Ecuador is the smallest of the South American Andean countries, but it is also one of the most diverse and one of the easiest and safest to visit. Ecuador offers the beautifully preserved city of Quito, secluded beaches bordering the Atlantic, remote jungle villages and Indian markets. And of course, the unique chance to stand with one foot in both hemispheres – astride the imaginary line called the equator.
Quito, the capital and second largest city is where most visitors to Ecuador begin their trip. The colonial center of Quito has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site, and is still a maze of Spanish style buildings, narrow streets and spacious plazas. The compact area is bordered by four impressive monasteries founded by the Spanish. In addition to the monasteries, there are many lovely churches, often hidden away, the most impressive is La Compania de Jesus, which has ornate gold carvings – in fact it contains over a ton of gold. The center of the colonial town is the main square known as the Plaza de Independencia; the square is surrounded by shops and restaurants as well as the Government Palace. Quito’s museums reflect the history of the country – there are museums of Amazon culture, pre-Colombian and Inca history.
North of Quito is a beautiful area of the country known as the Andean Highlands. This area offers dramatic mountain scenery, small villages and ruined Indian pyramids at Cochasqui. The main attraction here is the small town of Otalvo, which has become famous for its market, held on Saturdays. The market attracts locals, as well as tourists from miles around and you can buy anything from handmade sweaters to ponchos, to jewelry and beads. Be prepared to haggle – it’s expected. Close to Otalvo are a couple of other lesser-known towns, which are good for shopping – Cotacachi specializes in leather goods and Calderon in dolls and Christmas ornaments.
To the East of Quito is the large but sparsely populated part of the country that encompasses the Amazon River basin and the sprawling jungle. Most tourists travel here to get off the beaten track, and you should only venture here as part of a guided tour or with someone who knows the area. It’s a chance to really see some of the small local Indian tribes who live as they have for centuries; and also some spectacular wildlife – toucans, jaguars, pumas and a fascinating array of unusual spiders. Accommodation in this part of the country ranges from huts in native villages to authentic jungle lodges. There are also several national parks and reserves; the largest of which is called the Yasuni Park and offers guided tours through its diverse landscapes and eco-systems.
After Quito, the other city that is most worth visiting is Cuenca, south of Quito in an area known as the Southern Highlands. Cuenca is a beautifully preserved colonial town with cobblestone streets, dazzling white buildings and shady squares. It’s also another good town for shopping – the area is the center of the Panama hat industry, and there are also many arts and crafts shops and a weekly market.
Beach resorts don’t usually come to mind when you think of Ecuador, but the country offers secluded beaches, small resorts and deep-sea fishing all along its Pacific coastline. Because of the climate, swimming is generally pleasant year round. One of the most popular coastal towns is Bahia de Caraquez. This town, founded by the Spaniards in 1624 takes pride in being the first ‘eco-city’ in Ecuador. There are virtually no cars and there is a small environmental learning center. The area surrounding the town was a trading center for the Indians long before the Spanish came, and in the small museum you can see artifacts and wooden rafts, which were built with no nails.
Finally, the best place to ‘see’ the equator – the imaginary line that splits the earth in half - is the Middle of the World Monument, about 16 miles north of Quito. In addition to the impressive monument itself, there is a planetarium and a museum explaining how the imaginary line came to be.
