The capital city of Ecuador and once the northern capital of the INCA empire, Quito is nestled in the Andes at almost 10,000 feet altitude.
Although the INCA past was erased from history, the colonial churches and convents are very well-preserved and clustered around the town centre. Due to their superb architecture and sculpture, gold-leafed décor and shining glass and art, Quito centre became the first town that UNESCO declared as a world heritage site. Quito is within a couple of hours from the Andean volcanoes, tropical cloud forest, the remnants of the original Andean forest, Andean markets the equatorial line monument and museums.

This is our base hotel in Quito. It is situated on the edge of the plateau that holds the city, giving an exceptional 360º view of both the city and the neighboring valley and the surrounding mountains. It is also the site were the first Spaniards departed to cross the Amazon River, leading to the legend of El Dorado.
It has beautiful gardens, home to myriad flowers and humming birds. In the heart of these is an acclimatized swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness center, whirlpool bath, sauna and Turkish bath. Its seventh floor restaurant affords the greatest panoramic view from Quito, the perfect spot to enjoy the magnificent buffet breakfast.

The city's historical centre is one of the most famous and dazzling testimonies of the colonial past of America. It is the first Cultural Heritage site designated by UNESCO.
A tour would include a visit to the Independence Square at the very heart of the colonial city where public buildings, baroque churches and neoclassical monasteries were built. From the nearby hill named "El Panecillo", you can admire the entire city with its mixture of high, modern buildings and 17th century domes.
Just north of Quito is the monument dedicated by the Condamine, the French expedition in the 18C to find the equatorial line. Here, you can not only straddle the line dividing North and South, but visit the great museum dedicated to the culture of Ecuador.

2 hours North along the Pan-American highway is the town of Otavalo. Long before the Spanish Conquest, town squares like the one here, were used by the indigenous people to sell their products. This tradition has remained unchanged and in these colorful and noisy "mercados" the natives offer all of their wares in the largest market of its kind in South America, displaying a wide variety of goods, folklore, arts, crafts, ceramics and regional garments. Certain days also hold the fruit and animal market.
A day tour would take you to various surrounding villages and take in some breathtaking Andean views with a hacienda-style lunch.

2 hours south along the Pan-American Highway is the most impressive active volcano of the Andes. With its limpet shape, and snow-capped peak, Cotopaxi Volcano provides a great way to get close to Andean summits. Glacial streams lead to rivers ending either in the Pacific or the Amazon.
Its surrounding foothills are a national park where condors sometimes soar past. At this high altitude (15,000ft), extreme weather has shaped an extraordinary flora.
Among the birds found here is the Ecuadorian Hillstar: the world’s highest humming bird. Many others make the national park their stopping ground, and the high mountain lake a great sight for bird-watching.

An hour east of Quito is Antisana, a 12,000 ft high ecological reserve surrounding the snow-capped mountain of the same name. It provides an important corridor between national parks of enormous biodiversity. A visitor can engage in cloud forests in deep ravines, paramo tundra, great wildlife observation possibilities including the Andean Condors, fantastic examples of high mountain flora swamps and a lagoon. A day tour would leave Quito at 8am, with a visit to the national park, including the Mica lagoon, and a horse back ride. A typical Andean lunch is provided in the Hacienda. After a brief stop at Sangolqui, famous for it’s silverware you will return
to Quito , arriving by mid-afternoon.

Leaving the Andes and traveling best, one World reach the high tropical cloud forest nestling on the steep slopes between the mountains and the coastal plains. This pristine habitat is comparable to jungle without the humidity and insects but due to the varying altitudes and valleys, has given rise to one of the most diverse regions in Ecuador, a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers.
From the verandas and rustic rooms of the wooden lodge, one is surrounded by hummingbirds and can afford some of the best bird observations of the region. With guided walks and excellent cuisine, this forest lodge is ideal for a couple of days in nature.

The Hacienda Cusin is an elegantly restored 17th century Andean estate at 8,500 feet altitude. It is decorated with antiques and boasts select Andean craft-furnished salons and guest rooms, the majority with log-burning fire places, beamed-ceilings, king beds and extensive garden views. All year round, the gardens are a haven for over 50 species of birds and magnificent flowers.
Relaxing within the grounds and surroundings, one can walk, horse-ride or cycle around the surrounding hills and the friendly village of San Pablo, with which Cusin has very close associations. Nearby visits include Otavalo market, a leather town and the volcanic crater lake of Cotocachi.

In recent years, Guayaquils town centre has been subjected to a major facelift, reviving its neoclassical government buildings and century-old sculptures and stone décor. The restored seafront, the Malecon 2000, holds witness to its maritime past and now houses one of the finest botanical gardens. Continuing along the riverfront one arrives at the ‘Mercado Sur’, an iron market-place built by Eiffel.
Close to the city one can visit cacao and banana plantations, which are the origins of the city’s trade and wealth, as well as natural areas harboring the typical plethora of birds and diverse habitats.

The Grand Hotel Guayaquil shares a whole city block with the largest and the most spectacular Cathedral in Guayaquil. The Cathedral’s spires and impressive stained glass windows adorn the hotel’s inner court that includes a cozy pool, a waterfall and a lush 45-foot tall climbing garden.
The Grand Hotel Guayaquil has a long tradition of personalized friendly service. Its 182 rooms are generously sized and handsomely decorated and its restaurants combine local history with tasty cuisine!
Within walking distance is the iguana park, the Malecon 2000 and the ‘Mercado Sur’ as well as some fine corner cafes serving up their fresh juices and plantain.

Cerro Blanco is also worth a visit in order to take in another habitat in Ecuador’s varied land. With a local guide, this semi-dry forest’s local wildlife can be observed along nature trails along with its great Ceibo trees. Endemic birds can be seen here as well as the program to help the local Great Green Macaw.

500 miles of Pacific Coastline and very few peope along it make the beaches of Ecuador a really relaxing environment. El Faro Escandinavo (Scandinavian Beacon) is found in a quiet niche along this coast, in the province of Manabi.
The flavours emanating from the kitchen are a true reflection of the exquisite cooking of co-owners Henning from Norway and Napo from Ecuador.
The coast of Manabi is grear for bird-watching. Venturing into the coastal forests one can often have a close-encounters with Howler monkeys. Just off shore, one can encounter humpback whales and their newborns (July – September) and visit Isla de la Plata (a.k.a. Poor Man’s Galapagos). This harbors a variety of Birds including boobies and albatross.

Get a taste of the Amazon. Sacha Lodge is the more comfortable way of doing this.
Only a half hour plane ride from Quito to Coca, then an exciting path down the Napo river, a tributary to the Amazon river, takes you to remotely situated Sacha Lodge.
The lodge consists of a series of cabins with insect screens and other ‘creature’ comforts. The dining area butts on to the mosquito-free lake. Although full of Cayman and piranhas, it is the most comfortable swim you can imagine. Excursions take place from the lodge itself and will take you on to canopy walks, rowing down streams, visiting butterfly breeding areas. Staying put and relaxing in the lodge itself is a great option, often resulting in some of the best wildlife and bird experiences.