Why include Ecuador in your itinerary to South America? 5 Places to start getting to know the country

In Ecuador there is a popular saying that you can have breakfast in the jungle, have lunch in the mountains and have dinner on the beach. This is possible because although the territory of Ecuador is larger than the territory of Great Britain, it is one of the smallest and most compact countries in South America. Both for its location and for its nature it is possible to start the day in the Amazon, with its humid and warm tropical climate that allows the existence of a great biodiversity, then climb the mountain range to an altitude of 3,300 meters above sea level where It is cold and even snowing, to end the day on the Pacific coast watching the sunset on one of its white-sand beaches. Jungle, mountains, and sea make Ecuador the perfect invitation. The options are so numerous that you don't know where to start. But don't worry, at Daytours4u, we always help you organize your trips. In this article, we tell you why to include Ecuador in your itinerary through South America and we share 5 places to start getting to know this country.   [caption id="attachment_4359" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Ecuador is one of the smallest and most compact countries in South America / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]  

Cuenca

Cuenca is a good starting point to get to know the Andean mountain range of this country. This city, crossed by four rivers, is called the "Athens of Ecuador" because of the magnitude of its buildings. Its historic center, carefully preserved, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and is home to colonial constructions with gabled red roofs and well-preserved facades that make their way between cobbled streets, artisan workshops, Baroque balconies, small markets and churches that stand out for their gothic and renaissance domes.   [caption id="attachment_4361" align="aligncenter" width="675"] The beautiful historic center of Cuenca was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]   For a long time, Cuenca was famous for being an extremely ecclesiastical city. But there is another facet of it that is not reflected in the travel guides. It is about the city that speaks through its walls. It is enough to move away from some blocks from the historic center so that the murals begin to appear. The Cuenca artists not only create true works of art - although ephemeral - they also use these spaces as exhibition platforms and as a way of expressing themselves. Every hundred meters, the walls become a canvas and the city becomes an open-air museum where all kinds of themes and techniques coexist.  

Parque Nacional Yasuní

It is enough of a reason to visit the Yasuni National Park since with 10,200 km² it is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. It has more species of animals per hectare than all of Europe together and as many tree species in one hectare as exists throughout North America. These statistics translate into the feeling of always entering the Amazon rainforest, of being wrapped in a landscape dominated by giant trees, listening to sounds that seem like ringtones, without knowing where they come from.   [caption id="attachment_4365" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]   The gateway is the oil city of "El Coca", from where the boats that navigate the Napo River leave. As it progresses, the jungle seems to extend to infinity. You have to slowly enter the Yasuni, through rivers and swamps. Always accompanied by suitable guides, walks are made among the tangle of greens composed of mosses, ferns, vines and climbers. There are also sightings of exotic species such as pink dolphins and hoatzins, a prehistoric bird with a sound similar to a smoker's wheeze. Communities, such as the Taromenane and the Tagaeri also live here, two ethnic groups that have lived immersed in the lush vegetation for hundreds of years in voluntary isolation from civilization. Others, such as the Kichwa and Haorani, live off of tourism and allow travelers to enter their villages and share their daily lives with them.  

Baños

Baños de Agua Santa is a small town located at the foot of the Tungurahua Volcano at an altitude of 1,820 meters above sea level. In this corner of the country, nature is at its best and is the perfect place for adventure sports in Ecuador. Here, adrenaline and active tourism reign. Entering its lushness, you will find rivers full of rapids for rafting of different difficulties, high mountains for zip-lining, hiking trails or bike descents that lead to amazing waterfalls that carry a large volume of water. The various natural sceneries also allow for climbing, kayaking and bungee jumping.   [caption id="attachment_4360" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Baños de Agua Santa is the ideal place to practice all kinds of adventure sports / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]   If you belong to those brave travelers who like to practice all activities that involves adrenaline, then be sure to visit Baños. And when you run out of energy, after a whole day of adventure, you can relax in the hot spring pools that spring up at high temperatures (reaching up to 55ºC) from the soils of the Tungurahua volcano, and to which healing properties are associated.  

Quito

On a trip through Ecuador, you should not miss a walk through its capital city. The charm of this city is centered on its historic district, which is a mandatory stop for at least two days. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, it is characterized by its monasteries, baroque and Gothic religious temples (there are 54 churches), monuments and colonial architectural buildings that make up the largest and best-preserved old town in South America.   [caption id="attachment_4363" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Quito has the largest and best-preserved Historic District in all of South America / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]   In front of the Plaza Independencia, the Cathedral is the oldest and most important church since it has an important collection of works of art, murals and carved images. Also striking is the Church of the Society of Jesus, since, inside the columns, altars and ceilings are completely bathed in sheets of 23K gold. In its cobbled streets and colorful squares, colonial architecture is combined with modern buildings and the hectic urban rhythm is lived. Quito is also home to a vibrant nightlife. In the traditional La Ronda street - a cradle for artists and historical figures - you can discover artisan workshops in old houses from the 18th century or have a drink in some of the avant-garde cafés or bars where at nightfall, live music becomes the protagonist. In addition, Quito is located at 2,800 meters above sea level and is surrounded by huge volcanoes and mountains that you can see from its incredible viewpoints such as El Panecillo, Cruz de Loma, Mirador de Guápulo, Parque Itchimbía and Yaku where you will enjoy wonderful views of the city. Finally, it is worth traveling to a further point: La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the Earth, just over 25 kilometers from the center of Quito. This is the place where the equator line passes through, where the northern hemisphere of the southern hemisphere of the planet is divided. In fact, that's where the name of the country comes from. Another attractive and unmissable attraction is to visit the Pululahua Volcano, just 10 minutes away by car where you will discover an active volcano inhabited by the population of San Isidro de Pululahua where silence is the main protagonist of the crater community.   [caption id="attachment_4364" align="aligncenter" width="675"] The active Pululahua volcano is another must-see in Ecuador / Photo: Daytours4u[/caption]   Travel Tip: Discover the corners of the Ecuadorian capital with the Classic City Tour through Quito and book our Middle of the Earth Tour now. For more information, we recommend reading the article “Tips for visiting Quito and its main attractions”.  

Puerto López

Puerto López is located in Manabí, 485 km away (about eight hours by car) from Quito and is a tourist destination known for having a large number of nearby attractions that are part of the Machalilla National Park such as Los Frailes Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador where you can enjoy a path to walk to a viewpoint, visit the dry forest and take ecological walks. It is an ideal destination to rest because pets are not allowed, there are no vendors on the beach and it is usually almost empty. Here only those fleeing from the noise and the much-known Montañita arrive - one hour away - in search of tranquility and a more relaxed atmosphere.   [caption id="attachment_4362" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Puerto López is an ideal destination to rest and take ecological walks / Photo: Gilda Selis[/caption]   In this small fishing village, located on the Pacific coast, you can also enjoy the gastronomy specializing in fresh seafood, made with local products that can be found in the restaurants and bars of the boardwalk. There are also agencies that offer tours to several nearby destinations such as boat trips to Isla de la Plata and Isla Salango to do humpback whale watching in the months from June to September, go kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and fishing while visiting islets. A well-marked scene summarizes the soul of this small town: the fishing boats and the tour boats with pelicans and blue-footed boobies flying around them. Sometimes, you can even see sea turtles swimming around.  

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  By: Gilda Selis, travel journalist. Author of the blog "Mi Bitácora de Viajes" and the book "En Movimiento, geografía interna de una chica que viaja de acá para allá".