How do you sum up an entire country? It is certainly true that Ecuador is a country of boundless diversity and extraordinary beauty. It is blessed by nature's considerable gifts: snowcapped volcanoes, sparkling blue lakes, lush emerald valleys and cool cloud forests harboring a multitude of spectacular bird and plant life.
You can travel in a day from sparkling Pacific beaches to tropical lowlands where bananas grow, to the Andes Mountains where llamas graze beneath volcanoes over 20,000 feet high and on to the edge of the mystical Amazon Basin. And don't forget those enchanting islands of scientific lore, the Galapagos. Most people don't even try to imagine such disparate-seeming parts as a whole. Indeed, it is easier to break the country down by regions and describe each separately, but we find it's not the geography that makes this country so unique, but the people you meet and the experiences you have here.
Besides natural beauty, Ecuador holds a human diversity as rich and colorful as its geographic and biological bounty. More than a dozen distinct ethnic and language groups are recognized, and in each region people practice unique customs, create their own cuisine and maintain their cultural traditions.
Those traditions are not only alive in the country's celebrations, such as Inti Raymi or the Easter processions, but in its daily comings and goings. At each little tienda, every neighborhood's answer to the local shop; people gather around and chat. Life is not frantic and rushed, but full of pauses for conversation, a local treat or a song. During these precious moments, you really experience the culture, see what life is like and live the reality that is Ecuador.
Ecuador is a small South American gem of astounding diversity, cultural richness and geographical beauty and it is also one of the countries with more tourist attractions in the world, especially for people with an adventurous spirit. It has been host to many international sports competitions thanks in part to its vast geographical diversity.
It is the perfect destination for people who enjoy a good adrenaline rush every once in a while! Ecuador offers endless possibilities for people who like adventure sports such as surfing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, rafting, mountain climbing, rock climbing, biking, hiking and many others.
Take an adventure trip around the Amazon by day and dine in a beautiful antique hacienda in the Andes mountains by night. Learn all about the various indigenous cultures, their traditions, customs, languages, typical cuisine and dress. Marvel at the spectacular diversity of animal, bird and marine life that the Galapagos Islands have to offer. Barter at one of the largest indigenous handicraft markets in South America or stroll around picturesque colonial towns home to an abundance of colonial churches and cathedrals, museums, art galleries and monasteries. If you prefer, spend some time in one of the many tranquil sandy beaches and take a dip in the cool sparkling blue ocean...
Sounds tempting? Then leave behind your work routine and rigid schedules and plan a trip with us according to your interests at a pace that suits you. You can leave all the details to us but be sure to bring your imagination-and a camera! We can arrange trips all around the country, from rafting through the Amazon river to Galapagos cruises, from trips to age-old luxury haciendas and crater lakes in the Andes to cultural city tours, hiking, biking, kayaking, shopping, walking, horseback riding, sightseeing and more.