ECUADOR - GALAPAGOS

ABOUT ECUADOR

The coastal region and the high Andean basins of what is now Ecuador were inhabited by Indian tribes when the first Europeans reached the Pacific coast in 1526. The Inca Empire extended over the highland region to an area near Quito. The first Spanish settlement in Ecuador was established in 1534 at Quito on the site of an important Inca town of the same name. Ecuadorians are a result of the mixture of Europeans and Indigenous people with still some 40% of the population of pure indigenous descent.

Ecuador is located on the northwestern part of South America, surrounded by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. The country consists of three distinct geographical regions: the Pacific coastal lowlands in the west, the Highlands (Andes) in the center; and the eastern lowlands (Oriente). The last, which forms nearly half of the country’s area, is part of the Amazon basin and is therefore sparsely populated. The coastal lowlands are the most populated and economically important part of Ecuador.

Travelers come to Ecuador mainly attracted by the idea of sailing around the magical Galapagos Islands, a true paradise where you can interact with wildlife and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming and snorkeling. In addition to Galapagos, Ecuador is a great place to admire colonial architecture in the cities of Quito and Cuenca, get to experience the rich heritage in the colorful Indigenous markets, take a train ride through the Andes or get to sleep in a historic hacienda. For adventurous spirits, volcano trekking, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking in the cloud forest and explorations in the Amazon jungle are all possible here.