Ecuador has very much significance to me.  It’s where my parents were born and raised and it’s where my roots are located.  However, I was born and raised in the United States and have only visited Ecuador twice prior to my last visit so I really didn’t know much about it until I started doing my own research.  On my most recent trip, I took it upon myself to photograph Ecuador the way I saw it and compare it to the way my parents had once seen it.  Of course it has changed significantly and for the better.  But the old historic buildings, the people, and the food haven’t changed.

The capital, Quito, is a colonial city with a mixture of old and new.  It sits in a valley surrounded by nine volcanoes…yes nine.  And people there seem to go about their lives despite the risk of eruptions.  Climbing to the top of the cathedral in the city center gives you a 360-degree view of the city.  Not too far away lies the equator (hence the country’s name) and the monument La Mitad del Mundo.

There are many small towns throughout the country that are definitely worth visiting.  The town of Otavalo is famous for its open market which you will find everything from ponchos to hats to live animals for sale.  Quilotoa and Zumbahua are two small towns near a huge crater lake called the Quilotoa Lake.  You can hike to the bottom of the crater all the way down to the water.  But don’t forget you have to come back up and at 13,000 ft (4,000 meters) elevation, you feel every step…trust me.  Cuenca and Riobamba are cities worth visiting for their architecture.  Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador is a busy metropolis and you should stop to visit Las Peñas, an old colorful neighborhood.  For adventure, visit Baños and El Puyo and bike along the side of the mountains while passing breathtaking waterfalls.  Lastly, visit Machililla national park located in the southern coast of Ecuador.  There you can relax on the beaches and take a boat ride to the small island of Isla de la Plata where you can spot the blue-footed boobies.

As you can see, Ecuador has a bit of everything and thanks to its small size in comparison to other South American countries, it does not take long to get around.  The Galapagos Islands will be on the to-do list for the next visit.