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A pleasant, beautiful, and friendly country straddling the equator, Ecuador has lots and lots to offer for both the inexperienced and the seasoned traveler. From Andean Indian markets, remote jungle towns, and tropical beaches, this small country is relatively easy to travel, yet offers lots of unexpected highlights. Here is a list of ten things to do in Ecuador.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador

Quito, Quito… There are many days, especially in winter, that I think of this city and imagine myself walking leisurely along the main shopping street in shorts. Quito has the incredible advantage that it has virtually the same springlike temperature all year long: 20-21 degrees. Besides the excellent weather, the city offers beautiful colonial architecture, excellent restaurants, and interesting museums.

The Ecuadorian Jungle

The Ecuadorian jungle offers some of the best wildlife watching and ecotourism on the continent. Rent a room in one of the jungle lodges, for example on the Rio Napo, and take a guided tour. The local guides will be able to reveal all of the wonders of the Amazon to you, while you can enjoy the sounds of the jungle calling you…

Otavalo Market

Otavalo is world famous for its Saturday open-air market and a major attraction. This is one of the reasons why not everyone likes to visit it, but I myself enjoy it thoroughly. There are so many gorgeous and colorful textiles, arts, and crafts that are on display here, that your neck will hurt from the constant head turning that you’re bound to do all day. If you’d like to avoid the crowds, you can visit the markets in some of the surrounding villages.

Ingapirca Ruins

Backpackers who enter Ecuador from the south, coming from Peru, have usually had their fair share of Inca ruins, but these ruins are worth visiting. these ruins are unique. Ingapirca offers the major Inca ruins in Ecuador. The Temple of the Sun, with its mortarless stonework, is the main structure of the site. An easy day tour from Cuenca, this site is not to be missed for travelers interested in Inca history and architecture.

National Park Cotopaxi

Parque Nacional Cotopaxi is without a doubt the most visited national park in the country. Its main attraction is the gorgeous, snowcapped cone of volcano Cotopaxi, which is also Ecuador’s second-highest peak and which can be seen from afar. Activities in the park include hiking, mountaineering, and camping.

Mindo

Mindo is a good place to do some bird and butterfly watching. The village is about three or four hours west of Quito. The forests here are a delight to look at and wander through, features waterfalls and orchids, among others. For the more adventurous, the area offers zipline tours and tubing on the Mindo River.

Guayaquil

It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s busy, but Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city has an atmosphere of its own. Hate it or love it, the city offers attractions, such as beautiful colonial buildings, good museums, and friendly people. For those looking for relaxation, the grand riverfront boulevard here offers the chance to mingle with the locals and admire the evening sun as it slowly makes its way beyond the horizon…

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos archipelago achieved fame as the islands where biologist Charles Darwin developed his evolutionary theory. These volcanic islands are a great getaway and an excellent way to spot all kinds of wildlife. The wildlife that inhabits or visits these islands is world famous for its fearlessness. Flying here from the mainland is not cheap, but walking on the hardened lava and being eye-to-eye penguins and turtoises is priceless…

Volcano Quilotoa

Volcan Quilotoa, located west of the city of Latacunga, is famous for its wide (about 3 km, or 2 miles) and beautiful crater lake. Its worth getting to the top of the crater and being rewarded with stunning views from the green crater lake beneath and Cotopaxi in the distance. From the crater top, you can walk down to the lake in about half an hour, which is worth it just to get a good smell of the crater lake.

Parque National Cajas

National park Cajas, at about 30 km. from the city of Cuenca, is relatively new, having been declared a national park in 1996. Located in the highlands, it offers rugged terrain, which makes the many gorgeous lakes around here stand out even more. The park offers hiking trails, views of the mountains, and wildlife watching, among others the elusive condor.

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From its spectacular sceneries to its friendly people and its superb city life, Argentina is without a doubt one of my absolute favorite travel destinations. And it looks like I’m not the only one. The country is becoming more and more popular among travelers around the world. Yet, the country manages to retains its charm. Here is your Argentina tourism top ten, with ten top attractions that you must scratch off your scratch map.

The Lake District

I’ve visited this place three times and still I want to go back… One of the highlights of Argentina tourism, the Argentinian Lake District is popular among Argentinians and international travelers alike, yet manages to retain its pleasant atmosphere. The main hub of Bariloche has a great vibe and functions as the transport center that can get you to any destination in the Lake District. Its famous Centro Cívico with the beautiful Alpine architecture and Saint Bernard dogs is fun to walk through. Beyond the city lies a spectacular natural backdrop that is waiting to be explored. You can rent a car and drive to charming nearby villages, such as Villa Traful. But the main attraction here is Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, with its gorgeous natural vistas and excellent hiking.

Iguazú Falls

No Argentina tourism top ten could be complete without the spectacular Iguazú waterfalls. Visit this place and it will be difficult for you to appreciate the waterfalls that you’ll visit afterwards. These falls are so powerful that they will astonish even the most hardened travelers. The waterfalls are located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, and to get the full experience, it is recommended to visit both sides. Beyond the falls, the national park around it includes gorgeous rainforests teeming with wildlife.

 

Salta

This surprising city in the north of Argentina has a pleasant vibe. The city is not famous by any means, but that may be why it’s so captivating. The laid back atmosphere and restaurants with excellent Argentinian food make sure that you can relax here and wind down a little from your travelling adventures. You can use this city to explore the surrounding area, too, which includes…

Valles Calchaquíes

These valleys are still off-the-beaten track and therefore offer a genuine travel experience. The area boasts fantastic and colorful natural landscapes plus a great number of cultural landmarks. The towns that dot the Valles Calchaquíes offer beautiful architecture and historical remnants that remind the visitor of the Indian rebellion against the colonists. If you’re into archaeological sites, Quilmes offers an excellent glimpse into pre-Colombian times. And the national parks of Jujuy and Salta provinces offer other-worldly landscapes that can be explored by car, by tour, or for the adventurous ones, by bike.

National Park Los Glaciares

This is one of the best known national parks of Argentina. It houses the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier, which is one of the few glaciers worldwide that are advancing. If you’re looking for adventure, there are lots of activities that can be done here, including for example ice trekking and boat trips. But the national park offers natural wonders beyond the glacier. For trekkers and mountaineers, the mountain area of the Fitz Roy Range offers spectacular vistas and is not to be missed.

The Plains of Patagonia

This is an attraction that is not often featured in Argentina tourism top ten lists, but it’s one of my personal favorites: the endless plains of Patagonia. Most travelers going to the south of Argentina will come to cross them at some point, going from one destination to the next. There’s not much to look at on these plains, except for the empty nothingness that stretches for miles and miles as far as the eye can see. Viewing the vastness of the planet from your car or while in a bus eating empanadas brings a sense of calm and wonder that few places can match.

The Jesuit Missions

The ruins of the Jesuit missions are impressive remainders of a time gone by. The best restored ones can be found at San Ignacio. The ruins here are impressive and offer beautiful carved ornamentations as well as a huge red sandstone church. The Jesuits established the missions at San Ignacio at the end of the 17^th century and left them about seventy years later, leaving behind the red, baroque-style buildings that remain. This surprising Argentina tourism attraction offer an easy yet captivating experience.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the busy, sexy, and sophisticated capital of Argentina. During the week, businessmen and -women parade the streets in gorgeous suits. On the weekend, people play soccer and throw barbeques in the parks. All the while, of course, drinking the bitter national beverage: mate. This hot traveler’s destination offers plenty things to do, including watching a sensual tango show, cheering on the city’s soccer teams, eating steak, and walking around the European-style architecture of the city. And when your feet are tired, you can pick an old-style café and watch the people walk by while you indulge in croissants with dulce de leche…

Mendoza

A glass of wine, anyone? Mendoza is the absolute heart of the Argentinian wine country. There are plenty of wineries where you can sample wine here. But even if you’re not into wine, Mendoza is a place not to be missed. Thanks to its location close to the high peaks of the Andes, the scenery here is jaw-droppingly spectacular. Be sure to check out the beautiful Parque Provincial Ischigualasto where otherworldly rock formations make you wonder about the origins of this place. And to recover after your activities, Mendoza’s perfect climate invites you to kick back and spend all afternoon sitting in the sun.

Ushuaia

The last of this Argentina tourism top ten, Ushuaia is called “world’s end” in travelers’ communities, and not without reason. Many travelers come to the southernmost city in the world to board one of the ships that leave for the Antarctic Peninsula, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But this charming city has its own set of attractions that doesn’t require going aboard a vessel, including museums and historic buildings. Flying in will offer you jaw-dropping views of the glacial peaks that surround the city. One of the best attractions is the Tierra del Fuego national park, which offers beautiful forests, birdlife, and bays. Most of the park is off-bounds to the public, but the parts that are open offer easy trails and scenic hikes.

Interested in reading more about this fantastic country? Check out this comprehensive blog post by Nomadic Matt.