{"id":6880,"date":"2024-06-30T16:23:53","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T16:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/?p=6880"},"modified":"2025-05-20T18:41:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T18:41:56","slug":"ecuador-highlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/ecuador-highlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecuador Highlands"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/ecuador-four-worlds-one\/\">Ecuador<\/a>, a South American country located in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/ecuador\/tours\/quito\">middle of the world<\/a> has one of the richest eco-systems and quantity of climates in the world, going from really hot regions in the coast and cooling down until reaching below zero temperature at the snow capped mountains of the Andean region.<\/p>\n<p>The Ecuadorian Andean region, also known as the \u201cAvenue of the Volcanoes\u201d, comprehends a total of 32 volcanoes out of which 13 are still active.<\/p>\n<p>Despite most of the cities are surrounded by snow capped mountains, climate can be very unpredictable, going from a warm temperature of 80\u00b0 Fahrenheit\u00a0 (26\u00b0 Celcius) to freezing temperatures. And even more, it could be a warm sunny morning and a stormy cold afternoon, or backwards, that is why is much better to always have a jacket even though is a hot day.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cuenca-ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"cuenca ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"\u201daligncenter\u201d\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/php\/more-info\/mobile\/ecomm-horizontal.html\" width=\"200%\" height=\"272\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>While in the Ecuadorian Highlands you will be able to see and visit some of the highest volcanoes in the world, admire the great architecture and natural surroundings of the city of Cuenca. You can also enjoy the oldest colonial city in Latin America in Quito, and relax with a tour to the hot springs of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/ecuador\/tours\/papallacta\">Papallacta<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Quito, the Face of God<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/quito-ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"quito ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><br \/>\nQuito, the Capital of Ecuador, is located at an altitude of 9350 feet (2850 meters) above sea level, being second highest city in the world after La Paz in Bolivia.<br \/>\nThis millennial city offers the tourist a wide variety of sites to enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>This millennial city offers the tourist a wide variety of sites to enjoy.<\/p>\n<h3>Quito old town<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/quito-ecuador-highlands-sucre-theatre.jpg\" alt=\"quito ecuador highlands sucre theatre\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>the biggest colonial old town in Latin America will amaze you by its contemporary colonial buildings and variety of churches and museums.<br \/>\nQuito holds the biggest and best preserved Colonial town in Latin America, along it&#8217;s architecture you can find churches that were built during the 16th- and 17th century, adn structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles. Including the Cathedral located in the city main square, the Church of Compa\u00f1\u00eda de Jesus, the church of San Francisco, etc.<\/p>\n<h3>The middle of the world<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Around 45 minutes away from the Old-Town of Quito, you can find the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City)\u201d; where you can enjoy some fun activities, learn about the geophysical mission\u00a0 that discovered the passing of the equator through the city of Quito<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/quito-ecuador-highlands-middle-of-the-world.jpg\" alt=\"quito-ecuadorhighlands middle of the world\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>The Teleferico<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/quito-ecuador-teleferico.jpg\" alt=\"quito ecuador teleferico\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Located on the summit fo the Guagua Pichincha volcano, from where you will feel delighted by a spectacular view of Quito, and on clear days you can see most of the impressive Andean mountains.<\/p>\n<h2>Cuenca<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cuenca-cathedral.ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"cuenca cathedral ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The second biggest city of the Ecuadorian Highlands is Cuenca, located on the South of Ecuador.<br \/>\nWhen arriving in Cuenca, you will see the Spanish influence at first sight, as many buildings give you the impression to just being in a typical Spanish city. In the historic district, you can visit some churches like the beautiful white Old Cathedral and the way bigger and impressive New Cathedral.<br \/>\nOn the way from one cathedral to another, you can rest in the Park Abdon Calderon. And as a real tourist, you might definitely want to visit the Turi Viewpoint to have a great view over all Cuenca \u2013 or enjoy swinging on a special swing above the city.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14595\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp20Image202024-07-0520at2012-39-2620PM201-enhanced.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1304\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you want to gain some historical knowledge, you can visit one of the many museums in Cuenca, like the museum of the aboriginal culture. For enjoying history even more vivid and at open air, you can visit the Ruinas de Todos los Santos \u2013 the ruins of all saints. And if this caught you interest in old Incan ruins, you need to visit the Ingapirca ruins!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cuenca-cajas.ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"cuenca cajas ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Also outside of the city of Cuenca lies the Cajas National Park where you can go hiking and enjoy the amazing nature with its green hills, rocky mountains, and abundant lakes and lagoons\u2013 about 270, to be precise. If you developed a love for special plants, you can enjoy 19 endemic ones which just exist in the Cajas National Park! Also, the animal inhabitants of Cajas are partially endemic or endangered, so go to see them as long as you got the chance to!<\/p>\n<h2>Otavalo<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/otavalo-ecuador-teleferico.jpg\" alt=\"otavalo ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The city of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/ecuador\/tours\/otavalo?utm_source=travel-guide&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_term=blog-post&amp;utm_content=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=blog-post\"><strong>Otavalo<\/strong><\/a>, 90km north of Quito, is famous for its indigenous handicraft market, where you can buy textiles, dream catchers, self-made jewelry and many more cool things.<\/p>\n<p>You can learn about the history of the handcrafting as well as today\u2019s \u201cOtavale\u00f1o\u2019s\u201d life by visiting the Museo Viviente Otavalango. Additionally, to the city and the handicrafts, the nice inhabitants and the surrounding nature make Otavalo a great place to be a tourist.<\/p>\n<h3>San Pablo Lake<\/h3>\n<p>The Lake San Pablo is located 30 minutres away from the city of Otavalo. This lake beside providing a wonderful location to spend the weekend, is the the largest lake in Ecuador. From here, on clear days you can enjoy some of\u00a0 the most wonderful views of the highlands volcanoes.<\/p>\n<p>Near Lake San Pablo, you can visit Parque Condor and watch up-close some of the most impressive birds from the Andes, including the majestic Condor, Ecuador&#8217;s National bird<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/san-pablo-lake-ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"san pablo lake ecuador highlands\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Cotacachi Lake<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cuicocha-imbabura-ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"cuicocha imbabura ecuador highlands\" width=\"955\" height=\"955\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re up for a longer tour, you can visit the Cotacachi Lake \u2013 a remnant of a now dormant volcano. Within the 3km wide crater, there are two islets, the bigger one \u2013 according to the indigenous \u2013 has the appearance of a guinea pig. To finally end the day visiting the leather market in Cotacachi, where you can find everything from coin holster to leather jackets, all of great quality and at less than half that you would pay in your home-coming country.<\/p>\n<h2>Cotopaxi<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cotopaxi.ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"cotopaxi ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And of course, your visit to the Ecuadorian Highlands could not be complete without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/cotopaxi_volcano_quilotoa_lake_tour\/\">visiting the colossal Cotopaxi Volcano<\/a>. With an elevation of 19347 ft (5897 m), is one of the world highest volcanoes. On clear days the Cotopaxi can be seen on the skyline from Quito.<\/p>\n<p>Most of its surrounding area has been declared as a National Park in order to preserve the flora &amp; the fauna of the region, where you can find lagoons, forests, Mavericks and much more interesting wildlife.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/quilotoa-ecuador-highlands.jpg\" alt=\"quilotoa ecuador highlands\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And if it comes to lagoons, a very good option is to visit Quilotoa, located relatively close to the Cotopaxi volcano, Quilotoa is an extinguished crater which over time converted into a lake, that due to the dissolved minerals in it give the water a rather turquoise-greenish color.<\/p>\n<p>As you see, Ecuador is by far not only beach and jungle. The Andean region has so much to offer! You can climb volcanoes, hike in the most beautiful highlands, go kayaking on enchanted lagoons, take city tours and relax in the thermal waters of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/ecuador\/tours\/papallacta?utm_source=travel-guide&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_term=blog-post&amp;utm_content=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=blog-post\">Papallacta<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s something for everyone! Even if holidays without palms are like Christmas without Christmas tree to you, you don\u2019t have to worry, there are some in the Andes, too. So what are you waiting for? If you want to hit the volcanoes Avenue, just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/forms\/G.COM?utm_source=travel-guide&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_term=blog-post&amp;utm_content=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=blog-post\">ask one of our Ecuador &amp; Galapagos experts<\/a> on how to organize a tour perfectly fitting to your needs. And if you still want to see the coastal or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/ecuador\/hotels\/amazon-jungle?utm_source=travel-guide&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_term=blog-post&amp;utm_content=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=blog-post\">Amazonian region<\/a> or even the Galapagos Islands, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/vacation-packages\/?utm_source=travel-guide&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_term=blog-post&amp;utm_content=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=blog-post\">ask for a combo tour<\/a> to satisfy your curiosity!<\/p>\n<p class=\"\u201daligncenter\u201d\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/php\/more-info\/mobile\/ecomm-horizontal.html\" width=\"200%\" height=\"272\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ecuador, a South American country located in the middle of the world has one of the richest eco-systems and quantity of climates in the world, going from really hot regions in the coast and cooling down until reaching below zero temperature at the snow capped mountains of the Andean region. The Ecuadorian Andean region, also [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":10697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[44,45,33,47,43,46],"class_list":["post-6880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecuador","tag-cotopaxi","tag-cuicocha","tag-ecuador","tag-ecuador-tous","tag-highlands","tag-quilotoa"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ecuador Highlands - Galapagos Travel Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the beauty of Ecuador\u2019s highlands where majestic mountains, indigenous cultures and rich biodiversity make for an unforgettable trip\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/ecuador-highlands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ecuador Highlands - 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