The Most Popular Tourist Attractions in Ecuador

Ecuador is a lovely destination for all tourists, who love pure nature, historical sites, beautiful beaches, wildlife, adventure and water sports. At their disposal are a great number of charming hotels in Ecuador, which offer premium quality service as well as incredibly perfect prices. You can find a lot of must see things in Ecuador, so in order to help you to plan your vacation without missing several of them, here is a list of the most well-known tourist attractions in Ecuador. 1.Quito- Ecuador’s capital (and second-largest) city has a setting of incredible natural splendor, overshadowed by the volcano Pichincha with its twin peaks of Ruco and Guagua. There you will see a number of the most exceptional Ecuador hotels. Quito used to be a significant Inca city that was destroyed shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Despite the fact that no Inca traces remain, the city has preserved a lot of its Spanish colonial character, the cathedral in the Plaza de la Independencia (the oldest church in South America) and the several old churches and monasteries being among the most notable instances. Most of Quito’s colonial churches are located into the Old Town, places of which have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 2.The Andean Highlands- The Pan-American Highway traverses the country from north to south, a spectacular route which passes through all of the principal cities of the Andean Highlands. You can find a variety of interesting cities there like Tulcán, Chota, as well as the valley of Otavalo. South of Quito, the region of Latacunga and Ambato has much fine scenery, marked by an avenue of volcanoes. Two active ones are located within the Parque Nacional Sangay, a national park of remarkable splendor which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The park is characterized by a number of landscapes, ranging from rain forests to glaciers, as well as various indigenous animal species, such as the mountain tapir along with the Andean condor. 3.Guayaquil- Ecuador’s biggest city, Guayaquil is also the chief port and commercial center. A single day for sure won’t be enough to visit all its attractions therefore you can book a hotel in Ecuador and have plenty of fun. A great starting point for sightseeing is the Rotonda, the city’s most historic landmark, which faces the fascinating garden promenade of Paseo de las Colonias. Across the malecón are the Government Palace and city hall while, at the northern end, one can find the ancient fortress of la Planchada. 4.The Littoral- This is a narrow coastal belt. The chief ports offer visitors with some of the best resorts for deep-sea fishing on the west coast. Especially gorgeous are the towns of Playas Posoria and Salinas, while Esmeraldas, one of the country’s most important ports, is additionally known for its gorgeous beaches. The relaxing island of Muisne is also changing into a preferred destination. 5.The Oriente- El Oriente is the term used by Ecuadorians to refer to the Amazon basin in eastern Ecuador. This is a primeval world of virgin forests and exotic flora and fauna, still generally inhabited by Indians. The principal towns of the area are El Puyo, Lago Agrio, Macas, Sucúa, Tena and Zamora. Tourist excursions are provided along the rivers, which provide the principal method of transport. One of the main rivers in this area is the Napo which, like most of the rivers in the Oriente, is a tributary of the Amazon (which lies further east in Peru). Baños is really worth visiting, taking its name because of the multiple springs and pools of hot and cold mineral waters. It's also the gateway to the Amazon area, passing through the spectacular gorge of the River Pastaza. 6.Galápagos Islands- Situated about 1000km west of the Ecuadorian mainland, the islands are bleak, barren and rocky. Made famous by Charles Darwin’s scientific voyage in the ‘Beagle’ throughout the 19th century, the islands’ authentic wildlife – which includes giant tortoises, lizards and iguanas – remains the most exciting feature for the modern-day visitor. Some 50 per cent of the islands’ species are found nowhere else on the planet. The islands have been turned into a national park in an attempt to preserve their natural condition, and, in 1978, UNESCO declared the Galápagos to be ‘the universal natural heritage of humanity’. In 1998, the Government enacted a law for the ‘Special Regime for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Galápagos Province’, which states that the protection of the area is a state responsibility.

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