Ecuador – as the name suggests – is a country located exactly on the equator, off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, in whose waters one thousand kilometers from the coast lie the Galapagos Islands. The capital of Ecuador – the colonial city of Quito, one of the first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches picturesquely at the foot of the biggest active volcano on Earth: the imposing mountain of Cotopaxi.

It’s a beautiful country, still undiscovered by mass tourism, full of charming colonial towns and pristine natural wonders – including the Amazon jungle, and the largest multitude of local animal and plant species on the planet. Ecuador’s enormous natural wealth grows additionally on an archipelago of 13 main islands and many smaller islands, known as the Galapagos. These isolated volcanic island became home to incredible creatures: giant elephant tortoises (the name means exactly Islands archipelago turtles), sea lions, iguanas and even penguins.

So great is the diversity of endemic life forms found nowhere else in the world – among almost hundreds of species of birds nesting on the Galapagos, the vast majority live only there, and all mammals and reptiles living in the archipelago, the Galapagos is the only refuge on Earth. What an amazing phenomenon it is that all these animals are not afraid of people who have never been to the Galapagos, and therefore evolution has not developed fear of humans. These remarkable islands were one of the inspirations for Charles Darwin and an important example of the correctness of the theory of evolution, and one of the islands bears his name.

Galapagos islands are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the whole area of ​​the archipelago which is washed by the waters of the ocean (which is one of the most beautiful and interesting places to dive in the world) are a strict nature reserve. Enjoying the closeness and gentle contact with wild animals should be remembered a caution with respect to sharks and adult male sea lions, which jealously guard the colony females. Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands are a real treat for wildlife lovers, and people with happiness to admire it for themselves are obliged to care about preserving their original condition.

Appreciating the uncommon charm Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands expeditions offer excursions individually prepared for the most demanding customers, opening you the way to a unique adventure in this distant land. A journey through a colonial town under the equatorial sun, or a few days luxury cruise in the Galapagos, a trip to Ecuador will be the adventure of life.

By choosing a trip to Ecuador we must remember to drink only bottled mineral water – interestingly, the people of Ecuador complied with the law, so that good quality water is very widely and cheaply available.

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