Ecuador
From the depths of the Amazon jungle to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, this is Ecuador at its most raw and breathtaking. We explore the colonial streets of Quito, chase adrenaline in the adventure capital of Baños, stand in awe at the mighty volcanoes of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, peer into the turquoise waters of Quilotoa Crater, and straddle two hemispheres at the Equator. One country, every landscape — this is Ecuador's wildest adventure. Perched sky-high in the Andes at the foot of the snow-capped Pichincha volcano, Quito is—quite literally—breathtaking. Thanks to one of the largest and best-preserved colonial cores in Latin America, Ecuador's capital was named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site. The city's dramatic setting squeezed between mountain peaks and straddling two hemispheres has always lured visitors, but its best-kept secrets are hidden in the narrow cobblestone streets, candlelit monasteries, and leafy plazas that reveal themselves when the mist clears.
Quilotoa is a stunning 3-km-wide water-filled caldera in the Ecuadorian Andes, formed by a massive volcanic eruption around 1280. Located at ~3,900m (12,800 ft), the lake is known for its intense turquoise and green color, caused by dissolved minerals. It is a popular, high-altitude destination for hiking, kayaking, and viewing in the Cotopaxi province.
Baños de Agua Santa, commonly referred to as Baños, is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province of Ecuador. Baños is known as the "Gateway to the Amazon," as it is the last city still located in the mountain region before reaching the jungle. Renowned as the country's adventure capital, nestled at the foot of the active Tungurahua Volcano. It is famous for its thermal hot springs, over 60 waterfalls (including Pailón del Diablo), and thrilling activities like ziplining, rafting, and the iconic "Swing at the End of the World".
Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located in Cotopaxi National Park in Cotopaxi Province. It is the second highest summit in Ecuador (after Chimborazo), reaching a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft). Cotopaxi is among the highest active volcanoes in the world.
Chimborazo is a stratovolcano in Ecuador and the Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Although not the tallest mountain in the Andes or on Earth relative to sea level, its summit is the farthest point on Earth's surface from the Earth's center due to its location along the planet's equatorial bulge.Chimborazo's height from sea level is 6,263 m (20,548 ft), well below that of Mount Everest at 8,849 m (29,032 ft).
