Ecuador means “equator”, and yes, this compact country lies smack dab on the north/south line. Its charms are as modern as the multi-million dollar telefériQo sky tram in Quito, and as ancient as evolution. Ecuador teems with jungles and cities, exotic wildlife and equally exotic people.
Ecuador borders the Pacific, with Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. Its capital city, Quito, looms in the Andean highlands with the Pichincha Volcano towering above. The cobblestone streets of its Old City wind past ancient churches and colonial buildings. Thanks to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it will remain an intact testament to Quito’s history. Ecuador is the location of the Galapagos Islands, a living museum of evolution, where Darwin developed his revolutionary findings, and where the sea lions, penguins and iguanas have never learned to fear humans. The city of Cuenca was home to the Canaris culture, then center of the Incan empire, then the Spanish arrived. It holds a wealth of archaeological attractions, and its restaurants offer the best in Ecuadorian cuisine. One can dine in the lavish comfort of a 200 year old mansion at Los Capulies, or snack at the street vendors who sell roast guinea pig on a stick.
