Towns And Cities In Ecuador You Need To Explore

From the Amazon rainforest and Andes mountains to the Pacific coast and the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador is a nature lover’s dream – but its towns and cities shouldn’t be overlooked, and are well worth visiting for their fascinating cultural heritage and array of colonial architecture. Quito, the capital, is the most popular with travelers, but Cuenca, Guayaquil and Baños – among many others – have plenty to offer. Here’s our guide to the best towns and cities to explore in Ecuador.

Quito

Cuenca, Ecuador | (c) dbmcnicol/Pixabay

Cuenca

Women of Cotacachi | (c) Chris Feser/Flickr

Cotacachi

Market

Baños, Ecuador | (c) Craig James/Flickr

Baños

Bridge

Montañita, Ecuador | (c) charteweb/Pixabay

Montañita

Otavalo Saturday Market | (c) Sylvain2803/WikiCommons

Otavalo

Market

Mindo, Ecuador | (c) Ayacop/WikiCommons The weekly Saturday market brings an eruption of color and noise to the town that budding photographers and bargain hunters won’t want to miss. That said, some market owners do try to rip off tourists so don’t be afraid to haggle for a fair price.

Mindo

Forest

Vilcabamba, Ecuador | (c) Sigred Philipson/Flickr

Vilcabamba

Spa

Puerto López, Ecuador | (c) Alejomiranda/Pixabay

Puerto López

Park

Tena, Ecuador | (c) Ron Knight/Flickr

Tena

Visited each year by thousands of white-water rafting enthusiasts from every corner of the globe, Tena is one of those mesmerizingly beautiful and entertaining towns that people can’t help but keep return to year after year. On clear days, visitors are treated to the spectacular view of the Sumaco volcano over the vast expanse of jungle surrounding the town. Tena is also home to plenty of wild swimming spots, nature trails, peaceful waterfalls and restaurants serving hearty, healthy and delicious food.

About the author

Chloe Hay

Chloe Hay is a 24-year-old food obsessed Londoner who spends her days thinking, talking and writing about food. When she's not scurrying around her home city seeking out the next hottest deli or underground speakeasy, she's likely to be on the hunt for the best local eateries abroad. To see what she's been up to this month, check out her website or follow her on Twitter.