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Ecuador …. the time to go is now……

Real travelers love South America. Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and vertiginous nightlife: the wonders of South America set the stage for incredible adventures. It is as though the continent was built for travel; a place that excites, thrills, challenges & infuriates  

The word is out: as far as off-the-beaten-path destinations go, Ecuador is an absolute experience. A wildlife & flora heaven. Visit the strange & bizarre creatures of the world here, along with a marvellously varied landscape. From the high Andean altiplano to the low lying Amazon Basin, the verdant cloud forest of the interior to the otherworldly Galapagos Islands, the natural world is undoubtedly the highlight here. You just come prepared to be charmed & we will help you discover……

Be mindful of what you are getting into: South America can be a lifetime addiction. You would not realize this when you first hike on Andean trails & be awed by the pre-Colombian sites, but you come back for more. You will fall in love with the incredible wonders of this continent: its mist-covered peaks, thundering falls & vast rainforests. Add to this, the human-made treasures: buzzing indigenous markets, picturesque colonial towns & vibrant cityscapes. This is just the beginning, and in South America there really is no end.

From the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the undulating waterways of the Amazon, South America spreads a dazzling array of natural wonders. This is a continent of lush rainforests, towering volcanoes, misty cloud forests, bone-dry deserts, red-rock canyons, ice-blue glaciers & sun-kissed beaches. As landscapes go, there aren't many other places on earth that offers so much variety.

South America's diversity doesn't end with geography. You will find colonial towns where cobblestone streets lead past gilded churches & stately plazas, little changed since the 18^th century. You can haggle over colorful textiles at indigenous markets, share meals with traditional dwellers of the rainforest & follow the pounding rhythms of Afro-Brazilian drums corps. South America is home to an astounding variety of living & ancient cultures, and experiencing it first-hand is as easy as showing up.

You can hike past ancient temples first laid down by the Incas, contemplate the awe-inspiring power of Iguazu Falls, or spend the day watching wildlife from a dugout canoe on one of the Amazon's countless igarapes (narrow waterways). You can barrel down Andean roads by mountain bike, go white-water rafting on class V rivers and surf amazing breaks off both coasts. And once you think you have experienced it all, head to the dramatic landscapes in Tierra del Fuego, go eye-to-eye with extraordinary creatures in the Galapagos, & scramble up tableland mountains in the Gran Sabana for a panorama that seems straight out of the Mesozoic era.

This is one of the world's great music destinations. Nothing compares to hearing the rhythms of Colombian salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango & Andean folk music in the place where they were born. Buenos Aires' sultry milongas (tango clubs), Rio's simmering garrafeiras (dance halls), Quito's salsotecas (salsa clubs) – all great places to chase the heart of Saturday night. Yet this is only the beginning of a great musical odyssey that encompasses Peruvian trovas, soulful Ecuadorian passillos, fast-stepping Brazilian forro, whirling Venezuelan merengue, steel-pan Guyanese drumming, Paraguayan harp music & more. Simply plunge in – though you might want to take a dance class along the way!

The real reward, however, is the South American spirit. It seems like the entire continent approaches life with the enthusiasm of an old-fashioned road trip: windows down and stereo blaring. There is as much music as there are adventures to be had. Samba spices up the sandy streets of Brazilian beach towns, panpipes liven Andean markets, Argentine folklorica (folk music) trickles out of truck radios in the pampas, and the jolting rhythm of cumbia makes those Andean bus rides even more absurd. South America is a continent that engulfs you and changes you – your state of mind, your outlook on life. As soon as you step foot on South American soil, the transformation begins.

Sweat yourself dizzy on an Amazon canoe ride before ending the day caiman-watching on a black-water lagoon. Brave a white-knuckle bus ride down Peruvian slopes and be astounded by endless Andean vistas. Endure Patagonia’s wind-driven rain while chasing life-affirming sunsets or simply lose yourself (and possibly your belongings) in the break-neck chaos of Buenos Aires or Salvador  

Bisected by the equator, one part lying in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern, Ecuador is a land divided into three distinct geological regions - Sierra, Oriente & Costa. These regions seem like three different planets squeezed into one tiny country. In addition, Ecuador controls the Galapagos Islands, which is even more like a distant universe.

Ecuador’s coastal area offers hundreds of miles of beautiful Pacific coast beaches, lush tropical forests, fishing towns & coastal cities home to millions of people and also offers a warm climate year round & delicious gastronomy.

Nowhere else on earth will you find so much natural diversity - and all the fun that accompanies it - in so tiny a place.  Ecuador is the second-smallest country in South America, but its range of offerings is no less than astounding. In one day’s drive you can journey from the Amazon Basin across glaciated Andean volcanoes, down through tropical cloud forest and into the sunset for a dinner of ceviche on the balmy Pacific coast. One day you will pick through hand-woven wool sweaters at a chilly indigenous market in Otavalo; the next day you will sweat all over your binoculars while spying on howler monkeys in the Amazon jungles of the Oriente. For nature lovers Ecuador is a dream, with exotic orchids & birds, bizarre jungle plants, strange insects, windswept paramo (Andean grasslands), dripping tropical forests and the fearless animals that hop, wobble and swim around the unique, unforgettable Galapagos Islands.  

Ecuador's main attraction is almost 1,000 km from the mainland, out in the rolling Pacific Ocean on the Equatorial line: the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands. Known to be one of the natural wonders of the world, the Galapagos is like no other place on Earth. It is made up of 14 main islands and each one has its own unique geography and life, making each visit like going to a new and undiscovered world. . The islands, mostly uninhabited & of volcanic origin, are home to several species that do not exist anywhere else in the world, and the place where Charles Darwin defined his theory of the evolution of species in the 19^th century.

The best way to experience the Islands is on a cruise that tours the treasures, with a naturalist guide on board to help you understand all you are seeing.

Apart from these idyllic islands, the mainland also offers many treats. The Ecuadorian Amazon is a frontrunner in conservation-tourism & it complements time spent on the islands with a different perspective on the natural world.

The Andes range runs through the center of the country, with the highest peak towering well above 6,000 m (19,685 ft). The landscape is dominated by volcanoes, half of them active. Ecuador's main cities are located in the wide valley dubbed the Avenue of Volcanoes

East of the Sierra, this area of wet lowlands is covered by dense jungle & an intricate network of rivers, all of which carry water from the Andes into the Amazon River and the region is lauded for its extreme biodiversity.

For the adrenaline junky, the choices are outrageous. Mountaineering & Trekking are world class (try the Quilatoa Loop); toss in some horseback riding & surfing and you will go home with a happily aching body.

For the culture vulture, Ecuador's indigenous heritage of traditional costumes & highland markets will enchant you. As for colonial architecture, few cities top the beauty of Cuenca & Quito, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And you won't want to miss the Barios, with its enticing mix of natural beauty & jumping nightlife.

So, no matter if you can’t decide exactly where to go - just go! The beauty of Ecuador is that you can change your surroundings as quickly as you change your mind. A unique experience is just the beginning……. Take the plunge now and Yep….  Ecuador is waiting…….and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Ecuador. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………