Country Guides: Ecuador

Ecuador may be diminutive by South American standards but it can still pack a punch. It’s one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet and, like an exotic sandwich, is layered into three distinct regions: pacific coastline, a mountainous mid section, and tropical rainforest to the east. If that wasn’t enough to whet an adventure traveller’s taste buds, the Galápagos Islands, home to some of the world’s most precious plant and animal species, are a mere three hour flight away.

Strong cultural traditions have managed to flourish and the country has a thriving indigenous population, notably the Quichua-speaking communities of the rural sierra and also in the capital of Quito.