Ecuador
Life at its purest
Straddling the Equator, the geographical point from which the country gets its name, Ecuador is fast becoming the world’s leading ecotourism destination.
Most famous for the Galapagos Islands, Nature’s wonderland of wildlife that so inspired Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, mainland Ecuador is equally fascinating. From mangrove coastlines and sweeping beaches where the Pacific Ocean surf makes land, the Earth sweeps dramatically upwards to some of the highest peaks in the South American Andes where dazzling glaciers cling to the volcanic peaks of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo and beneath which the Ecuadorian people maintaining the rich fruits of these fertile lands and selling their wares at many of the lively local markets that scatter the region.
Continuing east, the peaks give way to cloud forest, waterfalls, and finally the mighty Amazon Basin itself, home to birds, animal life, undiscovered plants and indigenous tribes, some of whom still survive without contact with the modern world.
Ecuador is just a small country, but is considered among the 17 most diverse countries in the world for its geographical, cultural and biological diversity. It contains 33 natural state-protected reserves and extensive tropical forests, 1,600 species of birds, 4,500 species of butterfly, 250 species of reptiles, 360 species of amphibians, 260 species of mammals, 27 different ethnic backgrounds, 13 recognised indigenous groups and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites – City of Quito, Galapagos Islands, Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca and Sangay National Park.
Ecuador is a nature lover’s paradise, but not without threats. Oil exploitation, illegal logging and uncontrolled farming threaten many of the country’s natural resources and communities, and in June 2007 the Galapagos Islands were added to the UNESCO In Danger List. Responsible tourism has a role to plan in helping Ecuador protect its natural and cultural wonders – read more on each of our Travel Experts’ pages.