Attractions

Quito:

Plaza de la Independencia
The square, also known as Plaza Grande, has always been the heart of the city, and as the hub of the old center it is the best place to sit and people-watch. Surrounding the square are the Cathedral, the City Hall, the Government Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, the most notable municipal and religious buildings in the city. The cathedral, the oldest church in South America, is one of the city's most impressive historical and architectural sites. Both the Government Palace and the cathedral were scenes of shocking murders; in 1875 President García Moreno was murdered by machete, and in 1877 Bishop of Quito was poisoned during a Good Friday Mass.

Plaza San Francisco
The plaza is a large cobbled square with the western side completely dominated by the enormous façade of the Iglesia de San Francisco and its bell tower, and the Monastery of the same name. It is a peaceful place, without the shady benches full of people and the business found in Plaza de la Independencia. Inside the church are chapels gilded in gold, splendid altars and many religious paintings and carvings produced by the Quito School. The Monastery holds some priceless examples of Spanish sculpture and art. It is the biggest religious compound in South America with seven courtyards and buildings stretching behind the church, which only come into view once the visitor has ventured through the stone doorway of the main entrance.

Museo del Banco Central
One of the few sights in the New City is the round walled Casa de la Cultura. It houses a theater, a cinema and two museums, the more impressive being the Museo del Banco Central. Ecuador's premier museum, it contains an astonishing collection of religious art, Columbian ceramics and pre-Hispanic gold, and a huge archaeological repertoire. Of interest are the ceramics of the La Tolita society (600 BC to 400 AD), the Gigantes de Bahía, the Sala de Oro filled with gold, and the Sala de Arte Colonial, packed with religious paintings and sculpture.

El Mitad del Mundo
El Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World) is a purpose-built complex of museums and shops that was constructed to mark the equator, the line that gives the country its name. The 96ft (30m) high Equator Monument is the focus of the square, topped by a brass sphere representing the world, from where a painted line stretches out on either side marking the equator that divides the world, and the complex, into northern and southern hemispheres. Also on the square is a set of weighing scales to illustrate the fact that one loses a bit of weight on the equator, being further from the center of the planet's gravity than usual. An anthropological museum has interesting displays of Ecuador's indigenous populations and their customs, and there is a scenic lookout at the top. The museum is open from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm, and admission is $3. Buses leave every few minutes from the corner of América and Colón streets in Quito new town to the roundabout outside the complex. To find out more, visit www.mitaddelmundo.com.

Otavalo
Ecuador is famous for its colorful, indigenous markets, and the best known of these is market day at Otavalo. It dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were brought up from the lowlands to be traded for highland goods. Every Saturday, there is a wonderful sprawling mix of rich color, smells and the sounds of energetic bargaining, an essential part of trade and an art in itself. Spread over three plazas and the surrounding streets, thousands of local otavaleños in striking traditional dress sit among their wares, doing hard business with tourists and locals alike. The Plaza de los Ponchos is the main area for crafts like woolen blankets, bright ponchos and jerseys, colorful bags and woven tapestries. It is possible to buy almost anything from fresh fruit and rain sticks to jewelry and dried lentils. First thing in the morning is the noisy animal market on the edge of town where llamas, pigs, horses and cows are bought and sold after furious haggling.

Cotopaxi National Park
Parque Nacional Cotopaxi is Ecuador's most visited National Park, and has the world’s highest active volcano at its center. Volcán Cotopaxi, at 19,350ft (5,900m) above sea level, offers excellent hiking and climbing opportunities along with a small museum, a llama herd and camping and picnicking facilities. There is also a good chance of spotting condors and deer. An overnight mountain hut on the snow line is available for those wishing to climb the volcano. The recommended months for climbing the volcano are December to April.

Cuenca
The Spanish founded the pretty colonial city of Cuenca in 1557. Despite being Ecuador's third largest city, it is quaint and colonial, and a favorite for photographers with its cobblestone streets and 16th-century buildings in the old center. It is a great place to spend a few days relaxing in the grand atmosphere. There are a number of museums and churches to see, and plazas, markets and cathedrals that can be visited during a leisurely ramble through the city. Nearby are the country's only major Inca ruins, the fortress of Ingapirca.

Galápagos Islands:

Charles Darwin Research Station
Near Puerto Ayora is the Charles Darwin Research Station that contains a National Park information center and a museum. It is also has a protected baby tortoise nursery that aims to boost the endangered species of the Galapagos tortoise, whose enormous saddle-shaped shell gave the islands their name (the Spanish word galápago means saddle). There is a walk-in enclosure where visitors can meet the giant tortoises face to face. The station is also home to 150-year old Lonesome George, the world's only surviving Pinta tortoise. Until he was discovered in 1971 the race was considered extinct. Hunting in the 18th century and the introduction of goats in the 1950s, which destroyed the vegetation, had wiped them out.

Santa Cruz: This is the most populated island of the Galapagos and second-largest in size. On it you will find the Scientific Station Charles Darwin (1964), where you can find more information of the islands. You can also visit the Tubos de Lava, solidified lava tunnels, the Crocker Hill, a natural watchtower of 860 meters that allow you to observe the vegetation, and the Reserva Tortuga, a place in which these heavy animals are in absolute freedom.

Isabela: This is the largest island of the Galapagos, which has an extension of 4600 square kilometers. Its known for its volcanic activity. Places of particular interest are: the Cerro Azul (1690 ms), the Wolf (1645 ms), Darwin (1280 ms), the Alcedo (1097 ms) and Santo Tomas (1490 ms.); in addition, the island has nonflying cormorants, penguins, flamingos, giant turtles and iguanas.

Bartolomé: A small barren island located in Sullivan Bay off James Island. Bartolomé has two visitors' sites. At one of them it is possible to climb to the summit of the island, from where visitors can observe a variety of volcanic formations, spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. The moon-like landscape provides the most scenic panorama in the archipelago. At the other site, the visitor may swim and snorkel at a beautiful beach or walk across the isthmus to another beach that faces south, where swimming is prohibited. Multi-colored fish and occasionally penguins may be seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartolomé's landscape.

Rábida: This island has a striking dark red color due to the high content of iron in the lava and its oxidation. Behind the beach there is a picturesque saltwater lagoon, where white-cheeked pintail ducks and flamingos are usually seen. The circular inland trail provides a beautiful view from its southeastern cliffs. The palo santo trees dominate the vegetation

Baltra: Here, Charles Darwin began his famed evolutionary developments. Today, seals, whales, frigates and marine iguanas call Baltra Island home.