Ecuador is a beautiful country that is located in the continent of South America. The place is believed to be right across the middle of the earth and hence an equatorial climate all time of the year. The country has great beaches and also the beautiful Amazon basin that lights up nature. Ecuador is a place for nature lovers as well as for adventure seekers.

Lets have a peek at some of the best places to visit in Ecuador.

The Galapagos Islands:

In the 16^th Century, there were many beautiful discoveries of heart pleasing places that took place but this island is something more than that as the explorers were just stunned to see the unique eco–system that prevails here. It is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is a home for giant tortoises and a variety of birds. This is one of the best places to visit in Ecuador.

Quito

Located in the High Andes, Quito is the Capital of Ecuador. It is a historic place to visit in Ecuador having magnificent structures of colonial architecture and is now the greatest historic center in South America. It also is known as the city of churches having more than 20 catholic churches from which some are listed among the 100 best buildings by UNESCO. The San Francisco Church has been the landmark of the city that is located in the Plaza San Francisco.

Cuenca

Known for its colorful festivals, Cuenca is the capital city of Azuay Province. It is one of the planned Renaissance towns in America which is also the home of many old colonial buildings. Most of the places to visit in Ecuador are designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cuenca is free from pollution, noise and that’s why the city’s all the white churches are still white that were made at least 500 years ago.

Otavalo

Famous for its weekly markets, Otavalo is a picturesque town to visit in Ecuador with the mountains making its beauty more incomparable. It is also the place where the Festival of the Sun is held in the month of June. The local musicians make their way here with their specific instruments and unique sounds of the instruments. The local tourists are very much fond of the blankets and the rugs which are manufactured in this colorful town

Banos

Entitled as the Gateway of Amazon, Banos is the home of hot springs which are usually fed by the hot waters of the Active Volcano. As it is the entry of the Amazon Basin thus many tourists and explorers love this spot and term this as a departure point. There are many waterfalls that add beauty to the scenic view of this place. The famous Melocha is also manufactured here, it is a tasty candy that gets melts when put into the mouth and is in great demand in the markets of Banos. Banos is one of the best places to visit in Ecuador.

Guayaquil

The largest city of Ecuador with nearly 2.7 million population, Guayaquil is located on the riverbank of Guayas. It is known as the Commercial Heart of Ecuador and famous for the 2.5km broad walk where the people of the city go and relax after their tiring affairs of the day. Guayaquil is discovered by Francisco de Orellana. It has many lush green gardens and endangered animals. Thus Guayaquil is loved by many explorers for the broad walk and the animal life present.

Salinas

Situated on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, Salinas is a westbound city of Ecuador. It is also compared to the beach city of Miami and thus it is also called the little Miami. Salinas is a place where Europeans usually visit for sunbath and spend their vacation with full luxury. The beach of La Chocolatera is a protected place where tourists need permission from the local police as in turtles lay their egg on this beach which is of good quality and usually consumed by the local people of Salinas. It is also one of the best places to visit in Ecuador.

Nariz Del Diablo

It’s a place where you can experience the journey of hell, Nariz Del Diablo or The Devil’s Nose is a place where people with strong heart are advised to visit. The train ride is the most popular rail ride in the world with the most dangerous railway track. It is located in the Andes Mountains and called Devil’s Nose due to the deep gorge nearly 2 miles which is just beside the track and also due to the zigzag pattern of the track with the steep but then it is also listed among the best places to visit in Ecuador. The ride is the main attraction among the tourists.

Cotopaxi and Cajas National Park

These are the most famous national parks in Ecuador. The Cotopaxi National Park is known for its active volcano Cotopaxi that got erupted recently in 2015. The Cajas National Park is a great place to hike and for biking as well. Both the parks are located within 50 km of each other and great places to visit in Ecuador.

 Exploring Amazon forest in Tena

This place is great for adventure lovers. You can explore the majority of the amazon rain basin located in Ecuador here. For adventure seekers, river boating and rafting are the water sports through which they can explore the beautiful place.