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Highlands & Volcanoes of Ecuador

Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands
General Information

Ecuador is the perfect place to discover the essence of South America. Straddling the Equator, this smallest of the Andean nations offers beautiful colonial towns, Inca ruins, bustling Indian markets and startling contrasts in scenery, from the windswept highlands and snow-capped volcanoes of the High Andes to the tropical rainforests of the Amazon basin. Ecuador’s greatest attractions are undoubtedly the Galápagos Islands whose unique flora and fauna played a vital role in helping to shape Charles Darwin’s theories on evolution.

QUITO

Ecuador’s capital city nestles in the Andes at 2,850 metres. An important city in pre-Columbian times, Quito flourished under the Spaniards who built the exquisite monasteries, churches and palaces that earned the old city UNESCO World Heritage status in 1978. The magnificent historic quarter with its maze of narrow cobbled streets is easily explored on foot and contains some of the continent’s best preserved and most beautiful Spanish Colonial architecture. Quito is also the gateway to the Andes, the Amazon and the Galápagos Islands

AMAZONIA

Occupying more than half the country’s land area, the sparsely populated ‘Oriente’ is Ecuador’s slice of the vast Amazonian rainforest. This pristine environment is home to countless species of plants and animals and is accessible from Quito by air or by a long and scenic journey over largely unpaved roads. A variety of jungle lodges offer simple accommodation and there is also the option of joining a cruise that will take you to remote indigenous communities deep in the rainforest.

INDIAN MARKETS & COLONIAL TOWNS

The stunning Andean Highlands of Ecuador contain two of South America’s highest volcanoes: the perfectly symmetrical Cotopaxi and Chimborazo which overlooks the handsome town of Riobamba. The region is also home to Ecuador's famous Indian markets, such as Otavalo with its colourful array of textiles, carvings, ceramics and jewellery. In the Southern Highlands, the charming colonial city of Cuenca beckons with its red tile roofs and wrought-iron balconies while, nearby, the well-preserved ruins at Ingapirca bear witness to the region's important role in the Inca Empire. An unforgettable way to experience the highland scenery is to journey by train down the amazing switchbacks of the ‘Devil’s Nose’, an engineering marvel completed at the end of the 19th century.

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

These unique volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean are a paradise for nature lovers. Charles Darwin visited the archipelago on the ‘Beagle’ in 1835 and his discoveries here were instrumental in the development of his world-famous theory of evolution by natural selection. The wildlife of the islands, including the giant Galápagos tortoises, marine iguanas, waved albatrosses and Darwin’s finches, have little fear of man and thus offer unrivalled opportunities for observation. The islands are reached by flights from the mainland and are best visited on cruise vessels that sail on one-week itineraries accompanied by naturalist guides.

THE ISLANDS

Most islands have two names, one given by early English pirates and the other by the Ecuadorian government when it annexed the Galápagos in 1832. Brief notes on the main individual islands are given below:

Baltra (South Seymour) Main gateway by air to the islands.

Bartolomé (Bartholomew) From the island's summit there are impressive views of the volcanic formations of its moon-like landscape.

Daphne Excellent for viewing thousands of blue-footed boobies (depending on season) and nesting masked boobies on the rims of its two small craters.

Española (Hood) At Punta Suarez, the visitor will find the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the islands. Other attractions include the waved albatross (April to December), unique to the island.

Fernandina (Narborough) Renowned for its large colonies of marine iguanas and also home to sea-lions, cormorants, pelicans and penguins.

Floreana (Santa Maria - Charles) Here you can find the islands’ best flamingo lagoons as well as the Devil's Crown which is ideal for snorkelling and admiring the coral and marine life.

Genovesa (Tower) This island offers a variety of natural attractions: blue and red-footed boobies, frigates, gulls, tropical birds and sea-lions.

Isabela (Albermarle) The largest island of the Galápagos where you will find penguins, pelicans, cormorants, boobies and flamingos.

Plaza Sur (South Plaza) The protected rocky seashore is the prime habitat for a large colony of sea-lions.

Rábida (Jervis) Featuring a dramatic red sand beach, this island has a lagoon settled by flamingos, pelicans, boobies and several species of seabirds.

San Cristóbal (Chatham) Home to the Islands’ administrative capital.

Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Home to the Charles Darwin Research Station where visitors can observe the giant tortoises for which the Galápagos are famous.

Santa Fe (Barrington) The main attractions here are the extensive giant Opuntia cacti and Palo Santo tree forests as well as land iguanas, sea turtles and sea-lions.

Santiago (San Salvador - James) Home to hundreds of marine birds. The island is also of interest for watching fur seals.

Seymour (North Seymour) Has the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galápagos

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