The Galapagos Islands
These are made up of various islands, among the most important are: Baltra, where the airport is located, Santa Cruz Bartolomé, Fernandina, Isabela, Floreana, Pinzón, Pinta, Genovesa, Seymour, Daphne, Santiago, Rábida, Marchena, Santa María, Española, Santa Fé, Darwin y Wolf. They are located in the Pacific Ocean 960 km off the coast of continental Ecuador. This region is the home to animals that are unique to these islands, animals such as the giant tortoise. This region was declared a National Park in 1959, Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1979, Reserve of Marine Resources in 1986, Whale Sanctuary in 1990 and a Marine Biology Reserve in 1996. More information about the Galapagos!
Coast
The Coastal region is divided into five provinces: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Guayas, Los Ríos and El Oro going from the north to the south. Almost the entire region is bathed by the Pacific Ocean. You can find archeological monuments that were left by the first communities to inhabit the region. The Coast is filled with beautiful beaches that have a good infrastructure for tourism, a warm climate and outgoing people. You can enjoy the delicious varieties of food made with products from the sea which makes a trip to the Coast a real pleasure. More information about the Coast
Sierra or Andes
This region is divided into ten provinces: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Bolivar, Cañar, Azuay and Loja. The Sierra includes the entire area between the two mountain chains that make up the Andes mountains.
This mountain range crosses Ecuador like a backbone, separating the
Coast and the Amazon. Here you can find huge mountains like Chimborazo
(6,319 meters) the point closest to the sun on the entire earth, Cotopaxi
(5,897 m), the highest active volcano in the world, Cayambe (5,790
m), the only place with snow on the equator, Antisana (5,758 m), Altar
(5.320 mt), Illiniza (5.248 mt), Tungurahua (5.023 mt), and Cotacachi
(4.944 mt), among others.
There are also “paramos (alpine tundra) like those of
Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and El Angel; beautiful lakes like San Pablo,
Yahuarcocha and Cuicocha. Throughout the entire mountain region, there
are indigenous markets like those of Otavalo, Saquisili and Tigua.
It is a region characterized by its beautiful scenery formed by the
numerous mountains and valleys. More information about the Sierra
Amazon
Located in the eastern part of Ecuador, this region s climate has temperatures between 23 and 26 0 C with frequent rains and a tropical wet climate. It is the region with the greatest biodiversity in Ecuador, a region rich in flora and fauna. It forms part of the tropical rainforest of the Amazon where endemic species have evolved. Several ethnic groups also co-exist with the exuberant nature in the Amazon, including the Huaoranis, Shuar, Achuar, Quechua, Siona-Secoya, Zápara, Cofán and others that mostly maintain the ancient customs and rituals today. It is divided into six provinces: Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe. The Yasuni National Park and the Cuyabeno Reserve are only some of the more impressive natural attractions. More information about the Oriente
