Ecuador – that’s where the equator is! Yes, of course. But that’s not the only thing you can explore in that amazing country.
As in former times it was home to the Inca tribe, there are is a enormous cultural heritage which is quite interesting to visit. Furthermore, the capital Quito at a height of 2.850 m is a very modern place and of course Ecuador offers a fascinating nature for backpackers and hikers.

Ingapirca

The Ingapirca are the largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador. Its largest building is the Temple of the Sun which is a great example of the Incan architecture. It’s constructed without mortar and only consists of carefully located stones that fit perfectly into each other. The Temple is positioned so that on the solstices, at the perfect time of day, sunlight falls through the center of the doorway of the small chamber at the top of the temple. Unfortunately a large part of that chamber has fallen down. To visit Ingapirca, it is recommended to take a day tour from the city Cuenca or to stay one night in El Tambo or Canar.

Quito

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and the highest capital all over the world (2.850 m). It has a lot of historical buildings in the city centre which was one of the first cities that were added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1978. Since 2005 you can also use the “TelefériQo” to get up the volcano Pichincha at 4.100 m and have an amazing panoramic view over the city there. So the beautiful city is definitely worth a visit!

Nature – National Parks

Ecuador offers several national parks to discover the beauty of the country’s nature. Near the city Cuenca you can find the “Cajas Natural Park” at 3.100 until 4.450 m. There one can see about 250 different lakes and with a bit of luck also animals like the puma, the Andean bear or the condor. If you are more interested in the tropical parts of Ecuador you should visit the Cuyabeno National Park which can be discovered by boat.
Another natural sight is the crater lake of Quilotoa in the Andes which is very beautiful with the intensive blue coloured water and the panoramic view over the landscape.