Ecuador travel guide

In the weekend this little mountain town (1800m) turns into a funtown for local tourists, who pour in to fill up the concrete hot springs and karaoke bars. In the rest of the week it is a bit more quiet, where adventure seeking backpackers can get an adrenalin fix. Anything from whitewater rafting to horseback riding, jungle trips and downhill mountain biking all the way down to the Amazon are being offered. Adding to the thrill is the town's location, which is on the lower slope of one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, the Tungurhua volcano (5,023 m). A big erupted in 1999 forced an evacuation of Baños. Today Tungurahue is still active and is occasional belching smoke and lava out of it's cavity. It can be quite a terrifying experience to see (and hear) one, but cloudy weather will often obstruct the view.

Sometimes when travelling, it can seem a bit like a church is a church is a church. But every once and a while, there is a special one to visit. Such is the case of the Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío, in the village of Biblian. The church seems more like a fairy-tale castle than a place of worship. Not only is the architecture atypical, but the hillside setting give it a sense of almost military strategics. Possibly the best part of a visit are the charmingly horrible loud speakers which blast nearly inaudible hymns. It makes the odd building into an even stranger experience as the wonder of the place is almost transformed into a low-budget concert.

Superstition can be powerful. When mixed with religion you get some amazing, and sometimes odd things. In El Quiche, a satellite suburb of Quito, one of these odd traditions take place. 7 days a week (busiest on the weekends) Quito-ites drive to the tiny town, with its miracle granting 'church', in order to have their newly purchased car blessed by a priest. While the idea itself can seem quite odd to some people, it seems commonplace to locals who line up (sometimes for hours) to ensure a happy ride and a long life. It's not much of a show, but what the tradition lacks in grandeur it makes up for in quirkiness. The perfect getaway for those looking for something just a little bit different.

The volcano Chimborazo (6,310 m) is not only the highest mountain in Ecuador, but the summit is also the farthest point from center of Earth. It is inactive and can be scaled year round on a climbing tour. In the summer when the snow has receded and only the ice cap at the summit is left, it is possible to drive all the way up to the first refugio at 4,800 m. Even if you are not planning to climb Chimborazo, it is worth taking the journey out there for the surroundings are beautiful rough Andes highlands with grazing vicuñas (a kind of llama).

Cotopaxi's prefect shaped, snow-capped cone has made it the most famous volcano in Ecuador. Though the height is impressive 5,897 m, it is only the second highest summit in the country after volcano Chimborazo (6,310 m). Though Cotopaxi is still considered active (last eruption was in 1975), the summit is a very popular climbing peak that can be reached by altitude fit people in company with a mountain guide and suitable gear.

With comfortable year round temperatures, ever improving infrastructure and countless beautifully restored historical building, the UNESCO listed city of Cuenca has certainly caught the eye of retired expats around the world. But for the average travellers, Cuenca is simply a quaint town with a wonderful Old Town. While individual building may not be as big as those in Quito, they are arguably more ornate and intricate. Not to mention Cuenca is much more laid back than the country's capital. There's also the added bonus of some cool day-trips to ruins or national parks. Cuenca seems to have it all going for it.

Free is a good price. Easy is (often) the right amount of effort. And awesome is an excellent standard. Put all three together and you get the wonderful El Cajas National Park. One of the most easily accessible parks in Ecuador, El Cajas is a short hop from the town of Cuenca, using public transport. Despite having to register in the park (for safety), getting free maps and birding guides and having the best marked trail system in the country, El Cajas still does not charge an entrance fee. With some 270 lakes and lagoons at 3,100-4,450 meters above sea level, the 285 km² park has plenty of opportunity for short walks, extended hikes and multi-day camping expeditions. And the only other visitors you'll have to share the place with are a few wandering llamas. Easily one of the best parks in the country.

How cool is it to cross equator?... Well, not very much for you will hardly noticed it. Luckily Ecuador has a handful of monuments that will remind you of the fact that Equator goes through the country. Most of the monuments does not actually lies on the Equator, which of course have only given risen to disrepute and contempt from the ones that actually does. The Cayamba Solar Clock does actually lies right on the Equator line (we checked with GPS) and you can even observe the fact twice a year, when the sun is vertical over equator, with their orange solar clock. Interesting there exists an ancient Equator monument on Catequilla mountain, which is precisely on the Equator line... way better than the most famous monument, "Mitad del Mundo", which is off by several hundred meters.

This piece of road is the hidden gem of road trips in Ecuador. From the soft rolling hills surrounding Riobamba, it will lead you up into the mountains, through patched farmland and rugged villages. When the peaks turn hard and pointy, the road will cling to the mountainside, while winding its way to the pristine alpine lakes of Atillo at 3,500 m. From here it rolls down to the Amazon basin through the lush Sangay National Park, with spectacular views over the forest canopy and with waterfalls in the distance. This is the "real shit", so if you thought the touristy trip from Baños to Puyo was pretty, this rough journey will knock your socks off.

Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique wildlife, which was the inspiration source for Darwin. But what will strike you the most are not the differences between the species on each island, but the fearless attitude the animals have. Due to the lack of serious predators the animals will hardly lift an eyebrow when visitors go ashore. You will get really close to iguanas, sea lions, tortoises and birds, though the crabs seem a bit shy. If not careful, you can easily end up stepping on the wildlife. All the islands offer different wildlife experiences, but a visit to islands like Santa Cruz (main island), Espanola, Floreana (both part of the southern loop) and North Seymour (part of the northern loop) will give you a good taste of this truly unique place. Though any visit to the Galapagos Islands will be pricey, it will be totally worth it.