Coast to Andes to Amazon

Ecuador is an incredibly beautiful country, with a surprisingly diverse landscape for its small size. The coast along the Pacific Ocean is long with stretches of white sandy beaches, and the water is warm for swimming year around.

Ecuador is bisected by the dramatic peaks of the Andes, which retain their signature snowcaps throughout the year. The mountain range descends into the central highlands. These high areas are dotted with volcanoes, many of them active and giving fantastic shows (few of them dangerous) to the lucky tourist.

The highlands drop off into the Amazon basin, where Ecuador cradles the mighty river. The Amazon is covered in dense rainforest, offering the adventurous traveler to Ecuador the opportunity to experience an incredibly wild place.

Ecuador is peppered with beautiful towns and cities. Quito is the capital city, known as one of the most beautiful capitals in South America. It has retained its colonial feel and is a mosaic of majestic white buildings, set on a hillside in the shadow of Pichincha, an active volcano. Quito is very cosmopolitan, and a perfect starting location for an Ecuadorian adventure.