Must-see attractions in Ecuador

  • Wall of Tears on Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

    Muro de las Lágrimas

    The Galápagos Islands

    Some 7km west of Puerto Villamil is the Muro de las Lágrimas (Wall of Tears), a 100m-long wall of lava rocks built by convicts under harsh and abusive…

  • Bald eagle on a handler's arm at the Otavalo Condor Park.

    Parque Cóndor

    Otavalo

    Get an up-close view of Andean condors, as well as eagles, owls, falcons and hawks, at this Dutch-owned foundation, which rehabilitates these and other…

  • Marine iguanas on lava rock at Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island.

    Punta Espinoza

    The Galápagos Islands

    Just across Canal Bolívar, Punta Espinoza houses marine iguanas (too many to count), which can be seen sunning themselves on the black lava formations – a…

  • People visiting Playa de San Lorenzo in Salinas, Ecuador.

    San Lorenzo Beach

    South Coast

    Salinas' main, and most crowded, beach sits on the malecón opposite dozens of restaurants and hotels. It has volleyball courts, a pier (from which you can…

  • Playa Mansa, Galapagos Islands.

    Playa Mansa

    Puerto Ayora

    If you walk the length of Tortuga Bay, you'll reach this picturesque lagoon lined with mangroves. Here you can spot marine iguanas, brown pelicans and…

  • Sandy beach of Great Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island, Galapagos National Park.

    Darwin Bay Beach

    The Galápagos Islands

    This coral beach can be reached by a wet landing. There is a 750m trail along the beach that passes through red-footed booby colonies and several tide…

  • Boats in the lagoon, Tagus Cove, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

    Tagus Cove

    The Galápagos Islands

    Just south of Punta Tortuga is this cove where early sailors frequently anchored and scratched the names of their vessels into the cliffs. It’s a strange…

  • Tourists visiting the el Garrapatero beach on Santa Cruz island.

    El Garrapatero Beach

    Isla Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)

    A 30-minute taxi ride from Puerto Ayora through the highlands, plus a 15-minute walk, brings you to this beautiful beach. It has tidal pools that are good…

  • Parque Nacional Yasuní

    The Oriente

    Yasuní is Ecuador’s biggest mainland park at 9820 sq km, boasting all manner of terrain from marshes to rivers to tropical rainforest. A Unesco Biosphere…

  • Landscape in El Angel ecological reserve in Ecuador.

    Reserva Ecológica El Ángel

    Northern Highlands

    The 16,000-hectare Reserva Ecológica El Ángel includes frailejones, rare, otherworldly plants with fuzzy leaves and thick trunks. From El Ángel, take the…

  • Playa de Chipipe in Salinas, Ecuador.

    Chipipe Beach

    South Coast

    To the west of San Lorenzo Beach is Chipipe – equally well maintained, but with a fraction of its neighbor's crowds. If you're looking for a quieter beach…

  • Crafts Market

    Otavalo

    Plaza de Ponchos, the nucleus of the crafts market, is filled every day with vendors selling woolen goods, such as rugs, tapestries, blankets, ponchos,…

  • Cacau E Mango

    South Coast

    Learn how cocoa is produced at this pleasant, rustic 10-hectare farm, run by the friendly and welcoming Lara family. Day trips include a tour of the farm,…

  • Malecón 2000

    Guayaquil

    One of the most extensive urban-renewal projects in South America, Malecón 2000 is made up of monuments, playgrounds, sculptures, gardens and river views…

  • Pozo Villamil

    The Galápagos Islands

    Behind and to the west of the village is this lagoon, known for its marine iguanas and migrant birds, especially waders – more than 20 species have been…

  • Archaeological Museum

    Ruta Spondylus

    Well worth a visit. Spanish-speaking guides explain the significance of the artifacts, including well-preserved ancient tools, ceramics and funeral urns…

  • Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas

    Northern Highlands

    This 204,420-hectare reserve is by far the largest protected area of Ecuador’s western Andean habitats. Altitude ranges from about 200m above sea level…

  • Whale Museum

    South Coast

    Run by the passionate Ben Hasse, a pioneer of whale-watching in the area, this small and informative whale museum has several whale skeletons, including…

  • Cerro Santa Ana

    Guayaquil

    One of Guayaquil's most iconic sights is this hillside enclave, which is dotted with brightly painted homes, cafes, bars and souvenir shops. Follow the…

  • Lava Tunnels

    Isla Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)

    These impressive underground tunnels southwest of the village of Santa Rosa are more than 1km in length and were formed when the outside skin of a molten…

  • Las Grietas

    Isla Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)

    For nice swimming and snorkeling, head to this water-filled crevice in the rocks. Talented and fearless locals climb the nearly vertical walls to plunge…

  • Museo de las Culturas Aborígenes

    Cuenca

    This indigenous culture museum has more than 5000 archaeological pieces representing more than 20 pre-Columbian Ecuadorian cultures going back some 15,000…

  • Lagunas de los Compadres

    Southern Highlands

    Branching off from the Los Miradores Loop Trail is the challenging but enticing 14.5km trail to the two dozen or more lakes that make up the remote…

  • Cerro de las Tijeretas

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    About 1.7km northeast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Cerro de las Tijeretas provides good views and can be reached on a trail. You'll pass a national park…

  • Parque Nacional Cajas

    Southern Highlands

    Only 30km west of Cuenca, Parque Nacional Cajas encompasses 2854 sq km of golden moor-like páramo (high-altitude grassland) dotted with hundreds of chilly…

  • Casa del Ceibo

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    Scoring high on novelty, the Casa del Ceibo is a small shed built halfway up an enormous ceiba tree. It’s possible to spend a night in the treehouse or…

  • Tortoise Statue

    Puerto Ayora

    Among the various statues of prominent Galapagos wildlife around Puerto Ayora, this is probably the most photographed of them all.

  • Mitad Del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument near Quito, Ecuador.; Shutterstock ID 138504449; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Mitad del Mundo

    Ecuador

    At the center of the Mitad del Mundo stands the centerpiece of the park: a 30m-high, stone trapezoidal monument topped by a brass globe containing a…

  • UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1900:  Pre-Columbian civilization, La Tolita culture - Ecuador, 5th century b.C.-5th century A.D. Golden sun mask. From La Tolita Island.  (Photo By DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images)

    Museo Nacional

    Quito

    Located in the circular, glass-plated, landmark building of the Casa de la Cultura is one of the country’s largest collections of Ecuadorian art, with…

  • Quito Cathedral, porch dome

    Catedral Metropolitana

    Quito

    On Plaza Grande's southwest side stands Quito's cathedral. Although not the most ornate of the Old Town’s churches, it has some fascinating works by…

  • QUITO, ECUADOR - JAN 1, 2015: Church and Monastery of St. Francis in the historic center of Quito. Historic center of Quito is the first UNESCO WOrld Heritage site; Shutterstock ID 255015763; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Museo Franciscano

    Quito

    To the right of the Iglesia de San Francisco’s main entrance, and within the Convent of St Francis, this museum contains some of the church’s finest…

  • La Virgen de Quito, El Panecillo, Quito, Ecuador

    El Panecillo

    Quito

    Topped by a 41m-tall aluminum mosaic statue of La Virgen de Quito (Virgin of Quito; completed in 1976), with a crown of stars, angelic wings and a chained…

  • Ecuador, Quito, Independence Square and Metropolitan Cathedral

    Plaza Grande

    Quito

    While wandering around colonial Quito, you'll probably pass through the Plaza Grande several times. Its benches are great for soaking up the Andean…

  • Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca

    Northern Highlands

    At 4031 sq km, Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca spreads across four provinces, including the Oriente, and includes alpine tundra and rainforest. Volcán…

  • Reserva Biológica Jatun Sacha

    The Oriente

    This 25-sq-km biological station and rainforest reserve is located on the south shore of the Río Napo, 23km east of Puerto Napo. It is run by Fundación…

  • San Rafael Falls, Ecuador

    San Rafael Falls

    The Oriente

    Ecuador's largest waterfall and a slash of Río Quijos cut through thick patches of cloud forest. To visit the falls, catch a bus from Baeza to Lago Agrio …

  • Ingapirca

    Southern Highlands

    Ecuador’s best-preserved archaeological site, Ingapirca, with its semi-intact temple, grazing llamas and open fields, is definitely worth a stopover if…

  • AmaZOOnico

    The Oriente

    You’re guaranteed to see all manner of jungle wildlife at AmaZOOnico, a well-known animal rehabilitation center located on the grounds of Selva Viva, a 17…

  • Laguna de Cuicocha

    Northern Highlands

    Head 18km west from Cotacachi and you’ll come upon this eerily still, dark lagoon cradled in a collapsed volcanic crater at 3100m. Some 3km wide and 200m…

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