Thinking of traveling to Ecuador? And you don’t know what to do. I hope this blog helps you discover this beautiful country through your interests and activities:

Traveling to Ecuador

History, Art & Culture:

Quito Old Town is steeped in history since it was built on the ruins of an old Incan city. The historic center is notable for its rich 16th and 17th-century churches and its structures that blend indigenous, Moorish, and European designs. It is a well-preserved colonial core with numerous museums, art galleries, and cultural institutions. The most pretty church is the Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus; nonetheless, there are additional museums you can enjoy. Casa Guayasamin (north of Quito) is an engaging museum, as he broke the parameters of the current modernism that was on the rise. He was also an avid collector, and the museum displays his outstanding collection of pre-Columbian ceramic, bone, and metal pieces.

Middle of the world where you can stand on the equator line. There are two places: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and Solar Museum Intinan.

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo belongs to the Pichincha government and includes: handicrafts, a planetary craft beer museum, cultural pavilions, restaurants, cacao museums, the Mitad del Mundo monument with a museum inside, and a train station.

The Solar Museum Intinan is private and has the exact measurement of Latitude 0 where the equator line crosses. It consists of an interactive tour where you learn about the history of our ancestral people and the magnificent effects that the sun produces in its solar cylinder. Travel to the past through the centuries-old huts, discover and understand the physical phenomena of the earth with their didactic examples, observe the path of the sun (Intinan) in Acoratene, taste chocolate at the Cacao hut, and of course enjoy a natural, privileged environment with birds of the area. The museum also contains a handicraft store run by an Ecuadorian indigenous family.

Traveling to Ecuador

Cuenca is one of the oldest cities in South America. The city is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site due to its architecture, its cultural diversity, its contribution to the arts, sciences, and Ecuadorian literature, and for being the birthplace of many illustrious figures in Ecuadorian society. Outside of this city stands the Inca masonry named Ingapirca. The Cañaris culture occupied the ruins long before the Incas came, and some of their old structures are still on display.

Otavalo has South America´s largest market. The indigenous people weave textiles with wool. There is a wide range of wares and many local shops as well. Saturday is the busiest market day. The Fiesta del Yamor is the most famous celebration and is observed in September to praise the sun for a bountiful harvest.

Cotacachi is a town where some clothes and goods are made of leather. It also has a mountain named Cotacachi, which is the second-most famous crater in Ecuador. In June, they celebrate the Inti Raymi with many ceremonies and events, which means the Festival of the Sun´s resurrection.

Traveling to Ecuador

Gastronomy:

Ecuadorian cuisine differs according to region. There are numerous traditional foods in each location, but I will focus on the most prominent. Tasting tour is a fantastic option while you are traveling to Ecuador.

Coast region: the featured food is from the Manabi province on the Pacific Ocean. The ceviche, la tonga (rice, cooked bananas, chicken, and peanut sauce wrapped in a banana leaf), and Viche soup (seafood in a peanut-based broth with plantains). There are more delicious dishes you can try.

Andes region: Quito has the most popular dish, which is hornado (pork made in a rustic oven) in Sangolqui (on the outskirts and 30 minutes from the city). In all Andean regions, you can find fritada (fried pork served with white corn, fried yellow corn, and bananas). In Quito, street food provides an insight into how and where locals eat. You should give it a shot!

Amazon rainforest region: Puyo is well-known location for sampling various meals such as lemon ants, grilled chontaduro (worms), and maito (fresh fish wrapped in banana leaf).

If you want to learn how to make any of these recipes, enroll in a virtual or in-person cooking class in Quito. The food is prepared with ingredients that are also available in your country. It´s not difficult!

Traveling to Ecuador

Nature

Ecuador boasts the most diverse biodiversity. The most remarkable are:

Mindo is a wonderful spot to get away from the city. It is close to Quito and offers a variety of activities, including birdwatching, zip line, hiking to Mindo Nambillo waterfall, chocolate tour, hummingbird ornithology spot, hummingbird, orchid, and butterfly garden. All of the activities take place in a natural setting.

Galapagos National Park has extraordinary, unique species of fauna, flora, and geological features. Unesco declared a World Heritage Site to Galapagos in 1978. There are numerous places where you can walk, dive, snorkel, and relax. If you have the opportunity to visit, don’t pass it up!

 Yasuni National Park is the largest protected area in Ecuador. It protects the impressive biodiversity in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and part of the Waorani community. The Tagaeri and Taromenane indigenous people live in voluntary isolation within the park. The Yasuni is a Biosphere Reserve since 1989. It is a great place for birdwatching, canoeing by the rivers to see the pink river dolphins, hiking through natural trails, and feeling the sounds of the real forest.

Quilotoa Loop is a circle-shaped trail that connects remote villages in the high Andes in the Cotopaxi region. It is an amazing spot to hike. The indigenous culture that lives in the area runs the restaurants and the lake. You can travel for a day or stay in one of the hotels they offer. The hotels are basic, not 5-star.

National Park Machalilla is one of the first protected areas in Ecuador. This park is interesting because, in addition to the magnificent flora and fauna, remnants of the Machalilla, Valdivia, and Maneno Huancavilca prehispanic cultures that thrived in the area for 800 years (1800 a.C.–1000 a.c.). The park features breathtaking scenery, magnificent beaches, Isla de la Plata, also known as “the small Galapagos,” and islets. Things to do in Machalilla Park: snorkeling, bird watching, walking, swimming on the beaches, and kayaking.

Traveling to Ecuador

Romance

Papallacta is a small town that has multiple hot springs; the most famous and nicer is the Termas de Papallacta. It has accommodation, a spa, and a restaurant. The hot springs are within a beautiful natural environment promote health and well-being due to the medicinal properties of thermal water. You can also hike outside of the Termas de Papallacta.

Mindo-Cloud Forest is a nice, quiet, and safe town close to Quito. The village has a lot of great hotels for honeymoons. There are numerous activities to choose from. For me, this is the best option for a romance: Toucan Platinum Suites in accommodation with Jacuzzi.

Haciendas in the Andes are another option for staying with your partner. In each province of Ecuador, you can find haciendas outside of the city. Each hacienda has its own interesting history. The majority of haciendas were established by Spanish conquistador elites in return for services to the Spanish crown.