Ecuador is recognized for its remarkable natural, geographic and cultural diversity. Within a relatively small territory (256.370 square kilometers), Ecuador shelters the biggest biodiversity per area in the world (9.2 species per square kilometer). Ecuador has four diverse and rich regions: The Amazon rain forest, the Coast, the highland Andes, and the Galapagos Archipielago. The cultural diversity is equally rich.

Ecuador's coastal region consists of fertile plains, rolling hills, and sedimentary basins traversed by many rivers that run downwards from the Andes Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The Andes crosses the country from north to south. The Occidental and the Oriental Ranges are born out of this mountain system as it divides in the province of Loja, forming plains and valleys along the Andean Corridor. Between the two ranges is a plateau that is three thousand meters high.

The Amazon Region and its five provinces can be geographically divided into two sub regions: the High Amazon and the Amazon Lowlands. The Highlands is comprised of the Andean foothills, which slowly descend towards the Amazon River Basin. The Lowlands, found further to east, are home to some of the nation's most beautiful and important rivers: the Putumayo, the Napo, and the Pastaza.

The Archipelago of Colón (commonly known as the Galapagos Islands) is made up of 13 main islands, 17 islets, and dozens of ancient rock formations. The volcanically formed islands, encompassing an area of 8,000 kilometers in all, lies roughly 1,000 kilometers off the coast of the Ecuadorian mainland. Apart from its beautiful beaches and unique and varied ecosystems, the Galapagos Islands are home to towering active volcanoes that reach altitudes up to 1,600 meters.

Amazon

The Amazon or jungle region, located to the east of the Andes, is one of the most accessible and traveler-friendly areas of the upper Amazon basin, the biologically richest area anywhere on earth. There are innumerable varieties of flora, including many of Ecuador's 4,500 species of orchids, and many plants with medicinal value. Wildlife such as butterflies, bats, monkeys, sloths, parrots, macaws, river dolphins and caimans are all relatively easy to view.
The Ecuadorian Amazon offers a wide range of activities including swimming, canoe journeys, rain forest walks, bird watching, animal spotting and visits to local jungle communities. The Amazon accounts for little more than 5% of the total population but here there are small communities of Indians such as the Huaorani, Cofan, Shuar, and Siona-Secoya who live in jungle villages and carry on with many of their ancient traditions. The Amazon also has some of the finest white water rafting routes in the country.

Coast

The Ecuadorian Pacific coast and western lowlands locally known as "la costa" is formed by the following densely populated provinces, from north to south: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Los Ríos, Guayas and El Oro. The Coast covers about 70'000 km, less than one third of the surface of Ecuador, but 50 % of the population live in this region, mainly in and around the city of Guayaquil, the pulsing and modern major business and economic center and main port of Ecuador. The region’s climate varies from hot and arid on the Santa Elena peninsula to hot and humid in the alluvial plains and interiors between Esmeraldas and the gulf of Guayaquil. The average temperature is 24°C (18ºC to 30ºC); the climate is very much influenced by the ocean currents El Niño (warm) and Humboldt (cold).

On the coast, the dry season runs from about June to December. Temperatures drop to about 16ºC and it is often overcast with a damp mist (garua) settling in and the sun can disappear for three months at a time. A little way inland the garua breaks up and you can have bright sunshine. The pattern is roughly the same as in the Galapagos except the garua starts earlier on the mainland and finishes later.

January to June the temperatures warms up, days are bright and sunny with an occasional heavy rain. This is the best time of year along the beach. The El Niño current can heavily modify the coastal area weather, a strong current flowing in January from the Gulf of Panama making the air and water temperatures soar. The wind comes around the north and it rains. The El Niño in 1998 caused major problems as roads and bridges being destroyed and whole towns cut off for months. The heavy rains washed the Canoa forest into the ocean.

Guayaquil: is Ecuador’s largest city, main port and the economic center of Ecuador. The city is located near the head of the Guayaquil Gulf on the Guayas River. Most of the nation's import and export trade pass through the city's deepwater port. Major industries in Guayaquil include shrimp fishing, petroleum refining, food processing, machinery manufacturing, and the manufacturing of consumer goods.

Santa Elena peninsula: near Salinas is known for its world-class yacht harbor and deep-sea fishing. In contrast the traditional fishermen can be seen sailing the same waters in balsa rafts, catching fish for the local population. There are several comfortable hotels to choose from and the long; twin crescent shaped beaches makes the area popular for national tourism.

Esmeraldas: the Green Province, as it is called, is located on the country’s northwestern coast. Here, the temperature ranges from 21 to 25 degrees Celcius. Its main attraction are the beaches in the southern part of the province as well as the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve to the north. The city of Esmeraldas, the provinces capital, is one of Ecuador’s main ports and terminal for the nation's petroleum pipeline.

Highlands Region

The Highlands Region (Sierra) consists of two major chains of the Andes mountains, known as the Cordillera Occidental (Western Chain) and Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Chain), and the intermontane basin or plateau between the two chains. Several transversal mountain spurs, known as nudos, cut across the plateau. The Nudo del Azuay, at 4,500 meters the highest of these transversal spurs, divides the Sierra into two subregions the area of modern volcanism to the north and the area of ancient volcanism to the south. The former area consists of newer, higher mountains than those in the ancient volcanism section, which with time have eroded to lower levels.

The rainy season in this area lasts from October to May, with an average annual temperature range of 11.5° to 18° C. The daily variation, however, can be extreme with very hot days and quite cold nights. Yet, some often refer to the Sierra climate as "eternal spring". The Sierra's climatic conditions, as well as recent volcanic activity, has produced peculiar and interesting plant formations that distinguish the area's beautiful landscapes called the paramo. One tenth (2'500.000 H.) of the Ecuadorian land area is covered with paramos or high altitude dry vegetation. Situated between 3,500 and 4,500 m. above sea level, this is a habitat ideal for condors, caracaras, deer, llamas, vicuñas, multicolored flowers and hummningbirds. Ecuador's region of the Andes consists of over 30 volcanic cones, many over 5,000 meters and almost a third still active. One of these the snow-capped Cotopaxi is the world's highest active volcano. Numerous national parks and protected areas of wilderness feature a wide range of microclimates and enormous bio-diversity, making the Sierra a paradise

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a vibrant, modern city with roots in the Incan Empire and Colonial Spain. The country is characterized by diversity of people, language, and environment. Located in the Andes mountain range 2.800 meters above sea level, Quito occupies a plateau of 12.000 square kilometers. Its environmental temperature oscillates between 50 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 25 centigrade degrees). The climatic contrasts that are presented during the course of a day, allows one to enjoy the four seasons of the year around the clock - as if having eternal spring.

Cuenca, founded by the Spanish in 1557, Cuenca is the third-largest city in Ecuador and one of the prettiest. It is known as the capital of culture and arts and its beautiful buildings are very well preserved. The old centre has churches dating from the 16th and 17th century, plenty of old buildings, and cobblestone streets. It is also home to the famous panama hat and the old fabrics can still be visited. The surrounding villages are also worth visiting and famous for their handicrafts, jewelry and their traditional markets. The countryside is pretty. Fifty km north is the Inca fortress of Ingapirca, Ecuador's best preserved pre-colonial ruin.

Otavalo is located two hours north of Quito in Ecuador's Andean highlands. About 50,000 people reside in the town from where the famous market took its name. Surrounded by volcanoes, the market place is in a beautiful setting. People from all over the world come to see the famous market, where an abundance of handicrafts can be found.