11 Days Highlights of Ecuador

About the destination: Quito, formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador. Quito is beautifully situated in a valley on the eastern slopes of Pichincha Volcano. Situated at an altitude of 2850 metres above sea level, Quito is the highest capital in the world. Quito’s Centro Histórico is a lovely area with colonial architecture, cobbled plazas, majestic churches and many interesting museums. Centro Histórico is a Unesco World Heritage Site. One of the prettiest spots in the old centre of Quito is the Plaza de la Independencia, beautifully landscaped with flowers and trees. The buildings around the plaza include the pink confection that is the Hotel Plaza Grande, the Catedral Metropolitana de Quito, and the Presidential Palace. In the centre of the plaza there is the memorial to independence. Plaza San Francisco is one of the most beautiful places in Quito. It is a cobbled square with the whitewashed church and monastery of San Francisco standing along its north-western side. The Monastery of San Diego, situated southwest of Centro Histórico, is a lovely monastery from the 17th century, full of outstanding colonial religious art. It is absolutely worth a visit even if it is a little bit further away from the Centro Histórico. North of Centro Histórico we have the colourful Mariscal neighbourhood where there are many hotels, international restaurants, bars and trendy cafés.Quito is a friendly and fun city. With a superb Old Quarter and a dramatic setting, Quito is a place that grows on anyone.

About the destination: Otavalo is a city in the Andean highlands of the province of Imbabura, north of Ecuador. It is surrounded by volcanoes, such as the Imbabura volcano. It is known for its Otavalo market in the central Plaza de Ponchos, where locals dressed in traditional indigenous clothing sell colorful textiles and handicrafts. Nearby is the El Obraje Textiles Museum, which displays textile exhibitions and fabric demonstrations. Near the city is Peguche, one of the many surrounding villages and known for its traditional fabrics. On the outskirts of Peguche and between the eucalyptus trees, the Peguche Waterfall is located. A place that was considered sacred in the time of the Incas and is now a famous site for picnics. Near this place is the Condor Park, a bird sanctuary and home to Andean condors and owls. North of Otavalo is the city of Cotacachi, known for its leather products. The trails on the shores of Lake Cuicocha, which was formed from a crater, have panoramic views of the surrounding peaks. To the south of Otavalo, the Mojanda lakes are attractive for hikers and bird watchers.

About the destination: Baños de Agua Santa commonly referred to as Baños, is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province, in central Ecuador. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after Ambato, the capital, and is a major tourist center. It is known as the "Gateway to the Amazon", as it's the last big city still located in the mountains before reaching the jungle and other towns that are located in the Amazon River basin. Baños is located on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano, at an elevation of 1,820 metres whose activity has been characterized by frequent powerful ash explosions and lava flows can be seen from Banos.

About the destination: The city of Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2,500 meters above sea level. The centre of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site due to its many historical buildings. Cuenca is well known for its stunning architecture, tourist attractions, hotels and night activities. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Ingapirca The Northernmost significant Ruins of the former Inca Empire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ecuador, merging the Inca and Canari cultures. • Baños. A beautiful spot just outside of Cuenca to the southwest. There are thermal baths and Turkish baths. • Turi A great viewpoint located to the south of the city. It has great views over the city both during the day and at night. • The New Cathedral. Looming over the main plaza is the city's main church, with its 3 beautiful sky-blue domes visible from around the city. • Barranco The river Tomebamba runs through the heart of the city, creating a riverwalk area known as Barranco. The riverwalk itself is nice, with paved trails on both sides connected by numerous bridges. Stairs lead up the steep banks into the older part of the city on the north side, connecting to Calle Larga's restaurants and clubs. Puente Roto, literally 'Broken Bridge' is also located on the north side and is a popular meeting place. • El Sagrario. Construction began in 1557. It's no longer in use as a church, and is now a museum. • Museo del Banco Central and Pumapungo.

About the destination: Guayaquil is the largest and most populous city in Ecuador. Guayaquil is located on the west bank of the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil. The climate is hot and generally humid. Guayaquil is a very modern city and the nation's main port.The oldest part of Guayaquil, Las Peñas, has been restored to an attractive neighbourhood with art galleries, cafés, shops, bars and restaurants. Las Peñas neighbourhood is situated on Cerro Santa Anna. It is a picturesque neighbourhood full of colourful colonial houses. At the tip of the hill there is a light-house, go at the top to get outstanding views over Guayaquil. The Malecon 2000, on the Rio Guayas, is the city’s most famous landmark. Malecon 2000 is a long boardwalk area along the river that is beautiful and full of things to keep you entertained. Located in the middle of the Malecon, we have La Rotonda", an impressive monument that commemorates the famous meeting of Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin to discuss independence. The other places that are worth a visit are Malecon Salado, Parque Historico, Cerro Blanco and the Botanical Gardens. Guayaquil is a vibrant sprawling metropolis known for being the "Pacific Pearl" due to its natural beauty and marvellous surroundings. Don’t let Quito known, but some say that Guayaquil is Ecuador's best destination.