At the heart of all this is Quito. As laying claim to being the world's second highest capital city (after La Paz in Bolivia) this lofty metropolis has the best-preserved historic centre in Latin America, not to mention an excellent culinary scene, vibrant nightlife and string of world-class cultural attractions.
Tiny by South American standards, Ecuador is packed with an amazing range of cultural and natural attractions; a microcosm of everything that is appealing about this fascinating continent. Tucked between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador outdoes its heavyweight neighbours because of, rather than despite, its size. In a single day you could take an early morning safari in the Amazon, drive up through a valley of active volcanoes and past verdant cloud forest before winding down to the Pacific coast in time for a seafood dinner.
It's Ecuador's natural beauty that draws in the crowds. Whether you explore it on two wheels or four hooves; on a surfboard, raft or kayak , Ecuador is a joy to get to know.
Bisected by the equator (hence the name), Ecuador is divided into three distinct regions-- Costa, Sierra and Oriente. In addition, Ecuador controls the Galapagos Islands, a wildlife-rich archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution.