Ecuador

Ecuador Travel Guide

Active volcanoes, the Galapagos Islands, colonial cities, bustling ports, exquisite beaches, wildlife reserves and tropical rainforest, it's amazing how much can fit into such a small country. Ecuador is jam-packed with things to do and places to see from the Amazon Basin to the Pacific shores. If you're not sure what you want to do on your next luxury vacation, come to Ecuador and you can do it all.

Ecuador is a traveler's dream, it allures the thrill-seeker, sun-worshipper, romantic, culture guru and nature lover. Starting in the north are some of Ecuador's most beautiful beaches stretching along the Pacfic, fringed by tropical wet forests. Try a ceviche while soaking up the sun in Esmeraldas and you'll never want to leave.

Move inland into the Andes Highlands where you'll find active volcanoes, thermal baths and a wealth of wildlife scattered across the sierra. Ecuador's capital Quito sits on the staggering slopes of Pichincha, an active volcano. Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage City, is a testament to Ecuador's colonial past with incredible architecture, stunning catedrals, breathtaking monuments like El Pancecillo and streets that thrive with Ecuador's vibrant culture.

The feverish rainforest of the Amazon basin spills onto Ecuador's eastern Andean foothills. The lush vegetation is home to a diverse population of wildlife and eco-friendly luxury safari resorts. You can feast your eyes on monkeys, birds, caimans, birds, fascinating plants and more birds.

Other hotspots in Ecuador include Cuenca, another UNESCO World Heritage site with fantastic colonial architecture. Just outside Cuenca is the adventure traveler's haven Baños, a gorgeous, verdant town hugged by jungles, thermal baths, waterfalls, volcanoes and spectacular trails. Salinas is a glittery beach resort along Ecuador's southern coast and surfers need look no further than Montañita. And last, but certainly not least, are the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador's wilderness of an archipelago floating in the Pacific. Largely undeveloped and unspoiled, the Galapagos Islands can feel like the last place on earth with fearless wildlife and plants seen nowhere else on Earth. You may not be able to swim on giant turtles, but you can definitely go snorkeling and scuba diving in the turquoise water among fascinating fish and vibrant sealife.

Ecuador local information

Time Zone

UTC-5

Language

Spanish

Currency

US dollar (USD)

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	Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards 2009″ revealed Travel + Leisure magazine recently revealed the winners of the annual World's Best Awards. Surveying discerning travelers worldwide, Travel+Leisure's top winners reveal the favorite luxury vacation spots for 2009, from exciting cities to relaxing beaches, intimate boutique hotels to extravagant luxury resorts, the World's Best Awards covers every angle.
	Luxury travel trends for 2010 revealed Discerning travelers and luxury travel professionals have recently revealed their predictions for luxury travel trends for 2010 and the future. Naming everything from niche luxury cruises to personalized adventure travel in undiscovered regions, industry professionals have contributed their ideas about the future of luxury travel in a recent Paradizo survey.
	Sanctuary Retreats offers special vacation deals for the Galapagos Specialist luxury travel operator Sanctuary Retreats has some fantastic offers for children and single travellers wishing to visit the Galapagos this year. The luxury travel specialist is offering special prices for travelers aboard the M.V. Eclipse, Sanctuary's fine expedition vessel in the Galapagos.

Luxury Travel Suppliers serving Ecuador

	Andes Traveler Services: Ultimate Experiences & Tours Service Areas: Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru Andes Traveler is specifically designed for the sophisticated, whose objective when traveling is to experience the very best. Not content with the mundane or pre-packaged itineraries, you actively [...]
	andBEYOND Services: Camps & Lodges Service Areas: India, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador [...] andBEYOND is committed to providing world-class experiences for discerning luxury adventure travellers in some of the most spectacular natural locations in the world. A journey with us is an adventure [...]
	World Leaders Travel Services: Ultimate Experiences & Tours Service Areas: Australia, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Ecuador [...] World Leaders Travel specializes in creating extraordinary educational travel events defined by a compelling combination of experts, access, and insight. Under the banner "Explore the world with the [...]