ECUADOR Regions

Ecuador is divided into four main regions: 

Andes (Sierra):

The majestic Andes mountain range runs the length of the country and comprises grassy highlands (paramo), misty cloud forests home to spectacled bears, turquoise lagoons nestled in volcanic craters, thermal baths and brightly coloured mountain villages with their markets selling hand-woven clothing and hammocks. The capital, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a maze of steep cobbled streets complete with cobbled plazas and lavishly decorated cathedrals.

Amazon (Oriente):

The Ecuadorian Amazon basin is without doubt one of nature's greatest achievements and makes Ecuador the most mega diverse country, with more plant and animal species per square km than anywhere else in the world.Home to indigenous tribes, jaguars, monkeys, exotic birds, neon-coloured butterflies and other strange insects, the Amazon offers unlimited opportunities for unforgettable adventure and exploration.

Coast (Costa):

The warm and sunny Pacific coast of Ecuador is a little slice of paradise, offering miles of empty palm fringed beaches, small islands to explore by boat, amazing diving, snorkelling and surfing opportunities and warm tropical waters filled with brightly coloured fish, rays, seahorses, turtles, sea lions and even humpback whales (June-September). The lively people frequenting the thatch roof bars and restaurants here all contribute to its famous nightlife.

Galapagos Islands:

The Galapagos Islands are arguably the world's most prestigious wildlife destination whose extraordinary wildlife played a pivotal role in shaping Charles Darwin's theories on evolution.

PERU Regions

Although Peru is in the tropics, its weather varies due to its geographical diversity (coast, highlands, Amazon) and to the cold water Humboldt Current northwards along most of the coast.

The Coast:

The central and southern region of the Peruvian coast is generally sunny in the summer (November to May) and cloudy during the rest of the year. Temperatures vary between 20ºC and 30ºC during the summer and 10ºC and 20ºC during the winter. The northern region of the coast has sunshine almost all year, can also get cloudy with some rain between November and March, depending on the seasonal presence of the “El Niño” current.

The Sierra (Highlands) 

The Andes have usually a rainless winter that runs from April to October, where temperatures during the day are very warm, and a rainy season that lasts from November to March, being heaviest in January - February. In the highlands temperatures have accentuated variations between day and night, with sudden temperature falls after sunset (sometimes up to 15ºC) in the winter months (May-August).

The Rainforest:

In the Rainforest it can rain all year round and there may be high temperatures. From November to May rain is heavier, rivers rise, but from May to September temperatures are generally milder but never cold, except sometimes in Madre de Dios Department (south) where cold air-masses move in from Bolivia and Argentina in the winter months

The People

Ecuador is a multi-cultural wonder, with 17 distinct indigenous groups and 27 ethnic groups, many of which preserve their languages, traditions and dress to a remarkable degree. The people of Ecuador are descendants of the Inca Empire and later Spanish conquests. The Indian descendants, known as Quechua, inhabit the highlands in Central Ecuador and the jungles of Eastern and Southern part of the country. The European descendants, or ‘mestizo’ (mixed Amerindian and white) populate most of the larger northern cities. Spanish is the official language and Amerindian languages are also spoken, especially Quechua.