Ecuador has a very special place in my heart. Both my parents were born and raised in Ecuador and eventually moved to the U.S., where I’m born.  Though I’ve never lived in Ecuador, I always feel a connection when I visit.  I made it my mission to explore a bit of my roots and try to capture the beauty of the culture and nature as best as I could.  I visited Ecuador on several occasions, each time exploring a different section of the country.

Quito: Perhaps South America’s most beautiful capital

Ok, I might be biased, but Quito’s historical city center is truly beautiful. The old colonial buildings are very well preserved and Quito is home to many squares, gardens and beautiful churches. It’s also a relatively compact city center, making everything very walkable. Quito is alive and there are street artists, vendors and entertainment at every corner of the street.  Not too far from the city lies the monument ‘Mitad del Mundo‘, or ‘Middle of the World‘.  This is where the equator, line of zero latitude, runs across the country, hence the country’s name.  This is worth a short day trip from the capital.

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Bird heaven in the cloud forest of Mindo

If you’re an avid bird lover, head to the cloud forest of Mindo. Here, many different species of colored hummingbirds buzz around, as well as many other species such as toucans and even the elusive cock-of-the-rock with its unique mating calls. Even if you’re not into birds, Mindo is worth a visit as it’s a refreshing break from busy Quito.

Ecuador’s most iconic volcano: Cotopaxi

Ecuador is full of volcanoes and the iconic Cotopaxi volcano can be seen from very far away as you leave Quito. This giant, snow-capped cone shaped volcano is Ecuador’s most known volcano. Often covered in clouds, you’d have to be lucky to admire it in its full glory. The base of Cotopaxi is very easily accessible from Quito and is worth spending some days to hike through the area and hopefully get a glimpse of the summit. Wild llamas roam around and you can see a lot of other wildlife and native plants on the banks of the volcano.

The highlands of Ecuador: Rural life and picturesque villages

As you travel further south through Ecuador, you pass a lot of small towns where you can interact with friendly locals. I recommend visiting Riobamba and Cuenca, as both have beautiful architecture and are bustling smaller cities. Make sure to also stop at the Quilotoa lake, a gorgeous blue crater lake at a very high altitude that has impressive views from the top. Just make sure to take it easy as the altitude in this area is no joke. If it’s adventure you’re after, the small town of Baños will satisfy your needs. Here you can go white water rafting, bike along waterfalls and zipline with views over volcanoes. It’s Ecuador’s adventure capital and has something for everyone.

Unique wildlife at Isla de la Plata

Right off the coast, located next to the Machalilla National Park, is Isla de la Plata. This small island, often called the miniature Galapagos, is home to a small colony of the iconic blue footed boobies, frigate birds and other wildlife. It’s in no way a replacement of the Galapagos Islands, which I visited on another occasion, but if you’re crunched for time and really want to see the blue footed boobies, you might try your luck here.