We think Ecuador is rather special. When you travel here, of course, you’ll want to see the unique wildlife on the Galapagos Islands, but don’t forget the mainland too. Smaller and easier to get around than its larger neighbours, Ecuador packs a heck of a lot in. Within a few hours’ reach there are indigenous Andean cultures, snow-capped volcanoes, mysterious cloud forest, and the mighty Amazon river.
Here are seven of our favourite spectacular adventures to have in Ecuador.
1. Meet colourful locals in Otavalo
Otavalo is a famous weaving town where you’ll see local people wearing brightly coloured traditional ponchos and skirts. The market here is an absolute hubbub of activity with stalls bursting with fresh produce and bright food. There’s also a busy arts and crafts market ideal for a spot of souvenir shopping. It’s slightly touristy and you’ll need to bargain a bit, but that’s half the fun of it. There are lots of stalls selling tasty local snacks and drinks too. To learn a little about how the amazing multi-hued fabrics are made, head out to some of the smaller villages nearby to see the talented weavers at work at their looms.