hola ecuador destination guide

We’ll travel high into the Andes on our trip to Quito and it’s well worth the climb. The city’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is a real treasure to explore, with streets packed with grand churches, 17th-century facades, historic monuments to remember Ecuador’s past, and pretty plazas which are perfect to stop and watch the local everyday life go by.

Minds will boggle as we climb on board a canoe and cruise through the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon down the Rio Napo. We’ll be totally surrounded by the jungle as we watch for birds and monkeys in the canopy and caiman crocodiles lurking in the lagoons. This is the stuff of your wildest Amazon dreams and a true Ecuador must see.

Gear up for an incredible morning as we head out at dawn to go hiking in the Ecuador Amazon, the biggest rainforest in the world. You can feel the excitement in the air as the sunlight cracks through the trees and the wildlife begin to wake up, and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for all kinds of birds, monkeys and insects.

One of my most unforgettable experiences in Ecuador was when we ventured into the Amazon on a night hike. Our expert local guide helped us spot all kinds of nocturnal creatures like owls, caiman, frogs and tree snakes and it was a truly thrilling experience!

We were lucky enough to meet the Kichwa people in the Amazon and learn all about their life on a sustainable development project organised by Costsaver. We got to help out with things like digging wells, planting seeds, harvesting crops and fetching river water, and each night we would share dinner and swap stories around the table. It's my most treasured memory from my time in Ecuador.

We loved exploring Quito's beautiful Old Town and at the centre you'll find the buzzing Plaza Grande. See the large monument that commemorates Ecuador's independence, admire the beautiful Hotel Plaza Grande, and kick back in one of the restaurants around the square. It's a hub for both locals and tourists, so it's perfect for people watching!