Explore Ecuador

Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island

Refuge Chimborazo

Chimborazo Refuge

Zamora

Zamora

Zamora, capital of Zamora-Chinchipe province, opens onto southern Ecuador's Amazon region. Waterfalls, tropical forest and Podocarpus National Park make it an ideal base for nature lovers.

Imbabura (volcan)

Imbabura (volcano)

A dormant stratovolcano at 4,630 m, Imbabura dominates the northern Sierra of Ecuador. Revered as 'Father Imbabura' by Kichwa communities, it offers a challenging hike and sweeping views of Andean lakes.

Vilcabamba

Vilcabamba

An Andean village nestled in a valley in Loja Province, Vilcabamba is the ideal starting point for hiking to Cerro Mandango and exploring the forests of Podocarpus National Park.

Baños

Tungurahua Volcano

A stratovolcano standing at 5,023 m, Tungurahua towers over Baños de Agua Santa. Accessible viewpoints, hikes across its slopes, and occasionally a nocturnal display of glowing projectiles.

Tortuga Bay

Tortuga Bay

Tortuga Bay is a wild beach accessible on foot from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, blacktip sharks, and sea turtles share this pristine setting within Galápagos National Park.

Station de recherche Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin Research Station

An iconic scientific hub of the Galápagos, the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora hosts a giant tortoise breeding programme and the Lonesome George exhibition. Free entry, walking distance from the waterfront.

Saquisili

Saquisilí

Saquisilí, in Cotopaxi Province, hosts one of the most authentic indigenous markets in the Andes every Thursday. Livestock, textiles, and local products are exchanged from dawn across several plazas.

Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

Bridging the highlands and coast, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas is the gateway city to the Tsáchila people, their red-haired shamans, and a subtropical forest brimming with biodiversity.

Ile Isabela

Isla Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the tourism heart of the Galápagos. Giant tortoises in the wild, lava tunnels, Tortuga Bay beach and Charles Darwin Station: the island encompasses the best of the archipelago in just a few days.

Puerto López

Playa Los Frailes

Playa Los Frailes is a protected beach in Machalilla National Park, 12 km from Puerto López. Cliffs, dry forest and turquoise waters, with no commercial establishments on-site.

Peguche

Peguche

A Kichwa village 3 km from Otavalo, Peguche brings together traditional weaving workshops, a sacred waterfall, and Inti Raymi celebrations. A vivid snapshot of Otavaleña indigenous culture.

Otávalo

Otavalo

Otavalo, nestled in the Équateur Andes, is the essential destination for lovers of Kichwa craftsmanship. Its Saturday market, weaver villages, and volcanic landscapes make it a richly rewarding stop just two hours from Quito.

Manta

Montecristi

Montecristi, in Manabí Province, is the world's cradle of the toquilla straw hat—inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list—and the birthplace of reformist President Eloy Alfaro.

Montañita

Montañita

Montañita is Ecuador's iconic surf village on the coast: long waves, open-air bars, fresh fish ceviche and vibrant nights just 3 hours from Guayaquil.

Mitad del Mundo

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo

Thirty kilometers north of Quito, Ciudad Mitad del Mundo marks the symbolic location of the equator. A 30-meter monument, ethnographic museum, and interactive experiences at the neighboring Museo Intiñan.

Mindo

Mindo

Nestled in the cloud forest 80 km from Quito, Mindo is home to over 500 bird species, waterfalls accessible by traditional cable car, and butterfly farms. An ideal base for ecotourism in Équateur.