Ecuador Travel

The Great Ocean Road, Australia’s beautiful scenic drive comparable to California’s coastal Hwy 1, follows the striking Victoria coastline southwest of Melbourne. Starting at Torquay, the 243 km. drive winds through cliff tops to breathtaking headlands, crossing rivers and rainforests and meandering down onto coastal beaches to open to stunning panoramic views before ending just east of Warrnambool.

This dramatic, windswept region covers an incredible range of surroundings, taking in surfing beaches, historic ports, and whale viewing points, spectacular national parks, rainforests and mountains. The most impressive section is perhaps the stretch between Lorn and Apollo Bay, where sheer cliffs drop away into the ocean, commanding views of swelling waves crashing onto the rocks below. At Apollo Bay, water sports and great adventure travel activities abound, with surfing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and fishing being most popular.

From Apollo Bay, the Great Ocean Road winds through the Great Otway National Park, studded with some of Victoria’s most striking scenery of ancient rainforests, tall wet and dry inland forests, slopes and woodlands. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park with 36 species of native mammals, including koalas, kangaroos, emus, and Australian fur seals. At Melba Gully, thousands of glow worms provide a spectacular light show, and a dawn canoe trip on Lake Elizabeth offers views of platypus in the wild. Mountain biking, horseback riding and walking trails lead to dazzling waterfalls, the most spectacular being the Triplet Falls.

Great Otway National Park is also home to the 91 km. long Great Ocean Walk, with its diverse landscapes of towering cliffs, white, sandy beaches and thick forests. From here, the long curving road rejoins the coast at Shipwreck Coast, near Port Campbell, which highlights perhaps the most dramatic of the coastline sights – the Twelve Apostles. These giant rock stacks, rising majestically from the Southern Ocean, were created over millions of years by the constant erosion of mainland cliffs, blasted by winds, waves and salt. Of the twelve apostles, only six remain, but these provide particularly impressive views from sunrise to sunset with their dark, foreboding- to brilliant ochre colors changing with the sun’s light. Among the other remarkable natural rock formations here are the London Bridge and the The Arch.

Towards the end of this scenic route, at Warrnambool, whale and dolphin watching are especially popular with children. Here, Southern right whales abound and bottlenose dolphins can be spotted from the shore while Australian Fur Seals loll on the beach. The Great Ocean Road ends shortly thereafter at Port Fairy, a charming, small fishing village.

The spectacle of rugged coastline, breathtaking forests, waterfalls and cliffs, combined with abundant wildlife and a wealth of activities on offer provides families with the best of Australia’s wildlife travel experiences and adventure outdoors.

Visitors are pulled to the Oriente for its biodiversity. Beyond the cloud forest of the eastern Andean foothills, it is all rainforest. 50% of Ecuador’s mammals live here in the forested hills, wetland marshes, rushing rivers, and black-water lagoons. Put on a pair of rubber boots and join the tapirs, manatees, freshwater dolphins, monkeys, sloths, jaguars, and caimans. There are many excellent opportunities to see the wildlife on river trips and cross cultural exchanges.

One of the world’s most fascinating rainforests is also home to two huge oil pipelines, encroaching colonists, rugged jungle towns, environmentalists, and indigenous groups. In the 1960s when oil exploration drew colonists into an area that was largely unexplored. Ecuador’s native population was quickly thrown into the 20th-century but has maintained their fascinating culture. The Achucar, Cofan, Quichua, Secoya, Shauar, Huaorani, Siona, and Zaparo all live in the Oriente.

The Oriente gets plenty of rain between April and July, and rains are common throughout the year. Bring rainboots to keep your feet dry and protected from snakes. December to March, and August are the driest months in the Oriente. Lagoons dry up, waterfalls turn into trickles, and small rivers may become impassable. There is a contrast between the hot flatlands (from the Coca area north toward Colombia and east to Peru) and cooler upland hills (around Tena, Misahuall, and Puyo). Damp jungle nights can feel very chilly, so bring a light sweater.

Must see:

1) The flooded forest of Reserva Produccin Faunstica Cuyabeno where you can float on in blackwater paradise. This reserve covers 6034 sq km of rainforest around Ro Cuyabeno in northeastern Ecuador.

2) The winding back roads of Gualaquiza whizzing by as you hold on to the handlebars of a mountain bike. At the southernmost tip of the Oriente, the lush Amazon collides with the verdant sierra forests. Instead of biking, consider white water rafting, canoeing, or abseiling.

3) The view of the rain forest canopy from the lookout towers of a jungle lodge in Upper and Lower Ro Napo. Several lodges east of Coca can be reached downstream.

4) Huaorani village, where native Amerindians preserve their culture in the rainforest.

5) The sights along the Ro Jondachi as you raft down the rolling rapids. Rafting, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain climbing day trips can be extended with overnight stays.

6) Shuar territory during the Chonta festival. Dance and feast at the most important Shuar celebration of the year. Held in Macas during the last week of May it is culiminated in a dance to help ferment the chica.

7) Eat hot maitos (fish grilled in palm leaves) in Coca, the capital of Orellana. At the junction of Ros Coca and Napo, this dusty, hot town is a good place to guzzle down beer and watch small town life.

A top most visited country in South America, Argentina is one of the best singular places you can visit to get your fill of everything you may be searching for: natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and adventure activities. Here is where and what you can indulge in on your Argentina holiday.

Natural beauty

For such a large country, Argentina certainly lives up to its expectations. The vast Pampas lands of northern Argentina are a quaint region known for producing the succulent steaks that the country is so famous for. The city of Crdoba is an accessible point from Buenos Aires, the capital, but Salta is the heart of the north. To the southeast, visitors can visit Iguazu Falls, the incredible waterfalls that span the border of both Argentina and Brazil. It is one of the most magnificent waterfalls in South America and the world. For vistas of arctic wonder, travel all the way south to Patagonia to view the pristine snowy peaks of the Andes. The ultimate landscape, however, can be found in Ushuaia which is considered the southernmost town in the world, a remote location that will be sure to please the eye and camera.

Cultural vibrancy

The Argentine culture is distinctly unique among its South American neighbors such as Brazil and Chile. Buenos Aires is the cultural hub where visitors can get entranced with the iconic tango dance, learn what it’s like to drink mote tea and the social customs that revolve around it, visit museums that tell of the country’s rich heritage, and more. At night, the city’s bars and clubs have a sense of liveliness that sets it apart from those in other countries; discover a tango milonga venue to really feel the Argentine spirit. In the city of Mendoza, learn how the country’s famous red wine has been made for centuries, and in Patagonia, shadow a real life cowboy and see how their lifestyle has continued for so many generations.

Adventure activities

The city of Rosario a short drive outside of Buenos Aires has plenty of mountain biking, horseback riding, trekking, and other adventure opportunities for the thrill seeker. It is also a great place to get a breath of fresh air from the capital metropolis. Along Argentina’s coastline, thousands of beaches welcome swimmers and their families for many water sports to be had. More experienced adventurers should head to the Patagonia region to bases such as Bariloche, El Calafate, and El Chalten from which you can embark on stunning treks, mountain climbing, fishing, and more in this most breathtaking area of South America. At the very bottom of the continent in Ushuaia, travelers can book Argentina to Antarctica cruises to experience one of the most isolated and undiscovered places on earth.

Visitors who travel to Ecuador have a number of amazing things to do. From outdoor activities, to staying in a luxury hotel, Ecuador travel means that visitors will never be bored while in the country. If you’re considering booking a trip to this South American country, learn more about what you can expect when you land at the airport.

Travel to Ecuador to Swim With Amazing Sea Life

The underwater worlds of the Galapagos will likely amaze and inspire you. You’ll see marine life such as sea lions, sea turtles, rays, groupers, sharks and even penguins. If you’ve never been scuba diving before, don’t worry. The country has a number of professional diving schools and tour guides that will teach beginners how to handle the scuba equipment to ensure that they get the most out of their time under the water. If above the sea sight-seeing is more your style, consider taking a cruise to look for whales, sharks, sea lions and other kinds of sea life.

Enjoy a Luxurious Getaway in A Beautiful Hotel

Ecuador travel enthusiasts have a number of luxury hotels to choose from. These hotels are typically located on the coast or in the larger cities such as Quito. If you are planning on staying in Quito, consider a stay in either the Hacienda Rumiloma, or the Boutique Hotel Plaza Grande. At the Boutique Hotel Plaza Grande in Quito, guests can hope to catch a glimpse of the country’s president or stay in the presidential suite. The hotel is housed in the former Hotel Majestic and there are only 15 suites so personal service is guaranteed. Another Quito hotel, the Hacienda Rumiloma, is family owned and operated by the Oswaldo family. The family is known around Quito as being committed to sustainable tourism and because of this, they employ locals to take care of everything from soap making to hotel services.

Experience the Outdoors by Horseback Riding

Outdoor opportunities are all over for Ecuador travel enthusiasts. The country offers a sport for nearly everyone, such as biking, horseback riding, trekking and rafting. Horseback riding tours, for instance, can last a day or a week or more, which gives riders the chance to really explore the country. Whether you’re an experienced rider, or it’s your first time on a horse, the horseback riding tour guides will be able to help you choose a horse with the right temperament for you. You’ll be able to experience ancient volcanoes, beautiful scenery and the chance to visit ‘Mitad del Mundo’, the line that divides the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The chance to travel to Ecuador can be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Whether you’re interested in staying in luxury accommodations, going on an amazing scuba driving trip around the Galapagos Islands to see sea turtles or even whales, or a horseback riding trip to mountains and ancient volcanoes, Ecuador travel enthusiasts can experience it all in this diverse country.

LAN airlines takes you to Ecuador with daily flights.