QUICK GUIDE ECUADOR

Ecuador is a privileged destination for having a magnificent geography: starting in the Andes region where the Middle of the World and the magnificent Avenue of the Volcanoes are located, followed by the Amazon, the most megadiverse place on the planet per square kilometer. In its Pacific Coast we find the Sun Route with beautiful and extensive beaches covered with palm trees, where we witness the natural spectacle with humpback whales and the enchanting golden sunsets in its mangrove forests but it is until we reach the Galapagos Archipelago, where we discover the true jewel of the country, not for nothing served as a place of inspiration for the Theory of Evolution. These idyllic places and many more are part of what is called the country of the 4 worlds.

1. The Coast: Getting to know the jewels of the Spondylus Route
   • Guayas: Guayaquil and the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve.
   • Santa Elena: Salinas and Montañita beaches.
   • Manabí: Puerto López, Machalilla National Reserve and Canoa beach.
   • Esmeraldas: Cayapas Mataje Mangrove Ecological Reserve and the beaches near Esmeraldas.
2. Andean Highlands – Touring the Avenue of the Volcanoes and the northern, central and southern areas of the Andes.
   • Imbabura: Otavalo market.
   • Pichincha: Quito City and cloud forest in Mindo
   • Cayambe Volcano (1st stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes).
   • Nearby Attraction-Napo: Papallacta
   • Antisana Volcano (2nd stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi National Park
   • Cotopaxi Volcano (3rd stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Los Ilinizas Volcano (4th stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Quilotoa Volcano (5th stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Tungurahua: City of Baños, Swing of the end of the world and Pailón del Diablo
   • Tungurahua Volcano (6th stop of the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Chimborazo: Devil’s Nose
   • Chimborazo Volcano (7th stop of the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • El Altar Volcano (8th stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Nearby Attraction -Morona-Santiago: Sangay Volcano (Last stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes)
   • Cañar: Ingapirca Archaeological Complex
   • Azuay: City of Cuenca and the Panama Hat
   • Loja: Vilcabamba- Sacred Valley of Longevity
3. Amazon Rainforest- Discovering the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
   • Napo: Tena
   • Orellana and Pastaza: Yasuní National Park.
   • Sucumbíos: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
4. Galapagos Islands-Knowing the place of inspiration for Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
   • Emblematic species of the National Park and Marine Reserve
   • Main islands and their attractions

We start in Guayaquil, better known as the Pearl of the Pacific, it is the most important port of the country and serves as the starting point for many of the itineraries that have the purpose of touring the famous route of Spondylus or Route of the Sun (between the provinces of Guayas, Santa Elena, Manabi and Esmeraldas) perfect for adventure tourism such as surfing and diving or for those who enjoy the explorations also have nature reserves with easy access. It is from Guayaquil where some people also prefer to connect their trips to the Galapagos Islands since with only a short direct flight of 1 hour and a half they can reach them. Without a doubt it is a destination worth visiting even if it is a full day and walk its cobblestone streets with more than 400 years of history, Seminario Park where iguanas are on the loose, Malecon 2000, Torre Morisca, Malecon del Salado, Parque Histórico de Guayaquil among others.

For those who enjoy nature and do not want to travel far away, you can access the Ecological Reserve Manglares Churute, a perfect destination just 1 hour from Guayaquil, ideal for those who enjoy bird watching and where you can find species such as mallard ducks, ducklings, coots and the emblematic bird of the reserve: canclones.

Leaving from the city of Guayaquil following the Via a la Costa to 2 hours drive you reach the resort of Salinas where we find charming places like Chipipe beach with calm waters unbeatable for water activities for families such as jet skis, tubing, sailing and parasailing. Another beach that stands out is San Lorenzo, excellent for surfing due to its big waves but with a medium level of difficulty. Just a few minutes away is Punta Carnero beach, which has been chosen on several occasions as the site of national and international surfing competitions.

Entering the Spondylus Route, Montañita is only an hour and a half from Salinas. It is the national capital of surfing and perhaps one of the best beaches of the entire coast of Ecuador for this type of activity. It is for this reason that every month of carnival (February) is home to international surfing competition thanks to its high waves reaching a high difficulty level. Montañita, is a very nice and relaxed place with a multicultural atmosphere and perfect for vacation. Its high season for tourism is January and its low season is in June. Water sports that attract more tourists and locals to Montañita are bodyboarding, diving and windsurfing.

Arriving in the province of Manabi we recommend stopping in Puerto Lopez especially in the months of June to October mating season of the famous humpback whales and witness and enjoy this natural spectacle.

It is also here where the Isla de la Plata or “little Galapagos”, the beaches Horno de Pan, Los Frailes and Las Viudas are located within the Machalilla National Reserve ideal for diving in crystal clear and warm waters.

It is recommended to stop in Canoa, a small beach town located in the province of Manabi where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by the sound of the waves perfect for surfing. It is a humble but ideal destination for those who want to get involved in the culture and at the same time meet people from all over the world.

At the end of this wonderful Spondylus Route we arrive at the province of Esmeraldas, rich for its lively Afro-Ecuadorian culture and for its natural scenery that makes us vibrate for that intense green color due to its lush vegetation of mangrove forests in the Ecological Reserve Manglares Cayapas Mataje near the city and for its beautiful and fertile beaches such as Tonsupa, Esmeraldas, Muisne, Atacames, Súa, Same and Cojimíes where they are perfect for all kinds of activities such as water sports, and to enjoy the exquisite local cuisine.

The northern zone of the Andes we find Otavalo in the province of Imbabura that allows visitors to quietly enjoy the many attractions: its natural beauty in the fantastic crater-lake Cuicocha, its culture and ancestral traditions, in the indigenous village of Peguche, where textiles are woven on ancient shuttle looms, or in the town of Cotacachi, an entire city dedicated to fine leather products. Finally, don’t miss the famous Otavalo market full of typical ponchos, wool goods, tapestries, sweaters, Indian jewelry and many handicrafts.

We arrive in the province of Pichincha epicenter of countless experiences and from where the wonderful journey along the Avenue of the Volcanoes begins! It is here where Quito is located, the gateway to the country and the capital of Ecuador where we find Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and one of the best preserved colonial cities in the world.

The ornate Church and Convent of San Francisco, of the first order installed in Quito, built on a pre-Inca settlement. Its interior is a sample of the Renaissance, Mudejar and Quiteño Baroque style with a majestic choir and beautiful dome.

La Compañía de Jesús Church is considered the jewel of the Historic Center of the city and one of the greatest expressions of baroque architecture in the world.

The Plaza de la Independencia is both a nucleus of urban planning and development and a nexus of Ecuadorian society, since around it are the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral of Quito and the Municipal Palace. In the center of the square, stands the monument in honor of the independence of the colony, built in marble and bronze in 1906.

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, located at 0°0 ‘0 latitude very close to the city of Quito. This attraction is a tribute to the French Geodesic Mission that at the end of the XVIII century, determined with precision the place where the equinoctial line passes.

In addition to the above mentioned sites in the center of the city, there are many places of interest outside Quito. One of these is just 2 hours from the first stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes at the Cayambe refuge where the Cayambe Volcano, the third highest of the entire route, is located.

Also just 2 hours from the city you will reach the protected reserve of the primary cloud forest of Mindo, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. The great variety of plants and animals make this place a wonder to behold for all who visit with its more than 14,000 hectares of the reserve that converge species from the Amazon, the Chocó rainforest and the Andes. It is primarily known as a birding paradise with more than 500 recorded bird species, including the famous Andean Cock of the Rock, quetzals, tanagers, toucans and motmots. It is also beautiful to observe the dozens of species of orchids and butterflies while walking through the forest.

Although it is true that Napo belongs to the Amazon region, it is important to consider it here because just a few minutes from Quito you can reach the Cayambe-Coca Reserve, a favorite of visitors because it has many attractions: the moorlands and hot springs, wildlife and the large number of pristine lakes in the area.

Papallacta, located just outside the park’s southern border, is surrounded by some 60 lakes. It also has a large number of hot springs, which originate from the twin-topped, snow-capped Antisana volcano! This volcano is the second stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes route.

The impressive Cotopaxi Volcano with a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft) above sea level, one of the most known and expected landmarks on the Avenue of the Volcanoes for being the second highest, is located within the National Park that bears its name. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in Ecuador. This is the third stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

Within this same park is Los Ilinizas Volcano with two summits and the fourth stop of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The summit of Iliniza Sur is the highest with an elevation of 5,263 meters.

Product of a volcanic eruption more than 800 years ago, the Quilotoa lagoon located at 4,000 meters above sea level is considered one of the most impressive landscapes of Ecuador. This extinct volcano is famous for its vibrant turquoise waters that rest at the bottom of the ancient caldera 400 m deep. Quilotoa offers visitors several routes of varying levels of difficulty. This volcano is the fifth on the Avenue of the Volcanoes route.

Arriving in the central Andes, the picturesque town of Baños de Agua Santa, known locally by its nickname Baños, is located amidst steep slopes and beautiful waterfalls at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano, from where the hot springs that give it its name emerge. Its center deserves a stop on any itinerary. From the Plaza Mayor, admire its traditional buildings and visit the historic Basilica of the Queen of the Rosary of Agua Santa. On the way out, take a stroll through the streets of the city, observe the comings and goings of its inhabitants and take the opportunity to taste a variety of typical sweets of the Ecuadorian highlands, including the famous melcochas.

On the road to Baños in the direction of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle, is the Route of the Waterfalls where the Pailon del Diablo is located, whose name is adopted to the shape of its rock, which seen from the suspension bridge resembles the face of the devil. To closely observe the impressive waterfall, surrounded by subtropical vegetation and orchids you have to descend a few minutes, the trail is of medium difficulty. You can also appreciate the strength and roar of the waters from a viewpoint without having to descend.

La Casa del Arbol in Baños Ecuador is one of the most shared places on social networks, Columpio del fin del mundo. Strategically located strategically facing the Tungurahua volcano on a steep hill over a drop of more than 2000 meters.

At 5,016 meters high, Tungurahua Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador! It is the sixth on the route of the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve is home to this 6,310-meter giant, the highest in Ecuador and the highest volcano in the world when measured from the center of the earth. It is the seventh stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

The greatest complication faced in the construction of the trans-Andean railroad was the Nariz del Diablo, a mountain with almost perpendicular walls. To overcome this obstacle, a zigzag railroad was a lump that climbs more than 500 meters in less than 12 km with steep ascents and descents.Considered an engineering marvel in its day, this train ride is still spectacular.

The penultimate stop on the Avenue of the Volcanoes is also here with the dormant El Altar Volcano, better known as the Sublime Hill because its crater is the most beautiful in Ecuador.

We deviate a little from the Andes looking towards the jungle to culminate the tour of the Avenue of the Volcanoes with the last Sangay Volcano, which shows a perfect cone in an ideal setting between the Sierra and the Amazon.

This fascinating complex, whose stone structures surround the prominent circular temple worshiping the sun is actually an Inca observatory and fortress making it the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador. It was built with perfectly carved stones and joined with natural mortar, this temple served for ceremonies and rituals of the Cañari-Inca culture although it also had strategic-military purposes.