| Places and Destination | Geography and Wildlife | Art and Culture

Places and Destinations:

Ride the Devil's Nose Photo Gallery
Called the "Most Difficult Train in the World", the train trip between Riobamba and Alausí is one of Ecuador's most famous attractions. The railroad was originally built to connect the Andes with the coast, and the route goes up and down steep slopes, along river valleys and has to negotiate a wall of rock called Nariz del Diablo, the Devil's Nose. Travelers today can choose to sit inside, or ride the roof for a better view.

A Visit to Hacienda Alegria, Ecuador
Like many of Ecuador's famous haciendas, Hacienda Alegria is a family-owned and operated working ranch and organic farm. The owners, Gabriel Espinosa and his wife Paty, continue the traditions of his ancestors, where horses are paramount. The hacienda specializes in horseback riding adventures, some only a day in length and requiring a minimun of skill. Others involve advanced horsemanship and days in the saddle.

Baños, Ecuador - Volcanos, Miracles and Tourists
In spite of an active volcano overhead, Baños draws visitors to the hot springs, the basilica, for ecology and sports. It's beautiful, too!

Cuenca Ecuador
Cuenca, the third largest city of Ecuador, offers a mix of modern and colonial, green spaces, pleasant parks, a relaxed lifestyle, wildlife preserves and access to Ecuador's Inca ruins at Ingapirca. Called both the Athens of the Andes and the cultural capital of Ecuador, Cuenca has much to offer the visitor.

Ecuador for Visitors
The three regions of Ecuador, coast, mountains and Amazonia, offer the visitor a multitude of choices, including the heritage capital, Quito, lush seaside resorts, Volcano Alley, rainforests, verdant mountain plains and a relaxed lifestyle.

Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Esmeraldas, long accessible only by sea, is now a commercial and tourism destination with white sand beaches, ecological reserves, and direct access to Quito, Cuenca and other inland Ecuadorian cities.

Explore Ecuador's El Oriente
Ecuador's eastern region offers rainforests, many rivers, birding, adventure and ecological research.

Quayaquil, Ecuador - La Perla del Pacífico
Many travelers zip through Guayaquil on their way to the Galapagos. Those who take the time to explore the city and southern coastal Ecuador might be pleasantly surprised.

The Haciendas of Ecuador
Enjoy Ecuadorian hospitality, history, cuisine and attractions at one of these haciendas, also called hosterías. Some are rustic, some are three, four and five star luxury establishments.

Galapagos Archipelago - Ecuador
The Galápagos archipelago, first discovered uninhabited by the Spaniards in 1535, and later made famous by Charles Darwin in 1835, is both a province and a national park of Ecuador, 600 mi (1000 km) west on the mainland. It is a premiere wildlife observation, protection and research center visited annually by thousands of tourists.

Otavalo, Ecuador
Home of one of the most famous markets in South America, Otavalo is also the site of the Fiesta del Yamor, a two-week celebration of thanksgiving at the second annual equinox.

Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador's capital is a mix of colonial history and modern enterprise, a city at the middle of the world, and a delight to visitors. Tour the city, then venture out on the PanAmerican Highway, north and south.

Galapagos Wildlife Gallery
The Galapagos archipelago (22 main islands and many small islands) has been compared to a giant zoo where you can observe (but not touch) the animals at close range. Here are pictures of only a few of the thousands of species inhabiting the islands.

Art and Culture:

Chagras and Bravos - Ecuador's Annual Rodeo
Ecuador's annual rodeos take place twice a year. One event is a typical rodeo competition, with parades, and a family-oriented bullfight. The other is a serious, two-week roundup ride with horsemen called chagras into the high altiplano to bring down thousands of cattle, bulls called bravos, and wild horses to the haciendas. Visitors can take part in this ancient tradition on horseback or watch from the sidelines.

Christmas in Ecuador
Christmas in Ecuador is a colorful celebration incorporating traditional religious events with local traditions. Enjoy the festive Pase del Niño Viajero in Cuenca and the Pesebres, novenas, Cena de Nochebuena and Misa del Gallo in Quito and other Ecuadorian communtities and top off the holiday season with the Fiesta de Año Viejo.