Looking for the best places to visit in Ecuador? This small yet incredibly diverse country offers four distinct regions, each packed with unforgettable experiences. Straddling the equator, Ecuador’s Andean highlands are home to the Avenue of the Volcanoes, where snowcapped peaks tower over cobalt-blue crater lakes. To the east, the Amazon rainforest teems with wildlife, from howler monkeys to pink river dolphins. The Pacific coastline boasts golden beaches, mangrove forests, and world-class surf. Then there’s Ecuador’s most famous attraction: the Galápagos Islands. Anchored 621 miles off the mainland, this volcanic archipelago is home to fearless wildlife — giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies — that helped shape Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Best places to visit in Ecuador
35 places to visit in Ecuador
Baños and aroundLatacunga and aroundParque Nacional CotopaxiParque Nacional SangayRiobamba and aroundVolcán Chimborazo and aroundGuayaquilPlayas and the Santa Elena PeninsulaRuta del SolSouth to Machala and the borderThe northern coastThe northern lowlandsAround OtavaloCayambe and aroundIbarra and aroundOtavaloThe northern OrienteThe southern OrienteAround QuitoQuitoIngapirca and beyondIsla San Cristóbal and aroundIsla Santa Cruz and aroundIsla Santiago and aroundNorthern islands: Isla GenovesaSouthern islands: Floreana and EspañolaWestern islands: Isabela and Fernandina
The central sierra Travel Guide
Guayaquil and the southern coast Travel Guide
The northern lowlands and coast Travel Guide
The northern sierra Travel Guide
The Oriente Travel Guide
The southern sierra Travel Guide
The Galápagos Islands Travel Guide
Quito and around Travel GuideQuestions about the best places to see in Ecuador
What is the best place to visit in Ecuador?−
One of the best-known places to visit in Ecuador is the Galápagos Islands – and they live up to the hype. The wildlife encounters are up-close and unforgettable, from giant tortoises to blue-footed boobies. But the mainland deserves just as much attention.
Quito offers colonial charm and Andean views, Baños is packed with waterfalls and outdoor activities, and Cuenca mixes art, history, and café culture. The Amazon basin and cloud forests offer deep nature, while the Avenue of the Volcanoes delivers serious scenery.
