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Travel guide in Ecuador: the best places and cities of the country.

Ecuador

It has often been said that Ecuador reflects all of South America in one country, with its magnificent Andean spine lined with a staggering 30 volcanoes, Amazon rainforest, colonial cities, colourful Indian markets, an Incan heritage, and a lovely coast.
Ecuador also has something all its own - the Galapagos Islands, far out into the Pacific.
Ecuador spans four vastly different worlds. From the endless reaches of the Amazon, to the breathtaking beauty of the Andes, to the pristine stretches of the Coast and the legendary Galapagos Islands – each region boasts a unique landscape, ecosystem and culture. Nowhere else on earth can visitors experience such extreme diversity in one country. And because Ecuador is only the size of Nevada (United States), it’s possible to see it all in just one trip!
Only in Ecuador can a traveler climb the tallest active volcano in the world, kayak the rapids of the Amazon rainforest, crisscross the Equatorial line on horseback, surf tropical Pacific swells along a Pre-Incan archeological site (Chirije), and swim with penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and harmless whale sharks – all in one trip!
Baños
Baños
Cuenca
Cuenca
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Manta
Manta
Otаvalo
Otаvalo
Quito & Cotopaxi Volcano
Quito & Cotopaxi Volcano

Tours to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, choose a tour according to the parameters

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Choose the country, route duration, budget, type and subject of your future tour. Pay attention to our regular combined programs for several countries

Ecuador has about 30 major cities

The cities of Ecuador

The most famous tourist places and cities of Ecuador are the capital of Quito, the city of Guayaquil, the Cotopaxi volcano, the souvenir market in Otavalo, the colorful Riobamba, the capital of tuna Manta and the Galapagos Islands.

Baños
Baños
Cuenca
Cuenca
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Manta
Manta
Otаvalo
Otаvalo
Quito & Cotopaxi Volcano
Quito & Cotopaxi Volcano

Excursions in Ecuador with a licensed Russian or English guide

Excursions

We know the most interesting corners of Ecuador - from cruises in the Galapagos to streets with majestic buildings of the colonial era in Kyoto or Guayaquil, to the conquest of domestic volcanoes. Bright noisy markets with authentic goods, canoeing on the Amazon, fishing for piranhas. We will develop for you an original route on any of your requests!

Reminder of Ecuador for travellers

It's useful to know

- Galapagos Islands, swim between the most colourful fish and harmless sharks.
- Cuenca, the third largest city with a great nightlife
- Quito, the colonial capital with amazing architecture
Ecuador, about equal in area to Nevada, is in the northwest part of South America fronting on the Pacific. To the north is Colombia and to the east and south is Peru. Two high and parallel ranges of the Andes, traversing the country from north to south, are topped by tall volcanic peaks. The highest is Chimborazo at 20,577 ft (6,272 m). The Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, west of the South American mainland, became part of Ecuador in 1832.
The official Language is Spanish. Other Indian languages are: quechua shimi. Minor Indian nations also speak awapit, cha´palachi, tsafiqui, paicoca, a´ingae, huaotirio, shuar-chichan and záparo.
Since 2000 $ US Dollar has been used as local currency
There is really no ideal time to go if you're planning to see more than one area of Ecuador, because the climate varies according to region. The rainy season is October-April in the Sierra (with April the wettest month) and January-April on the coast. The coastal rainy season coincides with the warmest water currents for swimming, surfing or (in the Galapagos) snorkeling, and these are the most popular months on the coast. The June-September dry season is the most popular in the highlands: This coincides with the wettest months in the Oriente, when roads may be washed out.
Before the Spanish introduced cattle, the favored meat in Ecuador was guinea pig. It's still an Ecuadorian delicacy. It is said to be tasty and sweet, something like a cross between a chicken and a rabbit. With its abundance of seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, the best cuisine in Ecuador is found on the coast. The greatest glory of the coastal cuisine is ceviche, which is fresh fish or shellfish marinated using various recipes combining lime or lemon, chili, onions, coriander and perhaps other spices.
Typical alcoholic Ecuadorian drinks include various fruit concoctions made with a powerful sugar cane spirit as a base.
The history of pre-Inca Ecuador is lost in a misty tangle of time and legend, and the earliest historical details date back only as far as the 11th century AD. Pizarro reached the country in 1532 and spread terror among the Indians thanks to his conquistadors' horses, armor and weaponry. Today, only one intact Inca site remains in Ecuador - Ingapirca, to the north of Cuenca. Despite its history of internal rivalry and border conflicts, life in Ecuador has remained peaceful in recent years, and it is at present one of the safest countries to visit in South America.
There is freedom of religion in Ecuador. Approximately 90% of the people are Catholic. Indian nations, most of whom are Catholic due to Spanish colonization, mingle Catholic rites with their own vision of the cosmos.
Ecuador's pre-Columbian peoples excelled in pottery, painting, sculpture, and gold and silver work. The Spaniards trained indigenous artists to produce colonial religious art, which can be seen in many churches and museums.
Local crafts include fine examples of basketry, leather work, woodcarving, weaving, ceramics and jewelry.
The Pacific coast of Ecuador is known for the amor fino, a kind of popular song, as well as a variety of dance music. Pasillo, pasacalle and yarabi are popular folk dances. El pasacalle is a form of dance music, while the sentimental el yarabi is probably the most popular form in Ecuador.
The indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian highlands are largely ritual or ceremonial, with many wind instruments like the guaramo horn, and the pifano and pinkullo flutes.
A grassland environment called paramo is found at 3,300m of altitude. Annimals you can find here are rare mountain tapirs, spectacled bears, white-tailed deer, rabbits, the Andean fox and pumas. Birds include the Andean condor and numerous hummingbird species. The amazing rainforest has many reptiles, large predators, such as the anaconda and the caiman plus lizards, iguanas, geckos and tortoises. There are hundreds of birds including parrots, macaws and the harpy eagle. Among the insects are several hundred species of butterflies including the blue Morpho. In the waters you can find the infamous piranhas, stingrays, electric eels and some huge catfish.

Vacation in Ecuador

Discover Ecuador with Ada Tours Tour Operator!

Ada Tours travel agency would be happy to plan your unforgettable journey through Ecuador and the Galapagos islands, as well as excursions to the best sites around the country. Tours to mainland Ecuador in Quito, climbing the Cotopaxi volcano, the city of Guayaquil and the Amazon jungle.