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Ecuador Tour Highlights

Quito

Quito is the doorway to your Galapagos Adventure. Flights to the Galapagos generally leave from Quito, Ecuador, a city nestled high in the Andes mountains that has countless travel opportunities of its own. In most cases, you'll need to spend a night in Quito to catch your flight to the Galapagos. Most travelers arrive first in the capital of Quito. 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 to techno CDs. 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, birding, mountain biking, hotsprings, and many more.

Cotopaxi

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), one of the world's highest active volcanos. Most visitors with a bit of verve at least contemplate making the ascent to its 19,890 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

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 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 Andean culture -- and earn big bucks along the way. Now, with over 80% of the Otavaleños involved in 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. They are proud people and it shows. While other indigenous peoples --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

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 pueblos nestled between the softened folds of the Andes.

Outside of Cuenca:

Ingapirca. Only a two-hour busride away, is known as the most famous Inca site in Ecuador. You can easily visit it on a day-trip and be back in Cuenca by late afternoon.

Parque Nacional Cajas lies 30km west of Cuenca and is definitely a personal tip for all nature-lovers. You will be captivated by the beautiful lakes and - anglers listen - 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 national park is known to house many species, such as toucnas, conebills, or humming birds.

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.