ECUADOR 9 DAYS: Highlands and Puerto Lopez

Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in America. It lies on both the Northen and the Sourthen Hemispheres and is divided by the Equator line, thus the name of the country. Ecuador has 4 diverse and unique regions: the Amazon Rain forest, the highlands Andes, the Coast, and the Galapagos Archipelago.

These four regions are subdivided into provinces. Besides its exuberant biodiversity, Ecuador is home to an impressive variety of ethnic groups, includind communities who still practice ancient cultural traditions.

Quito: Capital city of Ecuador. The 2nd highest capital of South America rests along the foothills of the Pichincha volcano to 2800 m. height above sea level. It was originally inhabited by the pre-inca tribe. Quitus, whose name signifies “ Middle of the Earth” since the city is located 15 miles south of the Equator. Its history and fusion of cultures makes Quito a complex and fascinating city to discover, It is no wonder the city has been a recipient to international awards such as UNESCO´s First World Heritage Site in 1978 honoring the largest and best-preserved historical centers of America. In 2013, it was awarded the title of "The Leading Destination of South America" by the World Travel Awards.

Andes: Many of the provinces in Ecuador`s highlands are named after the most important mountain or volcano on its territory: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Chimborazo. Most of the names of the mountains have their origin in an indigenous tongue, mostly Quichua. The word “Andes” itself comes from ANTI, which means “where the sun rises”.

 Coast: From north to south, beautiful beaches stretch across the Ecuadorian Pacific, along with ports, fishing villages, modern cities and protected forests. The highest mangroves are found in the Majagual forests, in the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve. In the Machalilla Park, in the sea, the virgin beaches and the forests are linked with the history of pre-Columbian cultures. The city of BahÃa de Caraquèz was named an ecological city. Very close to Isla de la Plata you can see humpback whales that arrive every year from the Antarctic to mate between June and October. The largest seabird refuge in Ecuador is on Santa Clara Island, south of the coast. The City of Guayaquil, the main Ecuadorian port, is considered a model of urban regeneration in Latin America and is increasingly consolidated as one of the most important convention destinations in the region.