Little in size, this country is great in its diversity. Hará the delights of los viajeros lovers of the Andean culture, así like los excursionistas de corazón y los naturalistas en cineres.
Landing in Quito, the capital at the highest point in the world, 2.800 meters away, we left the land: we hope that we are alien to this land in the middle of the Andes. Auténtica vertebral column of about 600 km, this cordillera separates the coastline of the Pacific, frequented by ballenas and surfistas, of the Oriente Amazonico. A tier of contrasts, which express itself through the long opposition between tradition and modernity, with the painting trade of Otavalo, where the trade of animals and ponchos, which constitutes the American emblem of this region which it left to be in the second center of the Inca Imperio.
The birthplace of Ingapirca is one of the rare vestigios of this era. After seizing the barroco environment of the ancient colonial center of Quito, the Carretera Panamericana invited him to head there. Along the “Avenida de los Volcanes”, we find the most illustrious representatives of the Cinturón del Fuego del Pacifico, based on the Cotopaxi, one of the most peligrosos of the world. To admire the Turkish waters of the Laguna del Quilotoa, which occupies an ancient crater, the most intrepid ones will pond near the Chimborazo, of 6.310 m. We will then head to the balneario town of Baños, and follow the waterfall road that leads to the edge of the forest, al Puyo. In continuation, it is necessary to take a break in Cuenca, city declared Humanity Heritage by UNESCO. This is an opportunity to buy a handmade pajamas sombrero in the region… the famous Panama!
A few kilometers away, the Parque Nacional del Cajas offers enchanting natural excursionists with more than 200 lakes surrounded by mountains at 4.000 m. To enjoy something and a little bit of fun, we go down to the vast city of Guayaquil to embark on a sightseeing trip to the Galápagos Islands, where the marine animals and the iguanas will be welcomed by the committee. Once you have seen the gigantic turtles of Santa Cruz, you will tend to take a boat to discover the small tourist islands and hope to see a hammer or a mantarraya. From the Cima del Bartolomé, the vista abarca todo el archipiélago, the last post of a viaje rico in unforgettable panoramas.
Sophie Reyssat
