Country Information

Diverse and spectacular, Ecuador is one of the most colourful of all the South American countries. The centre is guarded by the snow-capped Andes and shelters traditional villages where costumes and customs have remained unchanged for millennia. The capital, Quito, is an atmospheric blend of Indian cultures alongside the extravagant cathedrals built by the Conquistadors, while the small town of Otavalo, with its traditional market, brings all the vibrant colour of the indigenous Indians to life.

In the south active volcanoes shade the Cotopaxi National Park while Cuenca is a treasure-trove of colonial architecture. To the east of the Andes, the countryside drops down into the dense jungle of the Amazon Basin, while 1,000 km (620 miles) off Ecuador’s Pacific coast are the Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s ‘Laboratory of Evolution’, where nature’s most wonderful creations, unafraid of man, provide visitors with an unforgettable, magical and unique experience.