Ecuador

Ecuador is a compact country on the equator with four different worlds. About 1,000 km out in the Pacific lie the Galápagos Islands, a national park and marine reserve where giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and sea lions barely notice people. They are explored by expedition yacht or from a land lodge, always with naturalist guides.

In the Andes, beneath the Pichincha volcano at around 2,800 m, Quito keeps one of the best-preserved colonial old towns in Latin America. The Avenue of the Volcanoes runs south past Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, markets and haciendas. The Chocó cloud forests on the western slopes, as at Mashpi, are full of hummingbirds, orchids and waterfalls; to the east lies the Amazon. Guayaquil, on the Pacific lowlands, is the gateway to the coast and a second route to the islands. At the table: ceviche, chocolate and Andean produce.

On the equator the seasons are about rain and altitude rather than winter and summer. Quito feels like spring all year, with cool nights; take the altitude slowly. In the Galápagos the warm season runs roughly from December to May, with calmer seas, warmer water and green islands; the cooler garúa season, roughly June to November, brings richer marine life. Ecuador suits wildlife lovers, families with older children, photographers and couples after adventure with comfort.