BEST THINGS TO DO IN ECUADOR

 

Despite its small size (around 110,000 square miles), Ecuador is one of the most diverse travel destinations in the world. There are so many mind-blowing things to do on an Ecuador tour, with sights, activities, and attractions to suit just about any travel style. From the Amazon River Basin and Andes Mountains to the Galapagos Islands, the country offers a wide variety of ecosystems within its borders. Their relative proximity makes it fairly easy to see a number of Ecuador’s finest natural and historical attractions in a fairly short time. Here are just some of the best things to do in Ecuador.

 

Ecuadorian Amazon Sunset

 

Visit the Mitad del Mundo Monument

 

The most popular thing to do in Quito is to visit the Equatorial Line after which the country is named. The Mitad del Mundo Monument marks the equator in Ecuador and is the most visited monument in Ecuador. You can stand in the middle of the world and also climb the trapezoid stone memorial and marvel at amazing views of the surrounding area. The actual equatorial line is actually a hundred meters north of the monument, but don´t let that spoil a nice day trip. The Mitad del Mundo Monument is located around 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) from Quito city center. 

 

Mitad del Mundo

 

Take a Day trip to Cotopaxi Volcano

If you’re short on time then the best way to visit Cotopaxi National Park is on a day trip from Quito. You can hike up Cotopaxi Volcano to the glacier if you are feeling energetic to reach the highest point in the region, being one of the highest active volcanos in the world. You can also visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon, enjoy a nice breakfast and lunch, and learn a lot about the flora and fauna of the region. With its broad, green base and graceful slopes tapering to the lip of its crater, the conical Cotopaxi is arguably the most photogenic of the country’s thirty or so volcanos, and on a clear day makes a dizzying backdrop to the stretch of highway between Quito and Latacunga.

 

Cotopaxi Volcano

 

Soak in The Papallacta Hot Springs

 

If you are looking for a break from touring the many sights of Quito, then the next thing to do in Quito is to visit The Papallacta Hot Springs. Here you can relax in beautiful surroundings and enjoy some peace and quiet. Unfortunately getting there isn’t easy so it’s best to take a tour. If tranquillity is your thing, you will want to relax and enjoy these beautiful hot springs 

 

Papallacta Hot Springs

Spot Hummingbirds in Mindo

 

Set at 1250m elevation on the western slopes of the Pichincha volcano, Mindo resembles an Alpine village transplanted to the tropics, with steep-roofed, chalet-like farmhouses punctuating its lush and beautiful landscape. No longer a secret hideaway for bird lovers, Mindo is expanding rapidly as a popular weekend escape for quiteños seeking relief from frenetic city life and the chilly climate of the Sierra. The Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve is a paradise filled with wildlife and adventure activities. In fact, the reserve has one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere on the planet! The reserve is a stunning mix of birdlife, adventure, waterfalls, and incredible hummingbird species which are one of the many highlights of the park. 

 

Shop at Otavalo Market

The Otavalo Market is a famous indigenous market in Ecuador that you can visit for a night or two, or join a day trip from Quito. At the market, you can buy lots of authentic Ecuadorian crafts but the main attraction is fabrics. Otavalo is one of the largest and most colorful handicraft markets on the continent. Every Friday afternoon, Otavalo comes to life as pick-up trucks laden with merchandise and vendors bent double under great blocks of textiles stream into town from the surrounding countryside, preparing for the fabulous Saturday market. If you can’t visit on a Saturday, note that this crafts market has become such big business that most of the town’s weaving and artisan shops stay open throughout the week.

 

Otavalo Market

Visit Laguna Quilotoa

 

This glittering green crater lake sits at the heart of the Quilotoa loop, a popular scenic diversion through the beguiling landscapes and villages of the rural central highlands. The ever-expanding tourist scene associated with the Quilotoa crater lake, includes horse rides, guided hikes, and handicraft sales which help to support the impoverished community of Quilotoa, living in the area. It’s possible to walk down to the lake from the crater’s edge following the path that starts just left of the parking area. It’s steep, and not to be undertaken lightly, but the views at the bottom are highly rewarding.

 

Marvel at Orchids

A miracle of biodiversity, Ecuador has more orchid species than any other country on Earth. Wet, green, vibrant, and extraordinarily beautiful, cloud forests feel like the prehistoric habitat of dinosaurs. Streaked by silvery waterfalls, the forests are shrouded in heavy mists for at least part of each day. It’s this humidity that creates such lush conditions, giving rise to an abundance of epiphytes, such as lichens, mosses, and ferns, which drape over the trees. Many orchids are epiphytes, preferring moss-covered branches or exposed bark to normal soil. With more than 3500 species, Ecuador is thought to have more orchids than any other country in the world.

 

Orchid, Mindo
 

Take The Nariz del Diablo Train Ride

 

Experiencing one of the world’s greatest train journeys as it descends the Andes over the “Devil’s Nose” in a sequence of thrilling switchback turns is one of the most exciting things to do in Ecuador. The train starts at Alausí, taking around two and a half hours for the return trip, including a spell in Sibambe, where you are treated to some staged traditional dancing and a small museum-cum-visitor center, and can pick up some light refreshments. Sit on the right-hand side of the train for the descent, if you can, and take the less busy 8 am journey.

 

Unique Wildlife spotting on The Galapagos Islands

The fearless creatures carving out an existence on a few scarred volcanic islands is what inspired Darwin to offer an unparalleled insight into the mechanics of nature at one of the world’s most treasured wildlife destinations. Today the Galapagos archipelago’s matchless wildlife, stunning scenery, and unique history make it arguably the world’s premier wildlife destination. The animals thrive on a dramatic volcanic landscape and have a legendary fearlessness which results in close-up encounters that are simply not possible anywhere else on the planet. Witnessing first-hand the mating dance of the blue-footed booby and snorkeling with sea lions, turtles, penguins, and sharks are just a couple of the unforgettable experiences that await you. Follow in Charles Darwin's footsteps with a compact tailor-made trip to the Galapagos Islands. Spot the giant tortoise, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions, all in their natural habitat, lounging and feeding as you walk or swim by.

 

Giant Tortoise, Santa Cruz, Galapgos

Head out Whale Watching

The heart-stopping sight of a 36-tonne humpback breaching and flopping back into the ocean amid towers of spray can be experienced between June and September, when they come to the Ecuadorian coast to breed. The best place for whale watching in Ecuador is the Machalilla National Park, located on the Pacific coast. Visitors can take boat tours from the town of Puerto Lopez to see humpback whales, as well as other marine life such as dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds. Some tour operators also offer the possibility of swimming with the whales, but this is only for experienced swimmers and under a guide's supervision.

 

 

Marvel at Ingapirca Archaeological Site

 

Perched on a hillside overlooking the serene pastoral countryside, Ecuador’s best-preserved Inca ruins exhibit the fine stonemasonry and trapezoidal doorways that were the hallmarks of the empire’s architecture. Though maybe not as dramatic or well preserved as the Inca remains in Peru, Ingapirca is nonetheless an impressive site that certainly deserves a visit, if only to witness the extraordinary mortarless stonework for which the Incas are renowned.

 

Ingapirca Ruins

Baños

Whether it’s nibbling on the local specialty, melcocha (a sticky toffee made in shop doorways), wallowing in thermal baths, or hiking, biking, or rafting in the surrounding countryside, you will find plenty of things to do in Ecuador in this charming spa town. At 1820m above sea level, Baños enjoys a mild, almost subtropical climate and a spectacular location, nestled among soaring green hills streaked with waterfalls. Baños is one of the most visited destinations in the country, despite the unpredictable condition of the Tungurahua volcano towering above the town to the south. Indeed, Tungurahua’s unpredictability is something of a draw in itself, with tourists flocking to high vantage points on cloudless nights to watch it spit lava and igneous rocks into the sky like fireworks.

 

Extreme Swing, Baños

Find out more about tours of Ecuador to visit these incredible sights here!