Ecuador

Home to dazzling white-sand beaches, charming colonial towns, the towering Andes, lush rainforest and the Galapagos Islands – a volcanic archipelago with one of the most diverse wildlife populations in the world – Ecuador is an extraordinary destination. Whether you’ve come to relax, to party, or to explore, this small equatorial country has everything and more.

Visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, the Galapagos Islands played a crucial role in the development of his theory of evolution. The islands are home to a number of animals not found anywhere else in the world, including marine iguanas, the Galapagos giant tortoise, the unique blue-footed booby, and Darwin’s finches. Capital city Quito is dramatically set high up in the Andes, and is known for ornate 16th- and 17th-century buildings such as the beautiful Compañía de Jesús Church, in its well-preserved Spanish colonial old town. It’s packed full of fabulous food and culture, including a lively, creative craft beer scene. The country’s most famous national park is Cotopaxi, known for the 5,897-metre-tall Volcán Cotopaxi, crumbling haciendas, and spectacular hiking trails. The lush rainforest of Yasuní National Park is home to over 600 bird species, jaguars, tapirs, and pumas. Head to the coast for golden beaches and great surfing, such as in the sleepy town of Canoa, or head to steaming thermal baths at Papallacta.