Approximately the size of the UK, Ecuador straddles the equator on the South American Pacific Coast. The north south Andean mountain range splits the country with coastal lowlands to the west and the jungles of the Amazon to the east. Ecuador is one of the most species rich countries in the world with a vast variety of plants, bird, mammal and insect species. It also provides a gateway to the Galapagos Islands, famous for being the catalyst that resulted in the theory of evolution being conceived by Charles Darwin.

At 2,850m above sea level San Francisco de Quito - otherwise known as Quito - is the second highest capital in the world. It is located 22km south of the equator in a valley flanked by volcanoes which are visible on a clear day. Named after the Quitus (pre-Inca inhabitants), it was founded on the ruins of an earlier Inca city in 1534. In 1978 the Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our first couple of days in Quito were spent getting over mild symptoms of altitude sickness and acclimatising to Quito´s high altitude, which is strongly recommended. In Quito we stopped at the Travellers Inn which was a family-run hostel, formerly a colonial mansion and we were met at the airport by Diego, one of the family owners. The rooms were clean and tidy, a good breakfast was provided. After checking in, we spent time orientating ourselves and trying out pigeon Latin American Spanish, ordering food at a recommended cafe called The Coffee Tree. There are three of these cafes in Quito providing a good service, reasonably priced food and popular with the locals. Popular types of drink are Jugo Naturales - fruit juices - made of real fresh fruit. A few words of Latin American Spanish come in very useful!

Worth a visit is the small but excellent Museo Etnografico de Artesania de Ecuador that provides a good insight into the artwork, clothing and utensils of Ecuador´s indigenous people and is situated next door to one of the Coffee Tree cafes on Reina Victoria.

Intro / Quito | Old Town/Equator/Market | Quitsato/Cuy/Hot Springs/Jungle | Puyo/Banos | Volcanos