Ecuador is a very diverse country and there is something for everyone. At the same
time Ecuador is a small country, tiny compared to a country like Brazil and getting
around is relatively straightforward. The roads range from bad to terrible but the short distances
to travel between places make the trips usually pleasant.
Anita and Emily at the Inca ruins in Cuenca
If you like cities, a great choice of food, stunning architecture, don't want to
travel too far from Vilcabamba and don't mind a slightly colder climate than Loja,
there is no better place than Cuenca, also known as "The Athens of South America".
We will definitely make a point of writing about Cuenca in the nearest possible
future.
For city lovers, there are of course also Quito, the capital city and Guayaquil,
the largest city, both much larger than Cuenca.
If you like ocean and beaches, the Ecuadorian coast offers ample choice of destinations
and of course, there is the ultimate ocean destination, the Galapagos. We haven't
been to the Galapagos yet but we have been to la isla de la Plata, near Puerto Lopez,
nicknamed: "the Galapagos of the poor" because it offers some of the same fauna
and flora for much less dinero.
National Park Machalilla near Puerto Lopez (Playas Las Frailes)
Piquero patas azules (isla de la Plata)
The Orient (jungle) is a truly unique experience and one can get a taste of it without
committing oneself too much by simply going for a day or two to Zamora (see our
neighbouring towns section), or better to Puyo or Tena. Of course, the real deep
jungle experience requires more time and effort as the real exotic destinations
are usually not accessible by car or by bus.
Dance performances in Tena
There is so much more: active volcanoes, lakes, glaciers, caves, you name it.
In this guide, we will cover some of the highlights of our own journeys, without
trying to be comprehensive or objective, rather trying to be interesting.
Guayaquil