Ecuador Tourism : Ecuador  

Ecuador Tourism - Travel guide

Ecuador

Ecuador Tourism

Ecuador is the smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. You can swim with nature, rafting, trekking climb volcanoes, and humpback whale watching. Bahia de Caraquez

Quito - The capital of Ecuador is arguably the most beautiful city in South America. Quito is the capital of Ecuador Mitad del Mundo - Turismo del Ecuadorand of Pichincha, the country's most populous Andean province, is situated 116 miles from the Pacific coast at an altitude of 9,350 feet, just south of the equator. It has a pleasant climate that can be described as "permanent spring". The city, one of the oldest in South America, is built in a small basin on the lower slopes of Cerro Pichincha. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Quitu and for several decades, prior to its occupation by Spaniards in 1534, was a second (northern) capital of the Inca empire. The city official name as given by the Spaniards, is Villa de San Francisco de Quito, it is Ecuador's second largest city. It is the political, administrative, and cultural capital of Ecuador.

Volcano Chimborazo Ecuadorolcanoes - Chimborazo / Cotopaxi National Park Cotopaxi Ecuador's "Avenue of the Volcanoes" is a 325 km. long valley between the major Cordillera ranges. Massive and standing alone, the volcanoes provide brooding, snow-covered contrast to the green equatorial lushness. They also provide mountaineers a rare opportunity to achieve very high altitudes without technical difficulty. Volcano climbing offers an exciting, unforgettable challenge.

In the Indian language, Chimborazo means "mountain of snow". It is an enormous mass of overwhelming scale. Alexander Von Humboldt mad an unsuccessful attempt to climb the Chimborazo in 1802, and believed it to be the highest mountain in the world (6,526 feet). This distinction lasted until the discovery of Mt. Everest fifty years later. Chimborazo was finally climbed by Edward Whimper in 1880. Today it is climbed fairly frequently, but less than Cotopaxi, which is the highest active volcano of the world (6,005 meters). Read about The Cotopaxi National Park.

Ecuador Archaelogical Sites - Ecuador has several ruins left by the Incas or other Amerindians. The principal Inca site is Ingapirca. Others include Rumicucho, near Quito; La Tolita, near Esmeraldas; and Tomebamba in Cuenca (most of the ruins in this old provincial capital have been built over, but some can be seen at Avenida Todos Santos). The ancient Valdivia culture (dating from 3200 BC) left remains at Real Alto, San Isidro (excavated mounds) and Santa Elena—all of which are located in the coastal area northwest of Guayaquil. Santa Elena is notable for having the world's oldest known cemetery (dating from 5000 BC). Inside Machalilla National Park is the Agua Blanca site. (Artifacts from most of these places are best seen in museums in Guayaquil and Quito. Ingapirca Inca Ruins

Ambato, Ecuador - This modern city (pop. 140,000) south of Quito was rebuilt following a 1949 earthquake little evidence of the colonial era remains. Ambato, however, is a good place to buy Salasaca Amerindian tapestries and other handicrafts (Monday is the main market day, with smaller ones on Wednesday and Friday). Sights include the Quinta de Mera (historic home), the local museum and the relaxing Parque Juan Montalvo (named after the Ecuadorian political essayist). The city hosts the Fruit and Flower Festival during the last two weeks of February (fruits, flowers, bullfights, street dances and festivities). Visitors can take excursions to Chimborazo (at 20,700 ft/6,310 m, it's Ecuador's highest peak); the Fauna Production Reserve (15,000 acres of native flowers and plants); and nearby town of Banos. Ambato is 75 mi south of Quito. "Tigua Art"

Galapagos Islands - The Galapagos Islands are a group of twelve volcanic islands and numerous islets an rocks 650 miles off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The area of the islands is 3,086 square miles. Only two are inhabited: Isabela, the largest of the group, and San Cristobal. Current estimated population in the islands is 20,000. The islands are hilly, rising to a height of 5,000 feet, and there are several active volcanoes.