine iguanas and fur seals. While geology aficionados should head to Sullivan Bay to witness its black lava flow covered with lava bubbles and tree-trunk moulds, diving enthusiasts can enjoy the renowed dive site of Cousin's Rock, a triangular rock that rises about 10 m (33 ft) out of the water and is made up of many layers of volcanic rock. Don’t miss Espumilla Beach which is fringed by a spectacular palo santo forest that shelters nesting Galápagos green turtles.
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Resting in the western part of the Galapagos archipelago, Isabela Island is larger than all of the rest of the islands combined. Comprising six volcanoes, the island is about 120 km long and covers 4,585 square kilometres. Travellers who make the effort to this visit this remote location will be richly rewarded with a profusion of fascinating wildlife including large numbers of flamingos, typically spotted at the lagoon in town or along the boardwalk to the impressive Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. Don’t miss Concha de Perla, a natural pool which is ideal for snorkelling and interacting with sea lions; Las Tintoreras, a lagoon where white tip sharks come to rest; and Los Tuneles, where you'll find an abundance of turtles, rays, and fish swimming in the canals and pools.
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The most westerly of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina (Narborough) is the youngest and most active volcanically, with eruptions occurring from its single volcano, La Cumbre, every few years. The island boasts an astonishingly pristine landscape which showcases various types of lava flows and some spectacular mangrove forests. This otherworldly environment is home to an impressive diversity of wildlife including the area’s famous flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, pelicans, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos fur seals and the largest colony of marine iguanas on the islands. Punta Espinosa is the island’s sole land site and is one of the best places to see the unique Lava Cactus as well as the island’s breathtaking mass of marine iguanas.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador, renowned for their amazing endemic species, especially the giant tortoises which give the islands their name. Only discovered in the 1800s, the islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the surrounding waters are a national park and biological marine reserve. Of the 18 islands Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, and Santa Cruz are now populated by more than 25 000 people. The original names were given by an English pirate, but the Ecuadorians have given the islands Spanish names. The Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin after he visited them on his scientific voyage on the HMS Beagle, and the endemic species here contributed significantly to Darwinian Theory.
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The island of Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora, the largest and most developed town in the Galapagos. While many visitors use this island as merely a springboard for the more remote surrounding islands, those who dig a little deeper will discover that this island has plenty to offer. With numerous visitor sites, easily accessible beaches and remote highlands in the interior, Santa Cruz makes an excellent base for adventurous activities. The most popular attraction is undoubtedly the Charles Darwin Station which offers an impressive turtle breeding area and interesting information about the conservation of the unique biosphere of the Galapagos. Don’t miss the opportunity to swim or snorkel at one of the island’s magnificent beaches where you will find white sand and turquoise waters as well as an abundance of fascinating wildlife including: pelicans, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas.
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