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Mainland Ecuador

The Andes  

Running the length of the country and rising to over 6000m (20,000 feet), the Andes dominate the geography and climate of Ecuador, creating a landscape of snow-capped volcanoes, open plateaux and verdant valleys.  With an altitude of 2,850m and a pleasant spring-like climate, Quito is the world’s second-highest capital city. It has a beautifully renovated Spanish colonial heart with a 16th Century cathedral, central plaza and many museums, galleries and restaurants. Heading south from Quito, the valley of the Avenue of Volcanoes extends 325kms, flanked by farmland and spectacular snow-capped mountains. Cotopaxi volcano (5,897m) boasts a perfect cone capped with glaciers and snow fields, while the surrounding national park holds a number of high altitude species of birds (including condors), plants and llamas. Hot springs, good walking and rafting can be found at the towns of Papallacta and Banos and in the far south are the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca and the Inca ruins of Ingapirca. Accommodation in this region is mainly in working haciendas and colonial houses.

Hotel Patio Andaluz
Perfectly situated just off the central plaza in the colonial heart of Quito, the period hotel has a central courtyard with surrounding rooms, a restaurant, bar, spa and two-storey family suites.

Hacienda San Agustin De Callo
Built on the site of an ancient Inca palace (whose original stonework can still be seen), the historic ranch has a heady air of tradition, with highly individual rooms (including family suites) of varied decoration and immense character, a resident family of llamas, wonderful horse riding and lovely gardens.

Cloud Forest Reserves

To the west of the Andes the mountains descend to the Pacific, becoming covered by cloud forests of stunted trees cloaked in a profusion of mosses, bromeliads, orchids and lichens. Thought to have the highest diversity of epiphytic plants in the world, the region is recognised as one of the worlds’ biodiversity hotspots.  Mammal sightings are rare but can include spectacled bear, puma, mountain tapir, Andean coati and tayra.  Birds dominate, with over 30 species of hummingbird, the rare plate-billed mountain toucan and a number of leks where the brightly coloured cock-of-the-rock displays to females. Each valley has a subtly different micro-climate favouring particular species: Mindo, known for cock-of-the-rock sightings, has long been a favourite of birdwatchers; Tandayapa and Bellavista valleys have private cloud forest reserves, good accommodation and superb birdwatching along a comprehensive network of trails.

Bellavista Lodge
The rustic lodge is surrounded by its own 1800 acre reserve of orchid and bromeliad-laden cloud forest containing the world’s greatest diversity of epiphytes. Over 260 species of birds have been recorded at the lodge including Andean cock-of-the-rock, white-faced nunbird, rufescent screech-owl, swallow-tailed nightjar, crested quetzal, over 30 species of hummingbirds and the beautiful plate-billed mountain toucan.   

Amazonian Rainforest

To the east of the Andes lies the mighty Amazon basin, home to the largest rainforest in the world and containing around a third of the world’s species of animals and plants.  Known locally as the Oriente, the Ecuadorian part of Amazonia has some remarkable rainforest lodges, most of which are dotted along the banks of the Napo River close to the Yasuni National Park.  

Napo Wildlife Centre
Run by the local Anangu Quichua indigenous community and located within the national park, this is one of the finest wildlife lodges in the country. Anangucocha Lake contains a resident population of giant river otter, capybara and large numbers of water birds, while the surrounding primary rainforest harbours 11 species of monkey, over 560 species of birds, two- and three-toed sloths and many reptiles and amphibians.  Highlights include a canopy tower, parrot clay lick, five species of macaw, mixed feeding flocks of antbirds, toucans, manakins (six species), hummingbirds, agami heron, five species of kingfisher and occasionally harpy and crested eagles.