10 best things to do in Ecuador

That only hints at the number of Ecuador tourist attractions as well, with fascinating culture in the Andes, the chance to spot whales off the coast and cross the equator, hot springs and more. So as you plan your own Ecuador holiday, here’s what not to miss.

Perhaps the biggest of all Ecuador attractions, the astonishingly rich and varied wildlife of the Galapagos Islands tops many bucket lists. And the best way to see some of the highlights is to cruise the islands where Darwin developed his theory of evolution.

Marine iguanas, Galapagos Islands

Some of the best-known inhabitants include blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, the only penguins to live along the equator and endangered long-lived giant tortoises, along with the rare Darwin finches. But that really is only the beginning of what you can find.

Blue-footed booby at sea, Galapagos Islands

On Santa Cruz island, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about the unique ecosystem in the archipelago, as well as a few of its more unusual sights on the slopes of the volcanic sinkholes known as Los Gemelos; look out for broccoli-shaped trees, orchids, flycatchers and mockingbirds.

Or on Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos, you can find more resident species of tortoise than the other islands combined. Add in a chance to spot turtles, rays, whales, sealions, fur seals, and some spectacular beaches and coral reefs, and no trip to Ecuador is complete without seeing this natural treasure for yourself.

The second-highest capital city in the world, Quito sits high up in the Andes, at 2,850 metres above sea level. Built on the site of an old Inca city, the UNESCO-listed old town has some of the finest Spanish architecture in the whole of South America. As you wander the narrow cobbled streets, lined with white colonial churches and brightly coloured houses, stop to admire the Presidential Palace and Plaza de San Francisco.

Quito

Finish with a view down from the cable car which leads up to the Pichincha Volcano – and save some time to visit the quarter of La Foresta, Quito’s creative heart which is known for its independent restaurants, boutiques and outstanding chocolate.

Although discovering colonial heritage may be one of the unmissable things to do in Ecuador, South America has a much longer history dating back centuries before the Spanish arrived. And the best place to experience a taste of this indigenous culture is in the Andes.

Craft market, Otavalo

As you head high into the mountains, the small Andean town of Otavalo is known for its bustling markets which stretch across three of the town’s plazas. With vibrant Andean textiles, jewellery, dreamcatchers, even ponchos knitted from alpaca wool, you’ll be hard pressed not to come away with at least one souvenir. But it’s also known for its long tradition of music, in particular flutes, while you’ll also come across panpipes and small stringed instruments known as charangos.

Elsewhere, Cotacachi is the centre of Ecuador’s leather industry, or you could also eat a meal cooked using the ancestral Pachamanca technique, where food is cooked over volcanic stones before pots are buried and covered with flowers as a thanks to the gods.

While most people tend to think of Brazil or Peru when it comes to visiting the Amazon rainforest, the Amazon Basin covers around a third of Ecuador’s land area, so it’s a perfect place to discover some of the astonishing biodiversity which thrives here, both on land and by water.

Amazon River Basin

The dense rainforest and mist-cloaked mountains of Yasuni National Park are a highlight; hike the trails, then cruise or kayak along the rivers to transport yourself into what feels like a lost world, where millions of species of plant, mammal, reptile and bird can be found. The area is also home to indigenous tribes, two of which live in voluntary isolation from the outside world, with an opportunity to learn more about native culture and customs at sites like Kuri Muyu Intercultural Centre.

Look out for toucan, tapir and treefrogs, as well as caiman and giant river otters as explore, not to mention hundreds of colourful birds, including parrots and macaws, as you explore.

As the country’s name suggests, you have the chance to cross the equator during your holiday. One of the most popular things to do in Ecuador is a visit to the Mitad del Mundo museum complex, around 16 miles north of Quito, where you can climb the monument and learn more about the country’s indigenous cultures in the Ethnographic Museum, as well as visiting various other Ecuador tourist attractions.

Monument Mitad del Mundo, the equator line

Accepted as being on the equator line for years, more precise calculations have found you actually need to travel another 240m to find the place where the equator actually runs around the earth, with the nearby Museo Intiñan on the corrected location – interactive displays include watching water drain in different directions on either side.

Or for another memorable opportunity to walk across the equator, head to the Quitsato Equatorial Monument – a name which means middle of the world in the indigenous Tsafiki language. This giant sundial is also a solar clock, with a massive 52m diameter and a stone mosaic marking out the different equinoxes.

Wherever you travel in Ecuador, you’ll see volcanoes – the capital Quito is overlooked by one of the country’s 27 potentially active volcanoes for starters. So one of the best things to do in Ecuador and Galapagos is to visit one of these peaks.

Cotopaxi volcano

Dedicated vulcanologists could follow the Avenue of Volcanoes which stretches for around 350km, dividing the country into different regions; the Quilotoa Loop is one of the best sections for those who love hiking.

Or not far from Quito, Cotopaxi is one of the most photogenic while in the north, Cayambe is the third-highest peak in the country, looming above the little town of the same name. And in the Galapagos, you can even hike one of the six volcanoes on Isabela. Sierra Negra is one of five active volcanoes on the island, with one of the largest calderas in the world, measuring almost 10km across. Home to birdlife galore, there are some spectacular views down onto Elizabeth Bay from the summit.

The Ecuador attractions drawing most visitors to the country’s Imbabura region are the town of Otavalo and the area’s indigenous traditions. But the area is also home to some of the country’s most memorable landscapes, resulting in the name of the province of lakes because it holds more water reserves than any other in Ecuador.

With the scenery carved out by volcanoes, including the formidable Imbabura Volcano, there are some wonderful places to walk and soak up the views, including San Pablo Lake not far from Otavalo.

Cuicocha Crater Lake

But the gleaming sapphire blue waters of Lake Cuicocha are among the loveliest, a crater lake dotted with forest covered islands. Said to look like the backs of two guinea pigs, they gave the island its name; in local language Kichwa, Cuiococha means guinea pig.

Every year, humpback whales migrate to the coast of Ecuador, attracted by the warm waters around the Machalilla National Park on the central Pacific coast. Breeding and giving birth in these warmer waters every year, the migration begins in May with the whale-watching season running from June to September, although July and August tend to be the best months for viewings.

Humpback whale, Ecuador

Puerto López is known as the country’s whale-watching capital, not far from the national park, which is also known for its ecological diversity and rich wildlife – even if you don’t spot a humpback whale, this area is a haven for nature-lovers.

If you’re visiting outside these months, or simply can’t get enough of seeing these gentle giants, the area between Isabela and Fernandina islands in the Galapagos is another great place for spotting whales, as well as around the Darwin and Wolf islands in the north of the archipelago. Orcas, Bryde’s and sperm whales can be spotted year-round, while other species including blue whales migrate to the marine reserve around the islands between July and November.

There’s another legacy of the country’s volcanic past which should be added to your list of the 10 best things to do in Ecuador – a chance to relax in the thermal hot springs of Papallacta. Around 40 miles from the capital, set high up in the Andes mountains, the pools are heated by geothermal energy and have a reputation for relieving different ailments.

Papallacta mountain

Even without that bonus, lying back in the naturally warm water and enjoying the wonderful views over the mountains is an unforgettable experience. As well as the public pools of the Balneario where the water is as hot as 42C, there are private pools. At Termas de Papallacta, you can choose from eight pools of different sizes and temperatures. Too hot to handle? The bathing complexes have cold pools to cool off or you could even brave the chilly waters of the Rio Papallacta.

Quito is not the only Ecuadorian city built on the site of a pre-Columbian settlement, and Cuenca has a similarly attractive feel to its old town. Named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the grid of streets in the historic zone are lined with elegant townhouses and white churches, opening into shaded squares but without the busier atmosphere of the capital.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Cuenca

This pretty city is also one of the best places to pick up an authentic Panama hat; despite the name, they come from Ecuador, rather than Panama, originally made with toquilla straw in the nearby town of Montecristi and you can visit one of the hat factories during your time in Cuenca.

It’s also home to a string of markets, with stalls selling traditional products as well as the flower market in the Plaza de las Flores, plus as an art museum, and another with a collection of archaeological finds from across the area.

Discover the Galapagos Islands, Amazon Rainforest and Andes on one of our escorted tours of Ecuador