Take your TARDIS and travel back in time in Quito
Hey, history nerds (and time lords)—did you know that Quito was once the northern capital of the Inca Empire? And that, rather than surrender the city to Spanish invaders, the Incas chose to raze it to the ground? Unfortunately for the Incas, the Spanish colonizers rebuilt the city from rubble, creating what's now known as the historic center of modern Quito, home to thousands of heritage properties. This city center is preserved so well that it has the honor of being one of the first 2 cities declared as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Choose your own epic adventure in Ecuador
There's much to do in Ecuador, so set your bags down in Ecuador vacation rentals and get exploring. A visit to the capital city of Quito, or colorful Cuenca in the south, will give you a glimpse into the country's Spanish colonial past. Learn more about Ecuador's Incan heritage by mountain biking, horseback riding, or hiking up the Andes and stopping at tiny villages along the way. You can test your mettle by trekking through the jungles of the Amazon, or ride the waves crashing the country's Pacific-side beaches. In the Galapagos Islands, trace Charles Darwin's footsteps as you observe the finches.
Your (climate) mileage may vary in Ecuador
Ecuador has 2 main seasons: wet and dry. How you'll experience these seasons largely depends on where your vacation rental is located. Weather is generally mild in the highlands, with temperatures ranging between 50 and 76 degrees all year round. Temperatures can drop suddenly, though, so best to pack your wools. It's much warmer and more humid on the beach and in the Amazon basin, where temperatures swing from 80 to 90 degrees. The wet season varies in each region as well: it lasts from October to May in the highlands, January to April in the coastal regions, and April to November in the Amazon.
Ecuador: visit 4 different worlds with just one plane ticket
Ecuador officially markets itself as 4 worlds in a single place, since it has 4 regions that are entirely different from each other. La Sierra or the highlands covers the Andes and much of Ecuador's volcanic region. La Costa or the coastal region is where you'll find the beaches and fishing towns. It faces the Pacific Ocean and is often called Ecuador's food basket. El Oriente is Amazon country, with large swaths of wildlife and tribal sanctuaries. Lastly, there's La Region Insular, referring mainly to the Galapagos Islands—home to rich biodiversity in the UNESCO-listed Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
