Ecuador is South America in miniature. It has the Andes, active volcanoes, the Galapagos Islands, the best highland market on the continent, and the Amazon rainforest — all within a few hours of each other. You could pack an awful lot into a short Ecuador itinerary, or you could explore the country for months. 3 […]
Tag Archives: Ecuador
17
Aug
Aug
On Tuesday, I turned 30. I celebrated my birthday on the road through Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. As I’ve been spending a lot of time on buses staring out the window at the East African savanna, I’ve been reflecting on my first 30 years of travel. So I put together this list of […]
18
Mar
Mar
Solo female travel is all the rage these days. More and more women are taking off on adventures alone and learning just how empowering it can be. Destinations like Portugal, Thailand and Bali are at the top of every list of best destinations for solo female travellers. Don’t get me wrong, those are great places […]
19
Feb
Feb
Otavalo is a classic Andean town. It’s crisp, cool and a little misty. People roam the streets in traditional dress. It would just be another dot on the map if it weren’t for the fact that the town is home to one of the largest and most important artisan markets in the Andes. But under […]
17
Feb
Feb
Mindo is a tiny town surrounded by cloud forest in the northwest corner of Ecuador. It’s also backpacker and bird watcher central. And with great hiking, chocolate tours, a huge concentration of the birds of Ecuador, and adventure activities on offer, it’s not hard to see why. There are enough things to do in Mindo […]
Today was a big travel fail. My original plan was to try to get from Tena to Mindo, all in one day. Instead, in a serious travel fail, I’m spending the night in Alausi — way, way away from where I want to be — for no reason. The problems began first […]
14
Feb
Feb
Ecuador is heaven for adventure-lovers. From high-altitude hikes to mountain bike trips past waterfalls, you’ll never have to look far to get an adrenaline rush. But perhaps the best adventure of all is white water rafting in Ecuador. A half-dozen rivers snake through the Ecuadoran Amazon jungle and make up a playground for thrill-seekers backpacking […]
06
Feb
Feb
Quito — the capital of Ecuador — is one of the Americas’ greatest cities. Situated at an elevation of 2,800 meters, in a valley surrounded by Andean peaks, it’s naturally stunning. It has Ecuador’s best museums. The nightlife is great, as is the cafe culture. But the most interesting part is Quito Old Town […]