DISCOVERD SURPRISING ECUADOR
A BEAUTY OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES VARIETY AND AUTHENTICITY

Discovery

Haven of peace, is in hiding of legend, “Ecuador” hides behind him, a fabulous natural treasure which is visited! The country profits from an exceptional location between Colombia and Peru. Its wonders will guarantee to you without any doubt a single stay in its kind! In this country of dreamed, you will discover its charming cities where you will be vis-a-vis a long-lived Indian culture. With a tropical climate, Ecuador shelters an incomparable, abundant and varied fauna and a flora. From its valleys of volcanos, you will be certainly moved by the astonishing pallet by landscapes, the wealth of nature, cultures and especially by the spectacular sights.

Identity

In spite of its small – its surface represents only half of that of France –, Ecuador offers to its visitors a large variety of landscapes and activities. You will be able indeed as well to plunge on a tour of seabeds of Galápagos, to be stretched out on a beach of the Pacific Coast, to leave to the meeting the natives who live in the middle of the Amazon forest, to climb a volcano or to visit the historic center of the Andean cities of Quito and Cuenca, both classified with the World heritage of UNESCO.

Just beside the Ecuadorian coasts, you will be able to discover the splendid archipelago of Galapagos. Composed of about forty small islands and 19 islands, it is a stage not to miss!  This last became a refuge for numerous species of animals which you will not be able to admire nowhere elsewhere. You will find in particular sea lions and iguanas marine.

Culture & Traditions

ARCHIPELAGOS OF GALAPAGOS

With nearly 1,000 km of the Ecuadorian coasts, the archipelago of Galápagos, classified with the Natural heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1979, is the natural habitat of animal numerous species, of which the famous iguana of Galápagos. Their observation inspired besides to famous Charles Darwin part of his famous theory of the evolution.

TERMAS DE PAPALLACTA

For one complete moment of expansion at the time of your passage to Quito in Ecuador, benefit from the thermal springs of Papallacta.! Embedded between Cayambe and Antisana, the sources of hydrothermal warm waters of Papallacta are an exceptional footbridge which you should not miss before you launching in the Amazonian adventures.

THE AMAZON FOREST

The Amazon forest is the largest forest of the world. “The green hell” as it is called is the occasion for the travellers of living a single experiment in one of the most moved back places of the world. More than 8 million plant species and animal made their habitat of it. One discovers there more than 8 new species each year. You will be able to swim with the pink dolphins, or to fish the piranhas.

 

NATURE

Ecuador, it is enormously of opportunities in a single country. Indeed the relief of this beautiful country offers to the travellers opportunity of discovering thousand and one wonders of nature. You will be able to begin your day while hiking in the volcanos at the covered with snow tops, for then exploring the Amazon forest and finishing your day on an archipelago by discovering an exceptional endemic fauna.

Essential

In Ecuador, the climate is variable according to altitude. In the Andean valleys, this last is tropical and hot. In the Andean plate, it is moderate and is cold on the highlands. However the best period to leave is from June to November safe for the Amazon forest where it rains between May and August.

10°-15° WINTER / 30° - 35° SUMMER
AMERICAN DOLLAR
-6H WINTER / -7H SUMMER
SPANISH
QUITO
SECO DE CHIVO / CEVICHE

Form your trip

The stages

QUITO

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It is one of the first capitals of the world to be classified with the World heritage of UNESCO. It is indeed a true cultural fish pond. Located at more than 2,800 meter altitudes, it has a splendid downtown area. The Quito old man is famous for his superb masonries of the colonial type and his many places to be visited: Plaza Large, privileged place of appointment of the quitenos (inhabitants of Quito) where is the presidential palace, the Place the San Francisco, most beautiful of the city with the monastery of the same name or the beautiful Place Santo Domingo. The environment also offers beautiful excursions and superb points of view.

OTAVALO

The beautiful town of Otavalo will be a required passage for the tourists, it is in this little place that “the most beautiful market is held of the world”! Especially, do not forget your camera! Interesting and authenticates, this Ecuadorian jewel will bewitch you by its products and the know-how of the craftsmen! Indian market for your gifts, cheap restaurants, cattle fair, market with the fruit and vegetables: as much to tell you that your program will be charged! For the fans of walk, one proposes a trekking around the Cuicocha lagoon to you. Then, why not a meeting of rise of Imbabura and Fuya Fuya? The park Condor also deserves to be visited. It is established on a hill. Its main mission is to recover the abandoned or wounded birds in order to reintroduce them in nature. A place where you are entitled to a demonstration of flight of the eagles, owls and falcons… impressive!

VILCABAMBA

Considered for the longevity of its inhabitants, whom they would owe with the fresh air of the mountains like to their simple and slackened lifestyle, the small town of Vilcabamba accommodates more and more visitors, attracted by the softness of its climate, the beauty of the surrounding hills and the peaceful environment which reigns there. The surroundings of Vilcabamba lend themselves particularly well to the excursion on foot or horse.

IBARRA

Still ignored tourists, Ibarra guarantees a total escape to you. A long time known as being the “white city” - taking into account the quasi-absence of the black communities and natives on the spot contrary to the neighbourhood cities – this rebuilt city offers the occasion to you to appreciate with the turning of the lanes a disconcerting architectural diversity. The neo-classic buildings indeed mix with baroque buildings and neogothic monuments, bringing happiness impassioned of architecture. For a cultural initiation of most enthralling, a visit of Museo del Banco Exchange also is essential. On the spot, you will discover, inter alia, a rich collection of jewelry and potteries without age. Lastly, do not miss the train moving by “the autoferro”, traversing the first 45 kilometers between Ibarra and San Lorenzo, at a speed… small V!

SAN LORENZO

In the North-West of Ecuador the town of San Lorenzo is who holds the best natural port of the country. The climate is particularly wet there. It is surrounded by vast zones of marshes with mangrove swamps. It is possible to venture there on board motorized dugouts. San Lorenzo is made up of huts on pile often lost in the fog and is accessible only by boat or thanks to the driving Andean railroad to Ibarra.

SAME

The beaches of Same and its coast, relatively preserved tourist constructions, count among most beautiful of the country. Bordered on a side by palm trees, other by crystalline water, they indeed offer an idyllic framework to the amateurs of idleness.

THE ARCHIPELAGO OF GALAPAGOS

The Archipelago of Galapagos reveals you the true natural splendour of Ecuador. Thanks to its wealth of biodiversity and its splendid biotope, it is the first site recorded in the World heritage of UNESCO in 1978. Located east of the Pacific Ocean, the Archipelago of Galapagos extends on a surface from 7882 km ² and reflects “nature in a pure state”. These Ecuadorian islands are a true sanctuary equipped with a large variety of fauna and flora. Each one of them has its own biodiversity. The Archipelago of Galapagos is made of about forty small islands and 19 islands, from which 4 only are inhabited. Santa Cruz is appreciated visitors for his ecosystem. The marine Reserve of Galápagos counts more than 300 fish species. While visiting this site, you will see sea lions, lines, otaries and sharks. The archipelago in entirety adds up approximately about sixty avifaunas. While making the turn of the islands, you will discover giant tortoises, iguanas and a typical flora. You can also visit the Wolf volcano of the island Isabela, the largest island of the archipelago. Scuba divings in Isla Floreana will have to be with the program!

ISLA SANTA CRUZ

For vacancies of dreamed, leave for Isla Santa Cruz. On the spot, do not miss Puerto Ayura and its downtown area with its connected shops, its luxury hotels and its restaurants. But not only! This principal city of Santa Cruz shelters the center of Interpretation Darwin, house of Throats, celebrates it tortoise of international repute as well as other iguanas. Note that it is also possible for you to observe the latter on the site of Cerro Dragon, accessible only by boat. To make an escapade culture of more enriching, visit the museum Van Straelen rather as well as the center of breeding of giant tortoises. If you aspire rather to a stay under the sign of the relaxation and of the infinite pleasure in a paradisiac decoration, Turtle Bay is your paradise. On this white sand beautiful beach, idleness is an obligation. The beach of the Station expects you, on the other hand, for the bathe and any other water activity of your choice. In Tortuga Bay, the tortoises are queens and evolve with complete freedom. You can then observe there depositing their eggs in hot sand, when the splendid waves are not exploited by the surfers. Another curiosity of the island: the Tired water channel Grietas with its quasi apocalyptic decoration bordered of walls of lava, with the turning of an important salt mine. If you aspire to more or less strong feelings, choose a diving in the middle of the sharks in departure of Puerto Ayora and leave to the adventure, provided only with torches, through the underground tunnels extending on more than one kilometer!

Isla San Cristobal

For an ensured expatriation, leave for the island San Cristóbal. In a paradisiac decoration bordered by idyllic beaches like Puerto Chino and Playa Mann – favourable with the bathe – and of the volcanic tops as San Joaquín – paradise of the excursion – this remarkable island guarantees the escape to you. Also note that in love ones with the diving are found each year with the playa Ochoa, with his rich seabed and its transparent water. On the spot, many activities expect you, starting with a visit of the center of Interpretation of the national park of Galapagos. You will find complete accurate information and exhibitions there on the faunistic and floristic diversity of the island. These last will indicate to you, moreover, systematically the way towards Los Galápagos, the paradise of the giant tortoises. You will also fall under the charm from the laguna El Junco, a splendid soft, accessible water reserve since El Progreso. After one day with the idyllic beach of Puerto large, place of predilection of idleness and bathe, leave for Lobos to admire otaries and insane with legs blue and do not miss the idyllic panorama of Frigatebird Hill. And before joining the port city of Baquerizo Moreno, only equipped with an airport in the archipelago, at least once admire the sunset since Kicker Rock'n'roll and León Dormido, two picturesque islands with the silhouette of a sea lion.

COCA

The area which connects Coca to Peru, is crossed by the Rio Napo who runs to join the Amazon. Furrowed as well by dugouts transporting of the rice bags or the cows as by oil boats, the powerful river traverses the Ecuadorian jungle in its width before continuing its course in Peruvian territory. The area shelters some of most beautiful the lodges of the country.

COTOPAXI

It is in the light of the paddle that the Cotopaxi national park, sheltering the volcano of the same name (5 897 meters) is most beautiful. If its altitude makes by far it visible, it is at the bottom of volcano that one takes the full measurement of the green reflections of his side as well as his snow-covered cap. Nothing to waste, the park also shelters a fauna which will charm the friends of the animals: wild condors, horses, spangled, reindeers, foxes, without forgetting the famous ones – but very difficult to observe – bear with glasses. Lastly, with the liking of your course on foot or on mountain bikes, you will be able to also admire some pre-Columbian ruins which mark out the site.

TENA

Located at the junction of two powerful Ecuadorian rivers, Rio Tena and Rio Paro, the site of Tena is a paradise for the amateurs of white water rafting, to whom it offer various types of descents in grandiose landscapes. Between two rapids, the visitors will be able to make excursion in the surrounding jungle, between waterfalls, Indian villages and petroglyphs old.

CANOA

Discovered of a new culture… Moment of escape… A simple relaxation: Canoa has very to satisfy you! Located at about twenty minute drives since Bahia de Caraquez, beautiful Canoa will allure you by its multiple activities. Do you need to release you? You can offer a walk on the long deserted beaches of Canoa, with the tuning fork of the sounds of the nature and that of the waves. Desire for escaping? Canoa is a true paradise for the surfers. It has a spot very attended to learn or improve your competences! In search of strong feelings? It constitutes an essential place for the paragliding on the Ecuador coast, profit in to make a flight out of tandem above beaches and of cliffs.  And for the discovery? The diving is advised to you to explore the marine wonders or to observe the whales during the suitable season…

NATIONAL PARK MACHALILLA

The majestic national park “Machalilla” is the only national park of Ecuador at the edge of the Pacific. Located in the province of Manabi, a visit of this wonder will mark your stay in Ecuador! It is wedged between zones of brown tropical forest where you can make excursion. Paradise of the wildlifes, the park gathers a great diversity of mammals and other animals. It is also a favourable place to carry out your botanical research since it shelters a luxuriant vegetation, rare species of trees and plants. In addition, the beach “Los Frailes” largely contributes to make of this corner of paradise a tourist attraction! You can slacken by admiring the superb ocean view and on surrounding cliffs. A diving with the meeting of the humpback whales, turtles…. To be with the calm, safe from palm trees, to laze to the sound of waves… The place of which you dream!

CUENCA

Beautiful Cuenca named “red city” because the roofs of the houses are in red tiles. A good amount of historical residences are to be visited including the church “San Cenaculo”, the new cathedral of “Immaculada Concepcion”, the colonial streets and the three famous bridges of the city. To join the imposing cascade of “El Palto”, you can trott yourselves in the forest. Moreover, think of benefitting from a meeting of bathe in this Fountain of Youth. A trekking is also advised to you to reach “Cerro Mandango”.

AVENUE OF VOLCANS

For a successful natural escapade, leave to explore the famous Avenue of the Volcanos. Traversing the Andes cordillera, this “roadway” (a railway) promises an unforgettable travel to you through remarkable volcanic solid masses, following the example of Cotopaxi and of Chimborazo. In a paradisiac decoration where take care of majestic covered with snow volcanos, you will discover with the turning of each clearing and each lake the Indian heart. And due, of many Indian communities still these places in picturesque Amerindian villages occupy. Whereas the condors evolve on your head, you will not be able to prevent yourselves from exploring Illiniza, Sangay, Tungurahua or Altar, of the sites of predilection for the andinism. To benefit from these grandiose landscapes effortlessly, you can of course choose the tourist train. But what imports your choice, not question of missing Saquisilí and its authentic artisanal market which takes place every Thursday. Also make a turn on the side of Baños with its thermal baths and its splendid landscapes of mountain as far as the eye can see. Do not miss either the lagoon emerald of Quilotoa, perched to 4000 m of altitude, on the crater of an extinct volcano. The Avenue of the Volcanos also shelters some national parks to be visited, in particular that of Cotopaxi – sanctuary of the birds, spangled, the foxes, the pumas and the bears – as well as the Sangay national park – is in hiding dashes, jaguars, otters, stags and tatoos.

SITE INCA INGAPIRCA

For an unforgettable escapade in the middle of Ecuador, visit the archaeological site INCA d' Ingapirca. Perched 3,200 m, this sacred site expects you near the town of Cuenca. On the spot, you cannot miss the vestiges by a remarkable civilisation that any amateur of history cannot be unaware of. Of small, the visit of this archaeological site proceeds around its central platform, the Temple of the sun. Around, you will discover majestic staircases, doors with the trapezoidal forms, the ruins of many buildings like some burials. Very impassioned old stones will be dazzled by the state of conservation of the site. And due, between these stones which seem to be placed the ones on others without any link however slipped an extremely fine mortar and of a remarkable solidity! Not to miss any facet by Inga Pirca, think of making you accompany by a guide…

Discover other destinations

Chile
The
PATAGONIA
BY
HORSE THE
ATACAMA
DESERT PARADISE BETWEEN ICE AND LAKES

If you want an experiment life size, to practise activities such as rides in Patagonie, the uneven ones with bicycle through the plain or to admire the splendour of the lakes and to then see a desert of the name of Atacama a travel to Chile is essential.

Discover more

Bolivia
View on
UYUNI
DESERT THE MYTHICAL
LAKE OF
TITICACA A UNIQUE EXPLORATION

Bolivia is a cultural destination through its cities Sweetens and Potosi classified by UNESCO, natural by its white desert Uyuni and its mythical lake Titicaca, authentic from its traditions. How to evoke Bolivia without speaking of Amazonia.

Discover more

Argentina
The
GREAT
Argentine
SPACES A TRAVEL
INTO THE HEART
OF GLACIERS DANCING THE TANGO
IN  BUENOS AIRES

Argentina is in hiding of contrasts, big spaces and the nature preserved in Patagonie, the end of the world with Ushusaia and the national park of the Earth of fires are an outline of its natural wealths. And if you want of Tango, made a halt in Buenos Aires.

Discover more