Travel to Ecuador

Straddling the equator from which it takes its name, Ecuador's small size belies the vast array of biodiversity, indigenous cultures, history, dramatic volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest that are found here. Not to mention the extraordinary Galapagos Islands which sit some 1000km (600 miles) off the coast.

One of only 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, according to Conservation International, Ecuador has over 1,600 species of bird and 25,000 plant species. It is also home to a patchwork of indigenous communities, including people of colonial Spanish origins and the descendants of African slaves.

It's small size and condition of the roads makes it very easy to travel around mainland Ecuador:

Visit Quito for the best-preserved colonial architecture in Latin America

Over 1.4 million of them live in the capital Quito, set in the lush Guapalo Valley at the bottom of the northern slopes of the active volcano Pichincha. Described as ‘the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America' by UNESCO, this World Heritage Site has some marvellous examples of Colonial architecture to explore.

Explore Andean Ecuador

The Andes in Ecuador are lush and the valleys wide, making it perfect horse country. Local populations and their crafts, and a very varied landscape make it the perfect setting for a few days of exploration and adventure. To make the destination even more exciting, accommodation while touring the region is in comfortable, lovely and charming haciendas still family owned and run. This region of Ecuador is dotted with some of the most remarkable privately owned haciendas anywhere in the South American Continent, and we have selected the most special ones for our itineraries.

If you have a few more days to spare in Mainland Ecuador, we recommend venturing South to the lovely Colonial city of Cuenca, once Tomebamba, one of the Inca Empire's main provincial cities. It is a beautiful Colonial town and is close by to the ruins of Ingapirca, the most important Inca remains in Ecuador.

Go in to the depths of the Ecuadorian Rainforest

The Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the Oriente, is one of the Earth's most biodiverse regions. For example, with more than 12,000 plant species, the country ranks sixth in the world for biodiversity.

We have selected a handful of lodges deep within the pristine areas of rainforest, which specifically follow an ecological and community policies, and that offer the greatest opportunities for seeing the greatest variety of wildlife in its natural habitat.

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