Small in size, this country is vast in its diversity. It will delight travelers enamored with Andean culture, as well as hikers at heart and budding naturalists.
Landing in Quito, the world's highest capital city at 2,800 meters above sea level, sets the tone: expect to be awestruck in this country straddling the Andes Mountains. A veritable spine stretching some 600 kilometers, this mountain range separates the Pacific coastal plain, frequented by whales and surfers, from the wild Amazonian Oriente. A land of contrasts, then, also expressed through the stark opposition between tradition and modernity. The picturesque Otavalo market, where animals and ponchos are traded, is the Amerindian emblem of this region, which became the second center of the Inca Empire.
The Ingapirca archaeological site is one of the few remaining vestiges of this era. After soaking up the baroque atmosphere of Quito's old colonial center, the Pan-American Highway beckons south. Known as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes," it showcases the most illustrious representatives of the Pacific Ring of Fire, beginning with Cotopaxi, one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. After admiring the turquoise waters of Laguna de Quilotoa, nestled in an ancient crater, the most intrepid will tackle the 6,310-meter summit of Chimborazo. Others will head towards the spa town of Baños and take the Route of the Waterfalls, which leads to the edge of the jungle in Puyo. A stop is then a must in Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the perfect opportunity to purchase a handwoven straw hat from the region—the famous Panama hat!
A few kilometers away, Cajas National Park offers hikers its enchanting wilderness, adorned with over 200 lakes perched at around 4,000 meters. After enjoying a delicious trout and blackberry juice, it's off to sprawling Guayaquil to catch a flight to the Galápagos Islands, where sea lions and iguanas will greet you. Once you've said goodbye to the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz, a boat trip is essential to explore the less touristy islands and perhaps encounter a hammerhead shark or a manta ray. From the summit of Bartolomé, the view encompasses the entire archipelago, the final postcard image of a journey rich in unforgettable panoramas.
Sophie Reyssat
