Tourist Attractions & Monuments Ecuador

You will notice its beautiful facade typical of the colonial past of the city.

We pass through the bridge of San Martín, which spans a spectacular gorge. The zoo makes good use of the topography of the terrain and deserves a visit, both for the mammalian varieties of the region (tapir, wolf, glasses of glasses, monkeys, puma…) than for the birds of the Andes and the jungle (condor, parrot, toucan). Its views on the river and valleys are also worth a visit. However, we deplore the conditions of detention of certain animals against which local associations are mobilized.

Located on the 1 ^st floor of the convent, this museum consists of a suite of rooms setting up a gallery. The walk is pleasant because it is surrounded by the surrounding mountains. The hétéroclite exhibition, touching of naivety, presents random animaux animals, holy pictures and objects of worship, virgin robes and thanks for the miracles accomplished. A numismatics collection and some naturalized butterflies complete the list of curiosities.

Quito, the capital of Pichincha province, is a tourist destination rich in history and culture. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities and sights, such as the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its colonial churches and picturesque cobbled streets. Art lovers can visit the city's many museums, which house collections of pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary art. Quito also offers a lively nightlife, with numerous bars, restaurants and clubs where visitors can enjoy music and dancing. For those wishing to find out more about the local culture, Quito's tourist office offers useful information and advice for planning your stay.

Born from a private enterprise initiative, they offer several addresses.

The staff were friendly and helpful. Agencies are open Monday to Friday from a. M. to p. m.

Born from a private enterprise initiative, they offer several addresses.

Time lag (compared to Paris). In the summer: -7 hours in winter: -6 hours.

Health. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory.

Vaccines against tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A are recommended.

Drug prevention against malaria is strongly recommended. Malaria exists everywhere and the whole year below 1 500 m altitude.

Formalities. Within 3 months European citizens do not need visas or pay entry fees. After 3 months, a visa is required to return to Ecuador.

Beware, however, a large proportion of flights to Ecuador from Europe pass through the United States, and Europeans must have a biometric passport.

In order to drive a passenger car, the European licence is sufficient during the first month and then the international permit is requested.

On this superb pedestrian square lined with historical buildings, the first thing to notice is the imposing Palacio Municipal de Guayaquil. Built in 1929, the square neoclassical building is organized around a central glass and wrought iron gallery flanked by four domes.

The adjacent Palacio de la Gobernación is more sober and is characterised by its mixture of styles in vogue in the 1920s. On the other side of the promenade is the Martín Avilé building.

The Coca Museum is an immersion in the archaeological history of the Amazon and the Omaguas Indians, a thousand-year-old people of the Amazon basin (they were nicknamed the "Napo pirates"!). Opened in 2016, it exhibits in a modern building dishes, statuettes, anthropomorphic objects, funerary urns and other polychrome ceramic artifacts. More than 300 pieces make up the permanent collection. Their state of conservation is remarkable.

This house-museum exhibits the works of Eduardo Kingman (1913-1998), an Ecuadorian painter from Loja. It was in this former bakery (you can still see the bread oven inside the house!) that the artist set up his studio in 1969. The former professor of the School of Fine Arts of Quito spreads in his painting a remarkable expressionist character, with a particular attention paid to the chiaroscuro. He depicts with great expressiveness the conditions of the indigenous peoples, poverty, misery or oppression.

An unusual experience, accessible to everyone as the route is not very difficult, although it is long, the visit to the ice mines is a must for lovers of hiking and horse riding. Starting from "cuatro esquinas" at the foot of Chimborazo, Jorge will accompany you to the famous mine from which ice was extracted for the burghers of Riobamba, before the invention of the freezer. The ice was transported down from 4,800 m above sea level on human backs. Fortunately, with Jorge, a horse is yours up to 4,000 m!

The Pichincha, commonly called Guagua (child in Quichua) Pichincha by the Quiteños, dominates the capital from its 4,776 m altitude and is part of the daily life of the inhabitants. It is still in operation, unlike its big brother, the Rucu Pichincha, located a little further south and rising to 4,696 m. It is older but slightly lower. Pinchincha is easy to discover, as a cable car links Quito to its eastern face at an altitude of 3,945 m. Its last major eruption was in 1999. Quito was covered in ash.

This small agency, run by Pedro, a native of the region easily recognizable by the Panama hat on his head, is the best specialist in whales, particularly on Isla de Plata. Whether you're looking for a whale-watching trip during the whale season, or simply want to discover the Isla de Plata, just 1 hour's sail from the port, Naturis is the place to go for the best information, impeccable service and well-maintained equipment.