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Colonial Cities in Ecuador
The main plaza of Cuenca

Highlands of Ecuador
The highlands of Ecuador are referred to as the Paranamo.

Tropical Rainforest of Ecuador
One of the most enchanting (and most endangered) parts of Ecuador is its tropical rainforests.

Tropical Beaches of Ecuador
Sunset at the tropical beaches of Northwestern Ecuador

Galapagos Islands
Giant Galapagos turtle

Home arrow Destinations arrow Ecuador arrow About Ecuador arrow Places To See

Places To See In Ecuador

Being such a diverse country here are many places to see in Ecuador. From colonial cities, to tropical beaches, to volcanic mountains, to thick jungle, Ecuador offers interesting sites for all travelers.

Colonial Cities

Quito is usually the starting point of most travelers to Ecuador with its international airport and is an ideal location to learn Spanish. Quito is a United Nations World Cultural Heritage Site.

Cuenca is another of four United National World Heritage Sites in Ecuador. The picturesque main plaza is a very relaxing place to get your orientation of the city.

Andes Mountains and the Highlands

Otavalo is famous for its Saturday market. In Otavalo you can find every type of local merchandise, food and even livestock for sale. The prices often double for foreigners, so be sure to negotiate before buying!

Cotopaxi Volcano is still active and you can actually climb up to the top (recommended with a guide) and repel down into the active crater! In fact, Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world.

Tropical Rainforest

The rivers that flow through the jungle of Ecuador flow directly to the Amazon River, thus is known as part of the Amazon River Basin. Because of this tributary connection, the jungle in Eastern Ecuador is referred to as part of the Amazon rainforest.

Explore the Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Beaches

Atacames on the North coast is a popular vacation spot for Ecuadorians and international tourists alike. The night life is also pretty impressive and is the main night spot for the region. Sua, nearby, is a sleepy fishing town that has a more relaxing and less crowded scene.

Manta is the capital of the Manabi province and offers an attractive beach front, great restaurants and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. Being a “large” city, there are plenty of nice places to stay, fancy restaurants and dance clubs.

Salinas is one of the most popular vacation spots for Ecuadorians. The beach front is lined with fancy hotels and seafood restaurants. In the bay you will see lots of vacationers participating in various watersports.

Galapagos Islands

Probably the most famous (and most expensive) part of the country, the islands where Darwin did his research on evolution are a natural wonder of exotic wildlife, active volcanoes and cruise ships. The wildlife on the islands is known for being very tame and often will eat out of the hands of tourists.

Live and work on the Galapagos Islands