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• Explore Quito, Ecuador's capital, set at 2,850m (9,348ft) above sea level, overshadowed by the volcano Pichincha, and only 22km (14 miles) from the equator. See how the city has preserved much of its Spanish colonial character, with its plazas, churches, museums and palaces; and why parts of the Old Town are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (website: www.quito.com.ec).
• Be fearless and approach volcanoes; the region of Latacunga and Ambato has much fine scenery, marked by an avenue of volcanoes. Photograph the beautiful greenish-blue alkaline waters of the volcanic Laguna Quilotoa. Shiver at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano which, at 5,895m (19,345ft), is the world's highest active volcano, in the Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.
• Stand on the equator at the granite monument that marks it, on the approach to Quito.
• Look at the Spanish colonial architecture of Cuenca (founded in 1577) and the nearby ancient Inca settlement at Ingapirca.
• Sightsee in Guayaquil – the chief port and commercial centre. Start in the Rotonda, the city's most historic landmark, which faces the beautiful garden promenade of Paseo de las Colonias. Across the Malecón Simón Bolivar are the Government Palace and city hall while, at the northern end, find the ancient fortress of la Planchada.
• Travel to the Littoral, a narrow coastal belt, 560km (350 miles) in length. Particularly attractive are the towns of Playas Posoria and Salinas, while Esmeraldas, one of the country's most important ports, is also known for its beautiful beaches. The relaxing island of Muisne is fast becoming a popular destination.
• Observe ancient traditional customs, such as those in the region of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, which remains the domain of the Colorados Indians. Indeed, El Oriente is the term used by Ecuadorians to refer to the Amazon basin in eastern Ecuador, which is still a primeval world of virgin forests and exotic flora and fauna, mainly inhabited by Indians.
• Lay eyes on what inspired the theories of Charles Darwin by paying a visit to the Galápagos Islands. The unique wildlife includes giant tortoises, lizards and iguanas and some 50% of the islands' species are found nowhere else in the world.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Be fearless and approach volcanoes; the region of Latacunga and Ambato has much fine scenery, marked by an avenue of volcanoes. Photograph the beautiful greenish-blue alkaline waters of the volcanic Laguna Quilotoa. Shiver at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano which, at 5,895m (19,345ft), is the world's highest active volcano, in the Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.
• Stand on the equator at the granite monument that marks it, on the approach to Quito.
• Look at the Spanish colonial architecture of Cuenca (founded in 1577) and the nearby ancient Inca settlement at Ingapirca.
• Sightsee in Guayaquil – the chief port and commercial centre. Start in the Rotonda, the city's most historic landmark, which faces the beautiful garden promenade of Paseo de las Colonias. Across the Malecón Simón Bolivar are the Government Palace and city hall while, at the northern end, find the ancient fortress of la Planchada.
• Travel to the Littoral, a narrow coastal belt, 560km (350 miles) in length. Particularly attractive are the towns of Playas Posoria and Salinas, while Esmeraldas, one of the country's most important ports, is also known for its beautiful beaches. The relaxing island of Muisne is fast becoming a popular destination.
• Observe ancient traditional customs, such as those in the region of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, which remains the domain of the Colorados Indians. Indeed, El Oriente is the term used by Ecuadorians to refer to the Amazon basin in eastern Ecuador, which is still a primeval world of virgin forests and exotic flora and fauna, mainly inhabited by Indians.
• Lay eyes on what inspired the theories of Charles Darwin by paying a visit to the Galápagos Islands. The unique wildlife includes giant tortoises, lizards and iguanas and some 50% of the islands' species are found nowhere else in the world.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
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