Ecuador packs an extraordinary amount of variety into a small country. Four very different worlds sit within a few hours of each other: the colonial Andes, the Pacific coast, the Amazon basin, and the Galápagos. Most visitors pass through two or three of them in a single trip.
Quito has one of the best-preserved historic centres in the Americas — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with grand churches, whitewashed convents, and lively plazas draped across steep Andean hillsides. It's a pleasant city to spend a few days, and the best base for Spanish-language schools.
Otavalo hosts the largest and most famous indigenous market in South America, held every Saturday. The weavings, embroidery, and knitwear are exceptional, and the surrounding villages and crater lakes make it worth staying overnight.
The Avenue of the Volcanoes runs south from Quito along the spine of the Andes. Cotopaxi (5,897m), one of the world's tallest active volcanoes, dominates the skyline and can be hiked to its refugio. Chimborazo (6,268m), further south near Riobamba, is technically the furthest point from the Earth's centre of any mountain.
The Devil's Nose train journey from Alausí is one of South America's great rail experiences — a series of switchbacks down a near-vertical rock face engineered against all odds a century ago.
Cuenca is Ecuador's third city and arguably its most beautiful, with well-preserved colonial architecture, four rivers flowing through its centre, and a relaxed quality of life that attracts expats and long-stay travellers.
Baños sits under the active Tungurahua volcano and serves as the gateway to the Amazon. Hot springs, waterfalls, paragliding, and cycling routes through river gorges keep adventure travellers busy for days.
The Galápagos Islands are in a category of their own. Marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions with no instinctive fear of humans make this one of the world's most remarkable wildlife destinations. Budget at minimum five days, and a week or more on a live-aboard if you can manage it.
The Amazon basin is accessible from several points, with Tena and Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana) the main gateways. Jungle lodges on the Napo River offer wildlife-spotting, community visits, and canopy walks in one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.