Ecuador: Top 15 attractions in the country of the Indian people

Cotopaxi

The highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi volcano, located 200 km south of Quito, was so named by the Indians in honor of the "shining mountain", which is actually visible far away on the twilight horizon line. And the snow caps of the peaks do not melt even under the scorching rays of the sun.

Kilotoa Lagoon

Kilotoa Lagoon is a high-altitude lake of incredible beauty in the crater of the extinct volcano of the same name.

The beautiful color of the water and the picturesque terrain, as a rule, do not leave indifferent travelers who come here. On the lake you can ride boats, horses and taste Indian cuisine and buy beautiful knitted products made of llama and alpaca wool.

The city of Quito

Quito is a really noteworthy city with a very clean and neat business center, with beautiful parks: La Carolina, El Ejido, Metropolitano; with a tourist area Mariscal with a large number of hotels and restaurants located in old haciendas.

And of course, the old town with its long history, many churches, squares, cathedrals framed by colonial architecture with a flavor of Gothic deserves special attention. Not far from Quito there is Mindo Butterfly Park and the resort village of Papayacta with thermal springs for spa vacationers.

El Cajas National Park

There is a unique area in the mountains of Ecuador that has been considered a national park since 1996. Some 270 beautiful lakes of El Cajas, which are home to many trout, are of glacial origin.

Due to the incredible beauty of its landscapes, this park is highly appreciated by tourists.

The town of Montañita

A real find for surfers is the town of Montañita, located on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The conditions here are very favorable for windsurfing, snorkeling and bodyboarding.

Montañita was once popular with the hippie movement, and today you can still hear reggae music performed by street musicians.

Galapagos Islands

Ecuador owns the uniquely beautiful Galapagos Islands, discovered in 1535.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, this unique biosphere reserve is considered a national park and is home to giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions and other unique animals and birds.

The archipelago is protected by UNESCO and is popular with divers around the world. Tourists are allowed to visit places strictly defined by the government, also it is not allowed to touch and feed animals and birds - this is monitored by the local police, so the country is trying to maintain a unique ecosystem and preserve the local wildlife.

City of Cuenca

Enjoy the stunning atmosphere of a beautiful colonial-style Ecuadorian city on a trip to Cuenca, the capital of the province of the same name in the Spanish autonomy of Castile-La Mancha in the center of the country.

This small medieval town, located 956 meters above sea level, is known for its "hanging houses" built right in the rocks.

First it was a Celtic settlement, then the Romans, Moors and Arabs came here, and all of them influenced the history and culture of the town, which has managed to preserve almost all of its medieval architecture and today is alive with tourism.

Chimborazo

On the edge of the earth, in the mysterious country of Ecuador, about which we are telling you today, the top of the Chimborazo volcano, which was extinguished one and a half thousand years ago and is a part of the mountain system of the Western Cordilleras of the Andes, props up the clouds.

The summit reaches 6,267 meters (according to others, 6,384.4 meters) above sea level. The Indians living at its foot still have great respect for the formidable peak.

Until the XIX century, Chimborazo was considered the highest mountain on the planet. Nowadays there are many scenic routes from easy trekking walks to difficult ascents.

San Rafael Falls

San Rafael Falls is one of South America's gems in terms of its beauty. Unfortunately, it will soon be blocked through a hydroelectric plant under construction and this unique waterfall will dry up and disappear.

Hurry to see the beauty not yet destroyed by civilization!

Retro train to Devil's Bridge.

The town of Alausi is inconspicuous on its own, but it is from here that the retro train to the famous Devil's Nose runs.

This unique section of railroad has been restored and is now used to entertain numerous tourists. It is one of the highest altitude roads in the world among the evergreen picturesque Andes.

The train passes then among mysterious mists, then through fabulous emerald meadows, then hovering right over bottomless abysses, making your nerves tickle. By the way, all carriages are panoramic and this little journey leaves no one indifferent.

The middle of the world

The 30-meter monument marking the place where the equator passes is located 26 km from Quito. It was erected in the 19th century to commemorate the first geodetic mission of the French Academy of Sciences.

Despite the proven inaccuracy of the measurements and the actual passage of the equator slightly to the north, Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is very popular with Ecuadorian tourists.

Basilica del Voto Nacional.

In the historic center of Quito, which we told you about above, is the very beautiful Basilica Del Voto Nacional.

This Roman Catholic cathedral is made in the Gothic style, but instead of the traditional chimeras, Del Voto Nacional is decorated with figures of pelicans, turtles, monkeys and other representatives of the fauna of Ecuador. The highest tower of the basilica overlooks the city.

Carondelet Palace

Located in Quito's Independence Square, the building of the seat of the Ecuadorian government and president was built in the 16th century. After Ecuador's independence, Carondelet received its current name and began to be used as the presidential palace.

Since 2007, the residence has been available to the public.

Ottavalo Market

Nestled between the volcanic peaks of Imambura, Mohanda and Cotachachi is the small town of Otavalo, known for its authentic Indian market.

Traditionally, the Otowalis were farmers, but increased tourism has led to a shift in production and now the locals are busy making popular fabrics and handicrafts.

Ingapirca Complex

The archaeological complex, located near Cuenca, is one of the most significant monuments of the ancient Inca civilization.

Ingapirca was once a small fortified city that suffered greatly from the Spanish conquests. Restoration of the ancient ruins began only in the middle of the XX century, and since then the monument is open to all visitors.