Quito, the capital of Ecuador, located in the highlands,
is loaded with traditions and colonial treasures.
A string of thirty-five towering volcanoes runs
the length of Ecuador. Eight of these are snow-capped
and seem to be the product of eternal love between
clouds and mountains. At the foothills of these
towering mountains lie lush valleys, dense forests,
housing distinct communities and a wide variety
of wildlife.
Altitude and climate create several rich ecosystems
ranging from exuberant cloud forests to vast and
silent meadows. There is a tapestry created by the
various shades of fertile land and multicolored
Indian markets woven together with colonial haciendas
and cities displaying splendid churches and monuments.
The centerpiece of Ecuador's most popular national
park is the snowcapped and picture-perfect volcano,
Cotopaxi (19,350 feet), Ecuador's second-highest
peak. Within the national park surrounding the volcano,
outstanding hiking and trekking opportunities exist.
There are a handful of fabulous old haciendas offering
everything from horseback riding to guided climbs
of Cotopaxi itself. One 15th-century hacienda was
used by Incan nobility as a roadside inn. The park
offers a good look at the páramo (Andean grasslands)
and the views everywhere are outstanding.
The wildlife is fascinating and includes birdlife
such as the rarely seen Andean condor and creatures
such as white-tailed deer, rabbits, the 14-inch-high
little red brocket deer, the wily colpeo (Andean
fox) and pumas. The rare Andean spectacled bear
lives on the eastern slopes of the park.
Cuenca is a jewel in the southern highlands and
a Unesco Heritage Site. Built over the remains of
the flourishing Inca city of Tumibamba in a temperate
valley which is crossed by four rivers, it was the
birthplace of the father of Atahualpa (the "last"
Inca), Huayna-Capac.
Cuenca has the rare privilege of being perhaps
the only city in the highlands of Ecuador which
has not been destroyed, at least partially, by frequent
earthquakes that occur in this region. Because of
this, the colonial Spanish architecture is almost
completely intact. Cobble-stoned streets and very
few high buildings make a charming setting for some
of the most talented artisans who create colorful
ceramics, woven items of cotton and wool, “Panamá”
hats, fine gold and silver filigree and other beautiful
items.
Toward the East, at the foot of the Andes lies
the Amazon River Basin with the greatest biodiversity
on earth. There are trips to this area to suit every
type of traveler from first class accommodations
to simple, but comfortable programs. All include
ample opportunities to experience the rain forest
and to meet the Indian tribes that inhabit the area.
From north to south Ecuador offers wonderful pristine
beaches. Valdivia, not to be missed, is the earliest
civilization of South American with interesting
artifacts and remains. This rich coastal environment
boasts over 400 multicolored fish species, sea turtles,
dolphins and whales.
Evolution in progress is probably the best way
to describe the Galapagos Islands. Unique conditions
conspired towards the emergence of an ecosystem
beyond comparison. Between three and five million
years ago, submarine volcanoes surfaced from the
bottom of the ocean forming thirteen major islands,
six lesser islands and about forty-two islets, set
six hundred miles off the west coast of Ecuador.
The islands cover an area of about 3,000 square
miles and the total land mass is less than half
that of the Hawaiian Islands. There is literally
no place on earth like the Galapagos Islands.
Wind and water currents from both northern and
southern hemispheres carried foreign fauna to this
young archipelago which eventually became a sanctuary
of life. These unique conditions allowed animals
such as marine iguanas, sea lions and tortoises
to develop characteristics reconciled with a new
environment. You can walk among them and observe
mating rituals of boobies, albatrosses, and frigate
birds. Due to the historical absence of predators,
the animals are oblivious to visitors.
