Ecuador

History, ecotourism, nature (including the iconic Galápagos Islands); urban scenes in Quito and Guayaquil; colonial treasures in Cuenca; adventure in Tena - and all a relative bargain!

Cover photo: Diego Delso

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Chocó´s Mindo Cloud Forest is one of "7 of the World´s Top Birdwatching Meccas"

GRID-Arendal/Joseph C. Boone A cloud forest is a tropical or subtropical forest where its always cloudy, and this one, in this country’s northwestern Andes Chocó region is another of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots, with 550-600 avian species packed into a birding zone spans of about a hundred square miles. Plate-billed mountain toucan (above left), cock-of-the-rock, tanagers, and more than 40 types of hummingbirds are highlights. Prime seasons are June–September and December–February.…

Started by Max Pesling

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Beating the devil on the "Devil´s Nose Train"

efenziIf there's a single means of transport today that most preserves some of the old-time romance of travel, it surely must be rail travel, thanks to its close-to-the-ground, human scale, and in many countries, rolling stock which is literally vintage. Latin America is a good example - though these days intercity rail travel in the region is limited, the trains still in service run through some lovely landscapes, and many are throwbacks to the past. A prime example is Ecuador's elegant Tren…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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5 highlights of Guayaquil

Paulakindsvater Founded in 1535, this country´s largest city (pop. 2.7 million) and business capital sits on the steamy Pacific coast, near where Guayas River drains into the ocean, and except for business travelers it´s not as popular a destination as, say the Galápagos, Quito, and Cuenca. But Guayaquil is still very much worth a visit, starting with this quintet of highlights: read post

Started by Tripatini

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Las Peñas, Guayaquil´s charming colonial core

Noradoa When it comes to Ecuador travel, most of the attention goes to the Galápagos and Quito - maybe with some to spare for quaint Cuenca up in the Andes. But the country’s largest city and business capital, Guayaquil down on the Pacific coast, is despite its big-city amenities still seen as rather grey and uninteresting to visitors - mostly a destination for business travellers.Even so, there’s one historic neighbourhood, tucked away at the end of Guayaquil’s reconstructed malecón (and these…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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José Balido September 22, 2026 at 12:09pm

I visited the Galapagos a few years ago and found that it was harder than I expected to get truly impressive pics, because too many of them left the landscape looking like nothing special (I had somewhat better luck with closeups). Maybe it was just the places I happened to visit? So I was interested to come across this little item: https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2023/03/26/best-places-to-take-ph...

The 7 most stunning places to take photos in Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are a destination that has long captured the imagination of travelers from around the world. Known for their unique wildlife, p…
Ed Wetschler May 4, 2026 at 4:11pm

For many years, this country enjoyed peace, but that has been changing of late, to the point where increasing insecurity from drug cartels and other organized crime led to the election in 2023 (and re-election last year) of Daniel Noboa, a tough talker with a militarized approach to crime busting. But in other countries, this phenomenon has tended to not affect visitors and their experience. So Condé Nast Traveler recently took a look at the situation on the ground her: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-ecuador-th...

Is it Safe to Travel to Ecuador? The Latest on US Military Operations

The US and Ecuador announced a joint military effort targeting drug trafficking and organized crime. These are the affected regions, plus tips from t…
María José May 3, 2026 at 12:01pm

I had not heard of Baños de Agua Santa and the Río Pastaza watershed, but the NY Times is impressed enough to make it one of the destinations they've highlighted to visit this year https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-de...

52 Places to Go in 2026

Our list for the new year features an eclipse, a revolution and a tiger reserve. What’s on yours?
Joseba Basabe December 10, 2025 at 12:52pm

A nicely chosen list! https://travelnoire.com/cultural-experiences-ecuador

Cultural Experiences To Have Before Leaving Ecuador - Travel Noire
Maria de los Angeles December 9, 2025 at 4:14pm

Since the pandemic, short-term rentals have proliferated in the Galápagos. Are they contributing to overtourism and undermining a place the Ecuadoran government has long sought to protect from the ravages of mass tourism? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/business/galapagos-airbnb.html?s...
Max Pesling December 23, 2024 at 2:12pm

Travel+Leisure takes a look at Quito: https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-plan-a-trip-to-quito-ecuado...
Helen Brown October 11, 2024 at 3:26pm

An interesting look at Esmeraldas and the Ecuadoran Pacific coast with its large percentage of African-descended people: https://travelnoire.com/inside-esmeraldas-the-land-of-afro-ecuadorians

Inside Esmeraldas: The Land Of Afro-Ecuadorians - Travel Noire
Jorge Carlos Tejada Sobrino January 17, 2024 at 3:26pm

So tragic the chaos that´s been unfolding this month in a country which has for years been safe and stable in spite of its many problems, and here´s a very good question: https://www.timeout.com/news/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-ecuador-right-...

Is it safe to travel to Ecuador right now? Latest travel advice

The country declared a state of emergency on Monday
Jordan Simon July 5, 2023 at 12:26pm

Here's a sobering look at how Ecuador's promotion of ecotourism in the Galápagos is actually helping to undermine its ecosystem: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/07/galapagos-islan...

The Galápagos Islands Are Marketing Themselves to Death - The Atlantic

Tourism campaigns tout the archipelago as a diorama of prehistory. But that narrative could help degrade the islands even further.
David Paul Appell June 27, 2023 at 10:43pm

When you think ecotourism and adventure in Ecuador, the Galápagos understandably pop to mind. But the country is also home to a smallish corner of the Amazon, and there's some absolutely great stuff to be had here, as well, a as a recent National Geographic advertorial shows us; https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-adve...

Seven of the best adventures in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest

Natural beauty, rich culture and high adrenaline await.