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Galapagos Home > Ecuador Trip Extensions > Ecuador Tours > Ecuador Highlights
Ecuador Tour Highlights
Quito is the doorway to your Galapagos Adventure. Flights to the Galapagos generally leave from Quito, a city nestled high in the Andes mountains that has countless travel opportunities of its own.
In most cases, you will need to spend a night in Quito to catch your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Most travelers arrive first to Quito, Ecuador's capital. Once the capital of the northern Incan empire, Quito is home to "Old Town", one of the most extensive colonial districts in Latin America.
Named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the seventies, Quito's Old Town will transport you back and forth between centuries as you meander down its cobblestone streets, passing by vendors selling everything from choclo (Andean corn) to ceramics.
From the Panecillo, you'll have a grand view of Quito and, on a clear day, you'll also see the peaks of some of Ecuador's volcanoes, among them the famous Cotopaxi volcano.
Centrally located, Quito is also an excellent jumping-off point for a number of interesting one and two-day trips, including river-rafting, cloudforest exploration, bird watching, mountain biking, hotsprings, and many more.
An hour and a half from Quito, along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, lies the dominant image on the Ecuadorian national psyche: the perfectly conical Cotopaxi volcano (5897m).
The Cotopaxi volcano is one of the world's highest active volcanos. Most visitors with a bit of verve at least contemplate making the ascent to its 19,350 foot peak.
The volcano is the highlight of Cotopaxi National Park, which straddles a number of provinces and protects a wide swath of Andean paramo, the Ecuadorian equivalent of the Arctic tundra, and is the home of the Andean condor and paramo fox.
Otavalo's beauty lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians, and their market, undoubtedly one of the most important and spectacular in all of Latin America.
The best day of the week to hit this famous and friendly corner of the Andes is Saturday, the biggest market day for gringos and locals alike.
By 6am, with the sun rising and the mountains casting improbable shadows over the town, the Otavalo market, centered around Poncho Plaza, is already alive with people, clothing, jewelry, animals, and more.
All day long, the whir of cotton candy machines, Andean pipe music, and Quichua, the native tongue derived from the Incan tongue, drift across the square. From the early morning hours until late afternoon, the market offers visitors an abundance of high quality products for bargain prices.
Otavaleños have become the most prosperous and possibly the most famous indigenous group in Latin America, you may have seen them in your own hometown selling their woolen sweaters or strumming Andean tunes.
In the past ten years, Otavaleños have begun globe-trotting in a successful campaign to export the Andean culture.
Now, with over 80% of the Otavaleños involved in the textile industry, products from Otavalo are found in markets around the world, from neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Colombia to the United States, Europe, and even Asia.
In part because of their economic success, Otavaleños have managed to hold on to centuries-old traditions without adopting a 'quick, get dressed, here come the tourists' cultural identity. The Otavalo's Indigenous people are proud people and it shows.
While other indigenous people, under pressure to assimilate, are donning Levis and T-shirts, Otavaleños are still easily identified by their distinctive dress: women wear intricately embroidered blouses and a wealth of beaded necklaces, while men have long, braided hair and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals.
Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city, captivates its visitors with its astonishing beauty.
Narrow cobbled streets, an abundance of old colonial buildings, interesting museums, charming plazas, and ornated balconies contribute to Cuenca's romantic flair.
It is the perfect place to get the panama hat of your dreams since Cuenca is known for being the most famous trade center of this headgear.
The area around Cuenca is known for its hospitable people, unique cuisine, and charming towns nestled between the softened folds of the Andes.
Outside of Cuenca:
Ingapirca - Only a two-hour busride away, Ingapirca is known as the most famous Inca site in Ecuador. You can easily visit Ingapirca on a day-trip and be back in Cuenca by late afternoon.
Cajas National Park - Cajas National Park lies 30km west of Cuenca and is definitely a personal tip for all nature-lovers. You will be captivated by the beautiful lakes and if you like to fish, trout fishing is permitted.
If you are interested in hiking and camping there, bring warm clothes with you since the weather can be harsh at times. Bird watchers will have the time of their lives since the cajas national park is known to house many species, such as toucnas, conebills, or humming birds.
Chordeleg - Chordeleg lies about 25km from Cuenca. Especially souvenier-aholics will get their money's worth in this little town that is famous for its silver and gold jewelry.
Located on the western coastline of Ecuador, Guayaquil is the country's largest city and main port.
The city is the economic and business center of Ecuador. Notable places to visit in Guayaquil include Parque Seminario (Iguana Park), home to many iguanas and a statue of Simon Bolivar, Palacio Municipal, a neoclassical building housing political offices and an important architectural structure, and Mercado Artesenal with indigenous crafts, jewelry, and more.
Guayaquil also has an airport with direct flights to the Galapagos.
Manta is a town located in the coastal region of Manabí with the biggest seaport in Ecuador.
The town is famous for its international film festival and the local economy is supported by tuna fishing and canning.
The area's many beaches are popular among tourists.
The neighboring village of Montecristi is known for colonial architecture and the home of the famous "Panama hat" factory.
Manta's sister city is Long Beach, California (USA).
Coca's official name is Puerto Francisco de Orellana and is the capital of the Orellana province.
It is located at the junction of two rivers, the Coca River and the Napo River, in the Amazon Rainforest.
Two natural resources abundant in the area are petroleum and wood. Travelers can access the area by the Francisco de Orellana Airport. The Napo Wildlife Center is located here.
Tena is the capital of the province of Napo.
It is located at the junction of the Tena and Pano rivers and white-water rafting has become and important activity.
Tena also serves as a base for volunteers of reforestation and community support projects.
The town has become known as one of the best white-water rafting and kayaking destinations of Ecuador, and perhaps even the world.
The Jatun Sacha Biological Station is a great place to visit for information and research about the rainforest, and the Sumaco Volcano is a natural wonder located just outside of the town.
The Galapagos Islands, official name "Archipelago de Colon," are a popular destination for exotic, adventure, and luxury travelers.
The islands are famous for Charles Darwin's observations of the Galapagos Giant Tortoise and Galapagos Finches, leading to his Theory of Evolution.
The archipelago, consisting of 18 major islands and several smaller islets, were created by volcanic activity and are renowned for its pristine ecological environment.
Visitors are stunned by the variety of unique wildlife, including land and marine iguanas, giant tortoises, Blue- and Red-footed Boobies, Frigatebirds, the Waved Albatross, Flightless Cormorant, sea lions, sharks, and whales.
Tourism is the primary economy and currently over 60 boats operate cruises in the islands.
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