If you want to know the history of a place, visit its monuments.

Quito along its central streets gives you a clear reminder of what was its history and the vestiges of what was the colonial art still standing in a city that is modernizing and growing more and more.

If you are a lover of art and historical architecture, Quito is the ideal place to marvel at every piece of art you will find here. Starting with the Company of Jesus church, which is considered one of the most important expressions of baroque architecture in the Americas and even the world. Entering this church is to be amused by the details of gold leaf with this church is decorated in its entirety. Other architectural attractions go to the hands of the majesty of Basilica del Voto Nacional. The largest Basilica in Ecuador is a neo-Gothic style from where the Gargoyles and Acroteras rise imposing and are part of the mystery and charm of this construction. Also, without neglecting the memory of the local fauna because on the roofs you can see, blue-footed boobies, armadillos, howler monkeys, and others. Each image on the wall of the Basilica relates scenes from the life of Jesus; the most striking of these scenes is that they were recreated in a typical flora of Ecuador. However, the city tour is more than only churches since many of the streets to visit still maintain their stone floors that are a reminder of our history. In these streets sits a traditional Quito street, “La Ronda” where you can enjoy the traditions and taste of typical products such as mistelas, “Empanadas de Viento”, etc; And why not, it is also the ideal place to have a glass of wine with all the atmosphere of this city. Leaving towards the northern part of the city, you will find the monument “Mitad del Mundo” which is a representation of what was the French-Canadian expedition to determine where half of the world is. In this small city, you will find museums, handicraft stores of Ecuador, and the possibility of visiting Catequilla, which is the original location of half of the world where you can test the polarity of balancing an egg on a nail.

Quito is a perfect place to enjoy the modernism of the capital of Ecuador and the historical monuments, squares, churches, museums, and more, where you can marvel at the art and friendliness of the Quiteños. 

Mindo is a true natural paradise, which amazes by its beauty and offers a great variety of activities to do. If you are a lover of biodiversity, warm zones, with a lot of birds, amphibians, plants, and adventure sports, Mindo is the perfect place to visit either with friends, couple, family or alone. This cloud forest located on the Ecuadorian coast-highlands has an air of the Amazon and offers a mixture of the three regions of Ecuador. Mindo offers extreme experiences, so if you are a fan of pure adrenaline, you will love to know all the adventure options you may do here. Best of all a tour full of outdoor experiences, fun, and adventure is guaranteed. From visits to the local butterfly farm where you can enjoy the colors of these beautiful specimens knowing their life process from birth is an experience, you cannot miss. Mindo also has an excellent climate suitable for the growth of orchids of various types; in the orchidarium of Mindo, you can see at least 200 species of orchids some in their flowering stage (not all bloom at the same time of year). Here you can also hike in the cloud forest to see birds, it is believed that about 465 species of birds live in this area around 350 species are native to Mindo; being the most commonly sighted hummingbirds and aracari, while among the most difficult to see and with a little luck even the cock of the rock with bright red and orange colors, it is believed that only inhabits this area. past few years Mindo has also focused on the production of cocoa so you can visit a chocolate factory that offers the experience of making chocolate in two hours you will learn about the processes that the cocoa goes through to become a delicious chocolate bar that you can taste and perhaps venture to buy bars with exotic flavors such as chocolate with passion fruit, or salt beans or lemon verbena. Enjoy a natural paradise where the activities you will be able to enjoy will be a wonderful memory worth sharing.

Otavalo little by little has become one of the most popular places in the north of Ecuador. The cultural heritage that the Otavaleños have jealously preserved, enriched with millenary traditions passed from generation to generation, legends, and customs, all this among wonderful landscapes of great beauty, large lagoons, mountains, and volcanoes surrounding this town makes Otavalo a great place to visit. Otavaleños believe mountains and lagoons have life and energy, that is why they respect them. One of the main attractions of this colorful town is the Otavaleños indigenous people themselves proud of their cultural heritage, that is why they maintain their traditional dresses, men wear a blue poncho, white shirt, and white pants to half leg, hat, and hair combed in a long braid.  Women wear embroidered blouses, skirts, and blue shawls plus several strings of gold necklaces and red bracelets. Both men and women wear a type of sandal called “Alpargata”.  The Otavaleños are skilled weavers who gather in the Otavalo market to offer their weavings, an activity they have done in the same way for centuries. In this market you can find; ponchos, shawls, blankets, handbags, and jewelry, this market where you can buy souvenirs is the ideal place to see the mix of culture between the contemporary, and the Otavaleños that struggles to maintain itself over the years without losing its essence.  In addition to the culture, Otavalo has wonderful lagoons that you can visit, each lagoon is different from the other being the best known San Pablo lagoon, Yaguarchocha, and Cuicoha, being the latter one of the most striking as is a volcanic caldera with two islets in the center that can be visited with a boat. This lagoon is usually the meeting point for the natives to perform shamanic purification rituals mainly at the end of the summer solstice since the Otavaleños consider this lagoon as sacred. Otavalo is the perfect blend of landscape and culture that you cannot miss. Surely will find a scarf or a woven purse to take with you!

Yasuní National Park is considered the jewel of biodiversity in Ecuador and is the largest national park in the country is a privileged place, a jewel of biodiversity. because of a combination of geographical, geological, meteorological, and historical factors, the rainforests of Yasuní are considered one of the most biodiverse and richest on the earth. In the majestic green carpet of Yasuní, some trees can reach 50 meters in height and with trunks of more than 1.5 meters in diameter. This paradise is home to thousands of species of shrubs and trees, a great variety of mammals, hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and unique amphibians, and in its estuaries around 200 species of fish, including piranhas. The human side of Yasuní is also full of surprises. Inside of the Yasuní inhabit the Tagaeri and Taromenane, Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation. Visiting this natural paradise will give you a very special contact with mother earth, staying in the middle of nowhere, far from the mundane noise of the big cities, breathing pure air, and witnessing how nature has adapted so that everything works in complete balance is one of the experiences that will give you amazing memorable experiences.

From the morning with the sounds of birds and monkeys crossing by your lodge, enjoying long walks through the primary forest in search of wildlife, and medicinal plants during the day and night canoe rides in search of caimans who are usually very active at night as well as many other species such as toads, snakes, etc. The visits to the Amazon will not only give you encounters with nature, but will also allow you to visit a Kichwa community who will share with you their traditions, customs, and medicinal uses of certain plants and even make you taste some typical dishes of the region such as “Maito” and yucca bread and for the more adventurous why not try the Chontacuro. Yasuní National Park is one of the places in the world that is preserved so that all generations can enjoy it. To immerse in the green of this park and enjoy the fresh air and the wonderful pictures will make your experience in Ecuador something unique.

If you talk about adventure, fun, and relaxation, you are talking about Baños de Agua Santa. 

Baños, is a beautiful town located in the province of Tungurahua. Baños has a natural beauty surrounded by majestic waterfalls and lush vegetation due to is on the edge of the Amazon which favors this type of vegetation, fast rivers, and a beautiful picturesque town to visit. Baños, is also visited for the number of activities that can be carried out such as horseback riding, rafting, hiking, and paragliding. In addition to cycling, especially following the route of the waterfalls. The Baños-Puyo road is famous because it has several waterfalls along the way. One of the main attractions and reasons for hundreds of tourists from all over the world is the Tungurahua Volcano which is one of the most active volcanoes in South America. A few minutes from Baños you can reach one of the most famous waterfalls in the sector El Pailon del Diablo with a fall of 80 meters, El Pailon del Diablo has two main entrances to the north and south. Both trails go through an area full of vegetation where different types of birds and flowers live. When you arrive at the waterfall viewpoint, it is impossible not to get wet with the force of the water coming from the waterfall; In the local cosmovision this fills the bodies with new energy coming from mother nature.

Another of the great attractions of Baños is the famous treehouse that is built on the edge of a mountain near the Tungurahua volcano, from here, you can enjoy incredible scenery and take the classic picture of yourself sitting on the swing at the end of the world. In addition, Baños has many viewpoints from which you can enjoy the beauty of Baños. You can access them by private transportation or in one of the “Chivas” typical buses adapted in a handmade way, characteristic for its great color with all the party atmosphere and fun until you reach the top of each viewpoint. Baños is a paradise for all types of travelers, families, friends, and couples because there are all kinds of activities for all types of travelers.  

Guamote is a town whose ancestral culture has been inherited from the Puruhaes, the people of Guamote have made an effort to keep their tradition alive; so they still maintain their language, dress, and respect. The most characteristic of the region is its people who still wear colorful ponchos, zamarros, scarves, and hats, which makes it a town full of color. Visiting Guamote is tonjoy of the community tourism, where you can get into the life of a community, planting in the traditional way such as these people do; tasting typical dishes of the area, or visiting an educational project that has been implemented by foreigners who want to support the progress of this small corner with classes for both adults and children in English, local music, workshops in various branches, etc.

But if it is about direct contact with the communities, the Guamote market is one of the most striking events in the region (only on Thursdays), since in this place is the meeting of people with their characteristic dress to make the purchase or exchange of products and animals in the large square, you can be present in this type of business that still prevails and marvels at the explosion of color and culture in the area.

If you want a more natural visit, near Guamote is the beautiful lagoon of Ozogoche, a quiet destination that offers a sense of tranquility, fresh air, silence, and first-hand contact with nature. Not only do its deep blue waters attract the attention of tourists but also the possibility of bird watching in this place.

The visit of Ingapirca (wall of the Inca), takes you to the best-preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador, this pre-Columbian site in the southern Andes of Ecuador is located within a unique landscape. It is a reminder that Ecuador was once under Inca rule before the Spanish conquest. Buildings of this Inca fortress were aligned taking the sun as a reference for this reason light illuminates every corner. This archaeological complex, which is relatively close to Cuenca, can be visited en route to this city.

Visiting Cuenca means marveling at every attraction at every step. Visiting corners that seem to have stopped in time, or simply enjoying the contrasts between the modern and the traditional in streets, squares, and parks is something simply unique. To be able to delve into the pulsating life of this cultural heritage of humanity with the colorful Cholas cuencanas with their flowers, the rivers running through Cuenca, taste the typical delicacies of yesteryear that can still be found in stores, and its spring aroma. Cuenca is the favorite city for many foreigners to retire.

Cuenca has unique qualities due to the preservation of its tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Its historic center is one of the best-preserved in South America and getting to know this architectural wonder is easy due to the short distances between attractions.  Here travelers will find charming details that make this city a destination with great charm: buildings with colonial or neoclassical styles; craft workshops that seem stopped in time managed by artisans who have been trained generation after generation; and a flower market considered one of the best of its kind; colorful squares that adorn spaces where nature bursts into the heart of the city.

Being surrounded by four rivers, the city presents a unique scenic beauty. Of special interest is the area along the banks of the Tomebamba River, where archaeological remains of the pre-Columbian inhabitants are found, which gives historical charm to this beautiful city. These are just a few of the attractions that can be mentioned in Cuenca, Cuenca art and culture in one point, don’t miss it!

Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, offers several touristic places worth visiting; parks, museums, and boardwalks widely visited by people who arrive to start their trip to the Andes or to the Galapagos Islands who enjoy getting into the charm of the pearl of the Pacific.

This city of art, music, and gastronomy, warm people, and brilliant sunsets offers visits to several places very striking as is the historical park of Guayaquil with a wide extension that can be traveled by tourists to discover a small part of the vegetation of the flora and fauna of the coastal area. In addition, you can take advantage of the time visiting the Santa Ana hill a beautiful tourist place that has viewpoints that allow you to see from different points the beautiful city of Guayaquil.

During this city tour, a guide will take you to the most beautiful places in the city. You will visit the famous Bolivar Park better known as the park of the iguanas, here you can find dozens of iguanas accustomed to human presence so you can make some good shots of the iguanas in this place, the beautiful Malecon 2000 and La Rotonda with the statues of Bolivar and San Martin. You will visit the colonial neighborhood of Las Peñas, a colorful traditional neighborhood that seems to have been stuck in time because of the infrastructure that has been repaired so that they do not deteriorate and maintain their old style, many of which have become recognized art galleries. From Fort Santa Ana you have a beautiful view of the city and the Guayas River, you can take a 20-minute tour through the airway that gives you an aerial perspective of the city and the contrasts that the city presents from its different points. In addition, you can enjoy the typical gastronomy of the coastal area such as Seco de Pollo, encebollado, ceviches, crabs, etc.

The pearl of the pacific is waiting for you to enjoy its climate, gastronomy, and the fun that a city like Guayaquil has to offer.

In the wonderful Galapagos Islands, one could fill pages and pages of the charms of this marvelous reserve, a paradise on earth that is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

The tours can be started either in San Cristobal Island or in Baltra Islet where the two airports that can be reached from mainland Ecuador are located. Only three islands have hotels and during a 7-day itinerary, you will be able to marvel at a part of what the charm of the Galapagos Islands has to offer.

No matter where you start your trip from, the visits will leave you in love. Santa Cruz is the most populated island, but with places that will allow you to enjoy the magic of the islands from the visit to the Fausto Llerena Station where the efforts to preserve the giant tortoises are reflected, these large reptiles that can live for hundreds of years are one of the few species left in the world and are found in these islands, passing by beaches of soft white sand contrasted with the transparent blue of the ocean waters as Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador. Where you can sunbathe while watching a small colony of marine iguanas that inhabit this island or snorkel perfect for watching rays, small colonies of fish, sharks, and turtles, or kayaking in its crystal clear waters.

We also find activities in the cracks and fissures of lava where you can swim or snorkel because the water in this place is clean and calm. From Santa Cruz, you can take daily tours to some uninhabited islands such as; North Seymour, Bartolomé, Santa Fe, South Plazas, Pinzón, Daphne, and Mosquera. Each one of these marvelous islands presents unique landscapes and unique biodiversity. Every year hundreds of scientists arrive in Galapagos to carry out their research on the entire extension of the islands. Another of the islands that are a wonderful experience is San Cristobal, whose main charm is the sea lions, mainly on Lobos Island that enjoy their freedom taking eternal rests on the sand with so much tranquility that even makes you want to join their relaxation complemented by the beautiful fauna that inhabits this island. Here we can also find more giant tortoises of a different species than those of Santa Cruz. For lovers of marine life, nothing like a tour to Leon Dormido, which owes its name to its appearance as a sleeping lion one of the most beautiful places for this activity, although its waters are relatively abundant snorkeling is best in the islands you can see everything! From swimming with sea lions and sea turtles to spotting schools of fish, sharks, and golden rays, a wonder of the underwater world. Another beautiful scenic island is the largest of the Isabela archipelago, which like all the islands has wonderful wildlife landscapes like a visit to another planet as is the area of Sierra Negra volcano, another site that is worth visiting is Tintoreras where small white tip sharks and sea turtles that are easily spotted by the transparency of the birds. The flamingos, the largest marine iguanas on the islands, giant tortoises, and the small penguins that can also be found on a visit to this beautiful island are constants of these islands. Galapagos is the icing on the cake not to be missed if you visit Ecuador!