Small and accessible, Ecuador offers the quintessential South American experience. Here, the world's largest rain forest and most famous naturalist islands come together with sandy beaches and snow-capped peaks, colonial towns and native villages to form a premier destination for tourists and adventurers alike. This guide will help the ecotourist find his or her way. Line drawings & color photos. 12 maps.
| Foreword | xi | |
| Acknowledgments | xiii | |
| The New Key to Ecuador Green Rating | xiv | |
| Introduction | xix | |
| 1. | Ecuador: A Brief History | 1 |
| 2. | The Ecological Picture | 11 |
| Ecotourism | 11 | |
| Ecosystems | 13 | |
| Environmental Expeditions | 24 | |
| How to Help | 31 | |
| 3. | Planning Your Trip | 41 |
| When to Go | 41 | |
| Coming and Going | 46 | |
| Inoculations | 48 | |
| Transportation | 49 | |
| Packing | 51 | |
| Electricity | 55 | |
| Traveling Expenses | 55 | |
| Accommodations in Ecuador | 56 | |
| Notes for Women Travelers | 57 | |
| Notes for Traveling with Children | 58 | |
| Notes for Senior Travelers | 58 | |
| Notes for Travelers with Disabilities | 59 | |
| Notes for Student Travelers | 59 | |
| Notes for Gay Travelers | 59 | |
| Notes for Traveling with Pets | 59 | |
| Sample Itineraries | 60 | |
| 4. | Once You-Arrive | 63 |
| Language | 63 | |
| Money Matters | 64 | |
| Tipping | 66 | |
| Bargaining | 67 | |
| Local Transportation | 67 | |
| Driving in Ecuador | 70 | |
| Street Addresses | 78 | |
| Business Hours | 78 | |
| Time Zones | 79 | |
| Communications | 79 | |
| Laundry | 80 | |
| Publications | 80 | |
| The Metric System | 81 | |
| Picture Taking | 81 | |
| Health Precautions | 82 | |
| Mosquitoes and Other Pests in Paradise | 84 | |
| Drugs | 87 | |
| Safety and Theft | 87 | |
| Litigation | 88 | |
| Embassies and Consulates | 89 | |
| Native Food and Drink | 91 | |
| Ecuadorian Customs and Traditions | 92 | |
| Indian Markets | 94 | |
| Souvenirs | 96 | |
| 5. | The Outdoors | 98 |
| National Parks, Reserves and Natural Protected Areas | 98 | |
| Camping | 99 | |
| Fishing | 99 | |
| Scuba Diving and Snorkeling | 100 | |
| Birdwatching and Wildlife Viewing | 102 | |
| Photography | 103 | |
| Other Outdoor Sports and Activities | 104 | |
| Section I | The Highlands | 107 |
| 6. | Quito Area | 110 |
| Getting Around Quito | 112 | |
| Lodging | 123 | |
| Restaurants | 128 | |
| Shopping | 131 | |
| Nightlife | 133 | |
| Day Trips South of Quito | 135 | |
| Day Trips East of Quito | 140 | |
| Day Trips West of Quito | 143 | |
| Day Trips North of Quito | 145 | |
| 7. | Northern Highlands | 152 |
| Mindo | 152 | |
| Maquipucuna Biological Reserve | 160 | |
| Calderon to Cayambe | 162 | |
| Otavalo | 164 | |
| Around Otavalo | 171 | |
| Ibarra Area | 174 | |
| 8. | Central Highlands | 180 |
| South from Quito | 181 | |
| Latacunga Area | 185 | |
| Ambato Area | 187 | |
| Chimborazo Area | 191 | |
| Riobamba Area | 193 | |
| Banos Area | 197 | |
| 9. | Cuenca Area | 203 |
| Cuenca | 204 | |
| Day Trips from Cuenca | 215 | |
| 10. | Southern Highlands | 229 |
| Loja | 229 | |
| Pinas and Buenaventura | 236 | |
| Vilcabamba | 237 | |
| Valladolid and Zumba | 239 | |
| Zamora | 240 | |
| Podocarpus National Park | 241 | |
| Section II | The Coastal Region | 247 |
| 11. | Guayaquil Area | 250 |
| A Walking Tour of Guayaquil | 252 | |
| Lodging | 257 | |
| Restaurants | 262 | |
| Shopping | 265 | |
| Nightlife | 265 | |
| Day Trips from Guayaquil | 268 | |
| 12. | Central and Southern Coast | 280 |
| Machala | 281 | |
| South of Machala | 287 | |
| Macara | 290 | |
| Salinas and the Santa Elena Peninsula | 291 | |
| The Coastal Road North | 297 | |
| Machalilla National Park | 302 | |
| Manta | 308 | |
| Portoviejo | 311 | |
| Bahia de Caraquez/San Vicente Canoa | 312 | |
| 13. | Northern Coast | 319 |
| Esmeraldas | 320 | |
| Tonsupa-Atacames Area | 326 | |
| Sua-Same Area | 328 | |
| Rio Cayapas Region | 331 | |
| Santo Domingo de los Colorados | 337 | |
| La Perla Forest Reserv | 342 | |
| Bilsa Biological Reserve and Mache--Chindul Ecological Reserve | 344 | |
| Tinalandia | 346 | |
| Rio Palenque Science Center | 348 | |
| Quevedo | 350 | |
| Section III | The Oriente (Amazon Lowlands) | 353 |
| 14. | Northern Oriente (Amazon) | 358 |
| Cayambe--Coca Ecological Reserve | 358 | |
| Baeza | 359 | |
| South of Baeza | 360 | |
| Baeza--Lago Agrio Road | 366 | |
| Lago Agrio (Nueva Loca) | 368 | |
| Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 370 | |
| Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana) | 378 | |
| Lower Rio Napo | 380 | |
| Yasuni National Park | 390 | |
| 15. | Central and Southern Oriente | 394 |
| Archidona/Tena | 394 | |
| Misahualli and the Upper Rio Napo | 396 | |
| Puyo | 413 | |
| Macas | 414 | |
| Kapawi | 416 | |
| Miazal | 419 | |
| Road South to Mendez, Limon & Gualaceo | 420 | |
| Section IV | The Galapagos Islands | 425 |
| 16. | The Galapagos Islands | 428 |
| Geology | 429 | |
| The Ecological Zones | 432 | |
| Darwin and the Theory of Evolution | 433 | |
| The Natural History of the Islands | 435 | |
| Conservation | 437 | |
| Wildlife Viewing in the Galapagos | 438 | |
| Photography in the Galapagos | 440 | |
| Getting There | 441 | |
| Getting Started | 441 | |
| Practical Information | 443 | |
| The Islands | 444 | |
| Glossary | 466 | |
| Recommended Reading | 469 | |
| Index | 474 | |
| Lodging Index | 481 | |
| Dining Index | 484 | |
| Maps | ||
| Ecuador and Galapagos Islands | ||
| Mainland National Parks and Reserves | ||
| Quito Area | ||
| Quito | ||
| Northern Highlands | ||
| Otavalo | ||
| Central Highlands | ||
| Cuenca Area | ||
| Cuenca | ||
| Southern Highlands | ||
| Loja | ||
| Guayaquil Area | ||
| Guayaquil | ||
| Southern Coast | ||
| Salinas | ||
| Central Coast | ||
| Northern Coast | ||
| Esmeraldas | ||
| Northern Oriente | ||
| Tena | ||
| Central Oriente | ||
| Southern Oriente | ||
| Galapagos Islands | ||
| Puerto Ayora |
Overview
Small and accessible, Ecuador offers the quintessential South American experience. Here, the world's largest rain forest and most ...