Holidays in Ecuador offer a microcosm of South America. Ecuador is not a big country but it has dramatically contrasting sights and many places are only a day’s bus ride from the capital Quito. Ecuador is a country of bold contours and bright colours. You’ll find beautiful beaches, tropical rain forests, windswept highlands, ice capped volcanoes and pristine colonial architecture. The country holds more varieties of mammals and amphibians per square metre than most other countries on the planet. This extraordinary concentration of wildlife is due to its unique geographical position and varied terrain. Ecuador is on the equator between Columbia to the north and Peru to its south and east. Ecuador’s west coast looks out across the Pacific Ocean.
Astounding range of birds, animals and geography
Seaside resort holidays on the northern coast
Guided walking in the Andes
Impressive contemporary art galleries in Quito
Local customs and products in the markets in Otavalo and Saquisili
Street demonstrations and protests are common. It’s inadvisable to hang around and watch them.
British Nationals and other EU citizens require a current passport – it’s recommended that there is a minimum of a year to run to its expiry date. You will be issued with a T-3 tourist card on arrival, which you must keep with you and surrender on leaving. A departure tax is payable. Check that all your basic inoculations are up-to-date particularly for typhoid, polio and hepatitis.
Ecuador generally has a warm and subtropical climate despite variations caused by the Andes and the coast. Expect around 27°C/81°F January to June and around 22°C/72°F from July to December. The rainfall is high in the coastal and jungle areas especially from January to April.
Flights from the UK to Ecuador take around seventeen hours.
Driving is on the right but only around twenty per cent of the country’s roads are paved. Flash floods and landslides are common.