The Galapagos Islands are the jewel of a trip to Ecuador. They are located about 1,000 km west of the mainland in the heart of the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The Galapagos archipelago features 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and about a hundred islets and rocks.
This is an animal lover's paradise where you can encounter countless animals up close in their natural habitat, some of which are unique (endemic) to the Galapagos. The animals in the area are not afraid of humans at all and do not run away from them. The main danger for travelers is accidentally stepping on an iguana's tail...
Ecuador has a lot to offer travelers and is usually much cheaper than other countries. Even a special destination like the Galapagos can be visited at an attractive price with proper and professional planning.
Ecuador also offers travelers impressive nature with towering and impressive volcanoes, picturesque lakes, the sea, rivers with crocodiles, jungles in the Amazon, as well as attractions and action such as rope parks, river cruises, swings (giant swings), paragliding, and good hotels at affordable prices. Hot springs and friendly locals for the tourist.
In eastern Ecuador, a half-hour flight from Quito, lies powerful and unique nature where a trip is an experience you will not soon forget: the Ecuadorian Amazon is an impressive destination that integrates well with a trip to Quito and its surroundings. On this trip, you can reach remote places in the Amazon jungles, feel the power of nature in all its glory, and see a variety of wildlife: monkeys, caimans, birds, and even jaguars and wild cats.
Read More
The city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, is the second largest city in the country after Guayaquil. The city has about two million residents. The city is located right next to the equator, at a high altitude above sea level, nestled on a ridge of the Andes Mountains. Independence Square in the heart of the city is located at an altitude of 2,850 meters, so the weather in the city is pleasant and not too hot as might be expected from a place located on the equator.
It is worthwhile to depart from Quito for star tours around it with drives of several hours in each direction. The advantage is that you don't need to look for a new hotel every day; additionally, the selection of hotels in Quito is larger so you can choose a place that suits you in terms of quality and price.
The destinations for a trip around Quito are the cities: Otavalo, Mindo and its surroundings, Cotopaxi Volcano, and a visit to the equator.
Santa Cruz Island has an area of about one thousand square kilometers and its maximum height is 864 meters. Most of the islands' residents are located on this island, and most of them live in the city of Puerto Ayora. Puerto Ayora is a nice coastal city with many shops, hotels, and restaurants along its main street, Charles Darwin Avenue, which runs parallel to the coastline. This is the more touristic area and also more expensive in terms of restaurants and shopping in stores.
Although Santa Cruz is the most inhabited and touristic island, you can see plenty of wildlife in nature alongside impressive geological phenomena and wonderful beaches.
Isabela Island in the Galapagos archipelago is the largest in area in the Galapagos with an area of 4,640 square kilometers. The highest point on it is the Wolf Volcano, which is about 1,700 meters high. This island is the result of the merger of six large volcanoes.
This is the only island in the Galapagos crossed by the equator. It also has penguins, making it the only place in the Northern Hemisphere where penguins live in the wild.
On San Cristobal, you can see a variety of animals and birds: frigatebirds, red-footed and blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, seagulls, sea lions, dolphins, and giant tortoises.
Aside from that, the island is known for its cliffs and caves.
Otavalo, located about eighty kilometers north of Quito, is mainly known for its huge and unique market held there every Saturday where you can find everything. But the market is just one of many attractions in the area where you can spend two full and diverse days combining culture with nature and landscapes.
The city of Baños in Ecuador, whose full name is Baños de Agua Santa, is located about 190 km south of the capital Quito. The city sits at an altitude of 1,820 meters in a valley surrounded by mountains at the foot of the Tungurahua Volcano, which is located south of it.
Baños is considered a starting point for the Amazon. It is the most popular tourist city in Ecuador thanks to the many attractions it offers tourists. The city has natural beauty thanks to its location between the mountains and the many waterfalls in its surroundings.
Sigalit Bar, this site owner, is a travel advisor and licensed travel agent. She has written several Hebrew travel books about various destinations around the world.
Terms of use:
A lot of time and effort has been put into this website
in order to provide visitors with useful
information for planning their trips. The information on
the site is provided for free and is for personal use
only. Use of any material on this website or its many
links is at your own discretion and responsibility.
