Live Well Ecuador

Quito

• On the equator - elevation of 9,200 feet
• Spring like climate the year round
• A warm blanket feels good at night 
• Temperature warms up nicely during the Day
• A great walking city
• Teleferico to top of mount Pichinca
• Parque Ejido Artists Market - Saturday's and Sunday's
• Take a City tour
• Enjoy small cafes and world class restaurants 
• Buy a dozen roses for $1
• New Town
• Modern office buildings, apartments
• Mariscal Sucre - restaurants and hotels district
• Parque La Carolina
• Santa Clara Straw / Bamboo Market
• Museo Guayasamin, Capilla Del Hombre
• Old Town
• Cobblestone streets
• Colonial and early Republican archetecture.
• Visit churches, muesems and historic sites
• Plazas: Grande, San Francisco, Santo Domingo
• La Ronda - Shopping, Restaurants, Live Music
• Vista Hermosa Restaurant - fantastic Views

Images of Quito

  Amazon - Oriente

• Incredible Biodiversity
• From the cool Andean foothills to sweltering lowlands
• Stay in a jungle lodge
• River rafting
• Explore the Rain Forest
• Visit a butterfly farm
• Waterfalls and caves

Images of the Oriente

Galápagos Islands

• 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador
• Cruise the ialands
• Darwin's Research - Theory of Evolution
• Penguins, Giant Tortoise, Igunas - Marine & Land
• Boobies, Flightless Cormorant, Albatross
• Sea Lions, Whales, Dolphins
• Incredible Landscspes, Seascapes

Images of the Galapágos

 Northern Sierra - Can be day trip from Quito

Otavalo

• Market town since pre-Inca times
• Large Saturday Crafts Market; but operates every day
• Blankets, Ponchos Sweaters, scarves, gloves, hats
• Embroidery, hammocks, jewelry, paintings 

                                  Otavalo Market

Cotacachi

• Famous for Leatherwork
• Shops on Calle 10 de Augusto

San Antonio

• Famous for woodcarving

Midad del Mundo

• The famous Equator monument
• Museums and planetarium

Laguna de San Pablo

• Peaceful lake setting in Otavalo area
• Several hotel and hacienda options

        Laguna San Pablo         Mitad del Mundo         

Southern Sierra

Cotopaxi - Can be day trip from Quito

• Most popular national park
• Hiking, bike riding - amazing scenery
• Visit the snow line, including glacier and ice caves

                                    Cotopaxi

Laguna Quilota - Can be day trip from Quito

• Experience the rural village life of the Andean Indians
• Indigeneous Markets
• Kayaking

                               Laguna Quilota

Baños

• Soak in the healthful thermal springs
• Gateway to the Amazon jungle
• Downhill mountain biking
• Rafting on Rio Patate

            Baños Basilica                       Baños - Thermal Pool

Riobamba

• Beautiful, traditional city
• Mountain biking
• World famous train ride - Nariz del Daiblo (Devil's Nose)
• Chimborazo Volcano - highest mountain in Ecuador

        Riobamba Street                           Nariz del Diablo

Cuenca

• Beautiful Colonial City
• Plazas, parks, domed churches
• Try the Eucalyptus Cafe - Ex-pat hang out

Cuenca Bridge

Loja

• Thriving music scene - Salsa & other venues
• Public artworks:  murals, frescos and statuary
    

       Loja City Gate                         Loja San Francisco Church

 Pacific Coast - North to South

• Miles and miles of unspoiled beaches
• Esmeraldas - Center of Afro-ecuadorian culture
• Atacames - favorite resort of Ecuadorians
• Canoa - Fishing village to surfing Mecca
• Bahia de Caraquez - Eco-City on a penesula
• Manata - Major airport, boom town, port fishing industry
• Puerto Lopez - Quiet fishing village, whale watching
• Montanita - Surfers paradise, A Bamboo Village
• Salinas - Little Miami
   

    Images of the Pacific Coast