The Andes Mountains
Tours to Ecuador have become very popular in recent years. There are a number of reasons for this. The government of Ecuador began its ‘Ecuador Love Life’ tourism campaign in 2013 highlighting the stunning natural and cultural appeal of vacations to Ecuador. Learning from other countries and seeing where they have failed by giving tourism development priority over protecting their natural resources, Ecuador has dedicated over US$600 million to improving their existing tourism facilities, while spending more than double that figure to protect their national parks.
Located on the equator in northwestern South America, Ecuador is one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet. Nowhere else on Earth will you find a greater variety of flora and fauna, geography and climatic zones in such a small area. Ecuador is home to one of the highest ratios of land to protected areas in the world, with no fewer than 45 natural state-protected reserves and tropical areas with more than 1,640 species of birds; 4,500 species of butterflies, 345 species of reptiles, 358 species of amphibians and 258 species of mammals. This makes any vacation in Ecuador a truly unique experience for lovers of the natural world.
Galapagos Land Iguana
A cruise to the Galapagos Islands is something visitors will never forget. Located 600 miles off the coast, the Galapagos are a nature lover’s paradise, home to unique species including iguanas, Galapagos tortoises, albatrosses, boobies and sea lions. The unique flora and fauna here inspired scientist Charles Darwin to study the islands as part of his work on the origin of species. Nowhere else on Earth has a greater concentration of unique flora and fauna in such a small area. Here you will experience the amazing ability to visit uninhabited islands filled with animals who have no fear whatsoever of humans.
Another amazing place of incredible natural beauty that Ecuador has to offer is the Amazon. A major hotspot of biodiversity, it is easily accessed via a 45 minute flight from Quito. Yasuní National Park is only about half the size of the state of Connecticut, but is home to over 600 bird species, 170 mammal species, 120 reptile species, and incredibly, more tree species than exist on the entire continent of North America. Amazon Jungle tours can be easily arranged, staying in luxurious, albeit remote jungle lodges. Yasuní is also home to four main indigenous tribal groups, two of whom purposely isolate themselves from modern society and one group that has never had any contact with the outside world.
The Amazon Jungle Canopy
In closing, a vacation to Ecuador is an amazing opportunity to connect with nature in a way that is impossible anywhere else in the world. It is a spectacularly beautiful, welcoming and safe country to visit.
We discovered how to love life in Ecuador! Watch our one minute introduction video to see why we think it’s one of the most exciting, rewarding destinations in the world….
