Ecuador and the Galapagos by Jen Connelly

Ecuador and the Galapagos

by Jen Connelly

The first thing you realize when planning a trip to Ecuador is that its size belies the diversity that lies within. Your trip could easily revolve around the Galapagos, but once you realize all the country has to offer, it’s hard to limit yourself to an island excursion. When you land in the capital of Quito, you may expect a typical large South American city: a multitude of high rises, even more people, and a fast-paced atmosphere that constantly keeps you on your toes. What you may not expect is that all of these qualities would be housed in a verdant mountainous environment, with the active Pichincha volcano acting as guardian of the city.

Diversity, Crafts and History

Once you make it out of the city, a number of diversions await in the rolling green countryside. A stop at the Otavalo market, one of the largest markets in the Andes, will allow you to purchase anything from textiles and indigenous art, to Panama hats and homemade marionettes. From here you can head to the Chimborazo province, home of the highest peak in Ecuador at nearly 6,300 meters. The glacier capped Chimborazo volcano provides a spectacular backdrop in the high alpine environment to the grazing llamas and alpacas in the foreground. Your next destination is the city of Cuenca, whose city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its abundance of historical buildings, each one outdoing the last. En route to Cuenca you can stop at Ingapirca to experience the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador.

A Perfect Finish: The Galapagos

The perfect way to finish up your tour of Ecuador is to visit the Galapagos, the islands that led to Darwin’s magnum opus. It’s easy to spend several days here without getting close to seeing all the islands have to offer. Each island has its own unique flavor, many of which are so different as to make you feel that you have ventured to another planet. From the lava channels frozen in time on one island, to the hundreds of marine iguanas all basking in the sun on another, you don’t know what you’ll encounter until you set foot on the island. For those that like to go a bit deeper under the surface, diving and snorkeling the waters around the islands will afford close up views of sea turtles, sharks, and sea lions, as well as fish of every size and color.

An Amazing Variety of Things to See and Do

Whether you want to tap into your inner naturalist in the Galapagos, spend time experiencing fast paced city life, or take in the awe-inspiring sight of one of the many volcanoes, you can do all of this and more in Ecuador. You can dedicate an entire visit to the country’s beaches and learn to surf, or travel to the Amazon and see more species of bird than almost anywhere else in the world. It’s hard to believe that such a small country could have such an amazing variety of things to do, but then again, seeing is believing.

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