Ecuador sits in the Equator between Peru and
Columbia, and is the smallest of the Andean nations,
sitting next to the Pacific Ocean. The mountain range
splits Ecuador into the Costa coastal region
in the west and the Amazon in the east. Quito,
the capital in the Andes is the second highest
capital in the world. Ecuador is famed for its diverse
geography and it is said that you can experience all
four seasons in one day in one of the most bio-diverse
places on earth - from the Sierra of the Andes, to
Pacific banana and coffee plantations to the upper
Amazon basin and its mysterious tropical jungles,
still inhabited by Indian tribes.
The natural history of the Galapagos Islands
has fascinated visitors since naturist, Charles Darwin
arrived in 1845 and formed the theory of evolution
here, in this natural wonderland where it is possible
to see mating turtles, penguins, and a range of rare
and exotic species unrivaled in the world.
Read the full story -
background and travel essentials
