The Quilotoa Loop
Zumbahua (zoom-bah-wah) has a wonderfully authentic Saturday market at which indigenous vendors from the mountains sell their wares. Check out the men on…
Must-see attractions in Ecuador
Central Highlands
This cultural center is built on the site of a former Jesuit watermill known as Molinos de Monserrat and houses a small ethnography and art museum. The…
Quito
To further acquaint yourself with Ecuador’s flora and fauna, head to the curious natural-history museum inside the Instituto Nacional de Bioversidad in…
Quito
This museum, in a handsomely restored 17th-century building, houses an excellent collection of colonial art. On display are famous sculptures and…
Quito
Provide fodder for your jungle fears with a visit to the Vivarium, home to 40 species of reptiles and amphibians including snakes, iguanas, turtles, frogs…
Cuenca
At the east end of Calle Larga, this museum has archaeological exhibits and tours of the Ruinas de Todos Santos, which reveal Cañari, Inca and Spanish…
Cuenca
If you've any interest in the world's most outrageous and beautiful plant species, you'll love the Universidad de Cuenca's Orquideario. With over 400…
Central Highlands
Next to the church on the Ambato–Baños road, behind a statue of a local man donning a black poncho, this market has some great local artisan goods,…
Guayaquil
Around halfway along the malecón you’ll soon come to one of Guayaquil’s more impressive monuments, particularly when illuminated at night. Flanked by…
Central Highlands
Ambato once had an old cathedral, but it was destroyed along with the rest of the city by the 1947 earthquake. Many people consider the replacement temple…
Central Highlands
A trail with broad views of Chimborazo leads around Laguna de Colta, passing through traditional villages and grazing livestock. There's a children's play…
Central Highlands
On the road to the Río Pita, this Inca fort was built around the end of the 15th century. There are several stone walls and a semi-restored circular…
Guayaquil
This museum, featuring an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts, including pottery and figurines made by the original settlers of Ecuador, is…
Quito
An interactive museum featuring life-size animatronic dinosaurs, a planetarium, a library and a theater as well as temporary exhibitions are among the…
Basilica Santisima Virgen de Montserrat
North Coast & Lowlands
Dating back to the early 20th century, this beautiful church contains a statue of the Virgin to which miracles have been attributed. While the Museo…
Quito
Inside this restored colonial home is a small but iconic collection of work by painter Camilo Egas (1899–1962), Ecuador’s first indigenista (indigenous…
Quito
On the northeast side of Plaza Grande, this former archbishop’s palace is now a colonnaded row of small shops and restaurants, located between Avenidas…
Central Highlands
Although a bit dusty, this natural history museum in the Colegio Bolívar houses Ecuador’s most thorough collection of stuffed birds, mammals and reptiles…
Prohibido Museo de Arte Extremo
Cuenca
El Vado, an up-and-coming area, has some unusual establishments, such as this Grim Reaper–themed gallery, bar and nightclub. Find it on the upper …
Cuenca
Most of this bridge, above a pretty stretch of Paseo 3 de Noviembre, was washed away during a flood, but its stone arches make a nice venue for an open…
The Quilotoa Loop
The outstanding Galería Arte de Tigua and three other art galleries sell paintings and wooden masks at lower prices than those in Quito. If the gallery is…
Cuenca
The only Cuenca church built in the form of a Latin cross, and one of the city's largest, the Church of San Blas sits at the eastern end of the slightly…
Church of El Carmen de la Asunción
Cuenca
The stark, white church just around the corner from Plaza de San Francisco was founded in 1682 and contrasts beautifully with the colorful flower market…
Guayaquil
Nahim Isaias, located in the Plaza de Administración building, exhibits more than 2000 pictorial and sculptural works, paintings and artifacts from the…
Guayaquil
This church, originally built in the early 18th century, burned down in the devastating fire of 1896, which destroyed huge swaths of the city. It was…
Tena
Part astro-turfed, part grassed, and with multiple leisure facilities from running tracks to playgrounds, Parque Tena has replaced the old airstrip and…
Loja
Loja’s main square is always busy with shoeshine boys, newspaper vendors and local devotees stepping into the cathedral for their daily devotions to the…
North Coast & Lowlands
You’ll find a good introduction to the area’s indigenous history at this well-curated modern museum. The collection includes hundreds of pieces of pre…
Casa de los Marqueses de Miraflores
Central Highlands
Take a break in this archaeological and religious museum housed in a colonial-era mansion. It has good background on the Mama Negra festivals. The museum…
The Galápagos Islands
Around the corner from the main square, this small lagoon has a boardwalk along the edge, which makes a fine viewing spot for taking in the pink flamingos…
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa
Baños
This Basilica is dedicated to the Virgin of the Holy Water, who is credited with several local miracles. Inside there are several artworks by Father…
Cuenca
This church, two blocks northwest of Parque Calderón, sports some fine carved wooden doors and colonial paintings. Although it looks older, the church was…
South Coast
The town's beautifully decorated church, with a white, mint green and gold interior, dates back to 1912, and is worth a look. It's located in the main…
Mirador de la Virgen del Calvario
Central Highlands
On a clear day, this lookout east of town offers views of several distant volcanic peaks. Follow Maldonado up the stairs, go left on Oriente and follow it…
North Coast & Lowlands
This new walkway along the bay features cell-charging stations, a skate park, a dozen food stands and the largest Ecuadorian flag you will ever see. A…
Loja
This narrow lane is the oldest colonial street in Loja. There are some nice art galleries here (if only the street were pedestrianized, they would be much…
Quito
Housed in a former textile factory, this contemporary, well-designed museum has loads of interactive exhibits to keep toddlers to teenagers engaged. Last…
Museo de Arte de la Casa de la Cultura
Central Highlands
Featuring an excellent collection of Ecuadorian oils and acrylics from the 18th through 21st centuries, this fun little museum takes just 10 minutes to…
Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)
You can see flamingos, turtles and other wildlife here; both Turtle Bay and Cerro Brujo can be visited as part of a trip to Punta Pitt and Los Galápagos.
Quito
The museum at the Convento Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Plaza Santo Domingo has a pretty garden cloister and a fine assortment of colonial religious art.
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