Azuay

Azuay is located in the southern Andes. Cuenca's Mariscal Lamar Airport has flights to Quito, Guayaquil and Lago Agrio. Cuenca's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns.

It is an important industrial and handicrafts location. Cuenca is the capital. It has much traditional architecture, both Inca and colonial and was declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site in 2000.

Azuay is rich in metallic and non metallic minerals. The province has three main areas: the Paute river basin (a typical Andean fertile valley where Cuenca city is located) the Jubones river basin, and finally an area located in the western slopes.

Main attractions in Azuay are:

El Cajas National Park	Cuenca
Tomebamba River	Chordeleg
Jima	Gualaceo
Ingapirca	Sigsig
El Chorro	Bulcay

Cañar

Cañar is located in the south-central Andes. Azogues' bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Cañar province is located in the southern Andes. Cañar is one of the most interesting places to see archaeological ruins. The Ingapirca inca ruins are located here. It is also known as the cradle of Panama Hat, sharing this with Montecristi in Manabi. It is a quiet and pleasant place to stay with access to the western side of the Sangay Volcano National park.

Main attractions in Cañar province are:

Sangay National Park	Azogues
Culebrillas Lagoon	Ingapirca
Cojitambo Mountain	Biblián
Yanacú Hot Springs	El Tambo
Waterfalls	Déleg
Cañar

Loja

Loja is located in the southern Sierra, bordering Peru to the south. Loja's Camilo Ponce Enrique Airport has flights to Quito. Loja's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Loja is a cultural jewel with remarkable musicians and writers. Loja is part of the oldest Andes of Ecuador, with low hills, not rising above 3000 in height.

The main attractions in Loja are:

Podocarpus National Park	Loja
Puyango Petrified Forest	Vilcabamba
Malacatos Valley	Virgen del Cisne Religious Festival
Birdwatching	Music festivals
Celica	Saraguro

Back to "Ecuador Location and Geography"

Bolivar

Bolivar is located in the central Andes. Guaranda's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns, and is a good base for climbing Chimborazo volcano. Bolivar is a small province that shares both high Andes and coastal forest in its western area. The province is rich in native culture, because a large number of inhabitants are indigenous people. This is a good place for cultural tours. Interesting projects such as Agrotourism in Salinas de Bolivar’s milk industry is an interesting option for travelers. Main attractions in the Bolivar province are:

Chimborazo Volcano	Guaranda
Cashca Totoras Protected Forest	Sanctuary of the Virgin of Huayco
Chazojuan	Salinas de Bolívar
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve	Chimbo
Seven Hills of Guaranda	Carnaval

Chimborazo

Chimborazo is located in the central Andes. Riobamba's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Chimborazo takes its name from the Chimborazo volcano (6310 meters). The city of Riobamba is surrounded by four volcanoes and peaks: Chimborazo, Altar, Cubillines, and in the far northeast, the Tungurahua volcano. This creates some spectacular sightseeing opportunities. . In addition, the train route from Devil’s nose to the coastal city of Guayaquil will be up and running in 2011. Main attractions in Chimborazo province are:

Sangay National Park (north west entrance)	The Devil's Nose
Chimborazo Volcano	Riobamba
Chimborazo Faunal Reserve	Balbanera Church and Colta lake
Ozogoche Lagoon	Punin
Cunug Pugyo Hot Springs	Chambo

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is located in the central Andes. Latacunga's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Cotopaxi takes its name from the Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 meters) and National Park. Cotopaxi is is one of the five highest active volcanoes in the world, with more than 50 large and small eruptions since 1877.

The Cotopaxi province holds an incredible mix of natural and cultural attractions, Some of these include: Illinizas peaks and reserve and the mystic volcano lagoon of Quilotoa. Quilotoa is a water-filled caldera and the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The three kilometer (2 mi) wide caldera was formed by the collapse of this dacite volcano following a catastrophic eruption about 800 years ago. This produced pyroclastic flows and lahars that reached the Pacific Ocean, and spread an airborne deposit of volcanic ash throughout the northern Andes. In the Zumbahua area, travelers will enjoy the cultural attractions.

The Saquisili and Pujili indigenous markets are another attraction. Expressions of native customs and large folkloric festivals like Mama Negra and Corpus Christi are spectacles not to be missed in the Cotopaxi province, Main attractions in Cotopaxi province are:

Cotopaxi National Park	Pujilí
Llanagates National Park	Titipulo
Yambo and Quilotoa Lagoons	Latacunga
El Cerro Callo	Saquisili
Quilotoa Loop	Pachusala
Mama Negra festival

Tungurahua

Tungurahua is located in the central Sierra. Ambato's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Tungurahua has incredible attractions like Tungurahua volcano, the thermal springs city of Baños de Agua Santa and the Llanagates National park with its legend of hidden Inca gold. Main attractions in Tungurahua province are:

Tungurahua Volcano	Ambato
Baños	Cevallos
Llanganates National Park	Mocha
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve	Patate
Pelileo

Back to "Ecuador Location and Geography"

Ecuador is located on the equatorial line in northwestern South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west, Colombia to the north, and Peru to the south and east. Ecuador is the eighth largest country in South America, at roughly the size of the US state of Nevada. Ecuador is 283,561 square kilometers in size and has a very diverse geography. Ecuador has four geographical regions: The Andes (La Sierra), the Amazon Rainforest (El Oriente), La Costa (The Coast), and the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Islands are located around 1,000 kilometers west of mainland Ecuador. The volcanic islands have a subtropical climate, and are marked by beaches and forests. During the Galápagos Islands' dry season, which runs from June to December, the weather is cooler and windier. From October to May, the weather is warmer and there is frequently light rain.

The Coast runs along the west coast and features low mountains, valleys, plains, mangroves, rivers and rainforests. The Coast has a tropical climate, and is hot and humid. The Coast is cloudy, cooler and dry from May to December, and hotter and rainier from January to April.

The Andes region, or central highlands, lying between the western coastal lowlands and the eastern jungles, consists of mountain ranges, foothills and valleys. The two sides of the Andes, the Western and Eastern Andes contain 60 volcanoes with an average altitude of 7000 feet, covering a distance of 400 km from the northern to the southern Andes. This is called the “Avenue of the Volcanoes.” Due to the altitude, the Andes region has cool, spring-like weather, with a great deal of sunshine. Temperatures vary throughout the day. The highlands are overcast and wet during the rainy season (October-May), and drier, with mild showers, common in the afternoon, during the dry season (June-September).

The Amazon region is east of the Andes, and it borders Colombia and Peru, and contains part of the Amazon rainforest, as well as rivers and rolling jungles. Three active volcanoes are located in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest: Sangay, Reventador and Sumaco. This is the only country where three active volcanoes are located inside the Amazon rainforest, The Amazon is hot and humid, and receives a significant amount of rainfall year-round. The Amazon is the wettest from June to August.

The current president is Rafael Correa. Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency. The population is 14,204,900 as of 2010. Natural landscapes make up a good deal of the land mass—the Amazon alone takes up about 50% of the land area.

El Oro

El Oro is Ecuador's southernmost coastal province. Bus companies in Machala have service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Oro means gold in Spanish. The province was named this way because of its historically important gold production. It is also one of the world’s major banana and shrimp exporters. Zaruma is a gold-mining town that was founded in 1549 and is perched on a hilltop. El Oro is one of the entrances to Ecuador from Perú, crossing Huaquillas border checkpoint. Main attractions in El Oro are:

Bajo Alto and Coco Beach	Machala
San Luis	Zaruma
Jambelí Islands	Piñas
Buenaventura Reserve	Pasaje
Puyango Petrified Forest	Puerto Bolívar

Guayas

Guayas is located on the southwestern coast. Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport has flights to Quito, Baltra, Cuenca, Salinas, Manta, Loja, Macas and San Cristóbal. Guayaquil's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. This is the most populated province in Ecuador. Guayas is one of the entrance points to Ecuador. There are flights to Guayaquil from international airports. The province has both a cosmopolitan city and natural landscapes not to miss. Main attractions in Guayas province are:

Cerro Santa Ana	Guayaquil
Beaches	Durán
Guayaquil Botanical Garden	Bucay
Santay Island	Balao
Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve	Naranjito
	Nobol

Los Ríos

Los Rios is located in western Ecuador. Babahoyo does not have a bus terminal, but many routes between Ecuador's major cities pass through town. The province has more than 300 rivers and so, the name of Los Rios (“the rivers”) is the perfect name. Los Rios has a lot of wetlands and is the main producer of rice in Ecuador. Main attractions in Los Rios province are:

Cacharí Hill	Babahoyo
Seco River	Vinces
Babahoyo River	Montubio Rodeo
Guarumal Island	Catarama Vinces
El Alto Hacienda	Chilintomo

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is located on the southwest coast. Salinas' General Ulpiano Paez Airport has flights to Quito. Santa Elena bus terminal has service to Quito and Guayaquil and to nearby cities and towns. Santa Elena is one of the top stops for kitesurfing, surf and sea sports. The beaches are not too crowded and are easily reachable by car. Main attractions in Santa Elena province are:

Montañita beach	La Libertad
Loma Alta Ecological Reserve	Santa Elena
Dos Mangas	Salinas
Beaches	Church Route
Punta Carnero beach	Ancón
Olon beach	Valdivia archaeological site
	Las Vegas / Amantes de Sumpa Museum

Back to "Ecuador Location and Geography"

Carchi

Carchi is located in the northern Andes, bordering Colombia to the north. It is the northern entrance to Ecuador for visitors coming from Colombia, crossing the Rumichaca border checkpoint. Tulcán's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Tulcan has an incredible cemetery with marvellous gardens and sculptures of human and animal figures creating a quiet and enjoyable place for those who have passed to the other life. Carchi also has the El Angel Ecological reserve with high Andean paramo and native forest creating incredible wildlife landscapes. Here it is also possible to find Gruta de la Paz, a grotto so big than a small church dedicated to Virgin Mary is built inside of it. With coastal and Amazon landscapes too, this province is beautiful and varied. The main attractions of Carchi are:

El Voladero Lagoon	Tulcán
El Ángel Nature Reserve	Huaca
Chimborazo Volcano	Mira
Gruta de la Paz	San Gabriel
Tufiño Baths	Déleg
Chota Valley	Bolívar

Imbabura

Imbabura is located in the northern Andes. Bus companies in Ibarra have service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Imbabura is a hot spot for travelers because in just few kilometers you can enjoy many cultural and natural sights. These include Otavalo indigenous market, Cotacachi leather city, Zuleta embroidery (where indigenous women create handmade embroidered crafts), Atuntaqui family-owned textile workshops, Cuicocha, San Pablo, Mojanda and Yaguacocha lakes. Main attractions in Imbabura province are:

Imbabura Volcano	Tulcán
Hot Springs	Ibarra
Cotocachi Cayapas Ecological Reserves	Cotacachi
Lagoons	Otavalo
Chota Valley	Atuntaqui
	Urcuqui

Pichincha

Pichincha is located in the northern Sierra. Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport has flights to Baltra, Coca, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Lago Agrio, Loja, Machala, Manta, Nueva Loja, Salinas and San Cristóbal. Quito's Carcelén bus terminal serves the provinces of Carchi and Imbabura. Quito's Quitumbe bus terminal serves the coastal, Amazonian and highland provinces. Pichincha has a lot of nearby attractions and in an hour you can reach 80% of them. Main attractions in Pichincha province are:

Pichincha Volcanoes	Quito UNESCO Heritage
Cayambe Volcano	La Mitad del Mundo
Puntas peaks	Sangolquí
Antisana Volcano	Cochasquí
Atacazo peak	Quitoloma
Corazon peak
Pasochoa volcano reserve
Mindo Nambillo cloudforest reserve
Pululahua Geo-Botanical Reserve

Back to "Ecuador Location and Geography"

Morona Santiago

Morona Santiago is in eastern Ecuador, bordering Peru to the east. Macas' Edmundo Carvajal Airport has flights to Quito. Macas' bus terminal has service to Quito and to nearby cities and towns. Morona Santiago is one of the largest provinces in Ecuador and a large part of the area is well preserved rainforest, inside the province the Sangay Volcano National (a UNESCO heritage reserve). Main attractions in Morona Santiago province are:

Sangay National Park	Macas
Tigrillo Hill	Alto Upano Archaelogical Complex
Upano and Abanico River	Alto Macuma Ecological Cabins
Quilamo Observation Point	Shuar Communities
Los Tayos and Logrono Caves	Macabea Community

Napo

Napo is located in the northern Oriente. Tena's bus terminal has service to Quito and to nearby cities and towns. Napo is not the most rich in attractions of the Amazon rainforest provinces, but a good deal of its area is given over to national parks and reserves. Main attractions in Napo province are

Papallacta Thermal Springs	Tena
Antisana Ecological Reserve	Baeza
Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve	Archidona
Sumaco Napo National Park	El Chaco
	Misahualli
	Llanganates National Park

Orellana

Orellana is located in the northeastern Oriente, bordering Peru to the east. Francisco de Orellana Airport in Coca has domestic flights to Quito. Coca's bus terminal has service to Ecuador's major cities and to nearby cities and towns. Orellana has one of the jewels of the crown of wildlife and biodiversity of Ecuador, Yasuni National Park and reserve. This is one of the most biodiverse areas in the Amazon Rainforest. There are tribes of groups such as the Huaroani that have not had contact with other people. Main attractions of the Orellana province are:

Yasuní National Park	Shuar Nantip Community
Sumaco Volcano	Cicame
Limoncocha Biological Reserve	Nueva Rocafuerte
	La Joya de los Sachas

Pastaza

Pastaza is located in the eastern Oriente, bordering Peru to the east. Puyo's bus station has service to Quito and to nearby cities and towns. Pastaza province is an authentic nature paradise, in fact 80% of the province is not colonized and is home to part of both the Yasuni and Llanganates parks. The concentration of indigenous communities of over 30000 people is made up of Kichwa, Shuar, Waorani, Achuar, Zapara, Andoa and Shiwiar. Cultural immersion trips are available with local tour operators. Main attractions in Pastaza province are:

Omaere Ethno-Botanical Park	Puyo
Orchid Botanical Garden	Cotococha
Hola Vida Waterfall	Mera
Fátima Zoological Center	Shell Mera
Caves	Arajuno
	Taracoa Lagoon

Sucumbíos

Sucumbios is located in the northeastern Oriente, bordering Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. Nueva Loja's Airport has flights to Quito. Lago Agrio's bus terminal has service to Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Tena and Puyo. Sucumbios has a lot of natural attractions and destinations. Main attractions in Sucumbios province are:

Reventador Volcano	Nueva Loja
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	Shushufindi
Aguarico River	Lumbaqui
Limoncocha Biological Reserve	El Dorado de Cascales
Imuya Lagoon	Puerto Carmen

Zamora-Chinchipe

Zamora-Chinchipe is located in the far southeast of the Oriente, bordering Peru to the south and east. Zamora has bus service to nearby cities and towns. Zamora has nice attractions like the Podocarpus National park and waterfalls, Main attractions Zamora Chinchipe province are:

Saint Cleotilde Waterfall	Zamora
Chismosa Waterfall	Chinchipe
Podocarpus National Park	Centinela del Cóndor
Chicaña	Pangui
Quimo Cavern	Nangaritza

Back to "Ecuador Location and Geography"