The Amazon
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
Ecuador packs a big punch for a small country; encompassing everything from the high Andes through humid cloudforest to the steamy Amazon jungle.
A short flight from Quito to the town of Coca (officially known as Francisco de Orellana) on the Napo River swaps mountain peaks and colonial architecture for tropical rainforest, where there are excellent accommodation options and wildlife viewing opportunities.
As you’d expect, activities and lodges are highly environmentally conscious with all excursions accompanied by experienced naturalist guides. Explore the rain forest on treks beneath the gigantic Amazon trees, along boardwalks crossing palm swamps and up observation towers for a close look at the forest canopy. Board silent dugout canoes to head up rivers and streams and enjoy early morning outings for bird watching.
Parrots and macaws flit overhead while mammals found here include armadillos, honey bears, sloths, tapirs, monkeys, and ocelots.
Also Try
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Family GalapagosEcuador and the Galapagos IslandsBoobies. Blue-footed boobies to be precise. These seabirds with very smart shoes are just one of the many bizarre species to be encountered in the Galapagos Islands. |
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Galapagos ArchipelagoEcuador and the Galapagos IslandsThe Galapagos Archipelago, often the main reason to visit Ecuador, consists of 18 volcanic islands which have never been connected to the mainland, meaning that many species have evolved completely independently. |
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Quito & The HighlandsEcuador and the Galapagos IslandsSurrounded by the Andes, Quito has a dramatic setting and is overlooked by the Virgin of Quito, a statue atop the Panecillo hill above the Old Town. |
