Literally meaning the equator, it sounds like a tropical country and yes that may be fitting for its Amazon Region but Ecuador has many diverse geographical zones. While the Andes cuts right through the middle, Ecuador’s western region hugs the Pacific, forming the coastal tropics and many cloud forest zones in between. Its high altitude plateaus were once part of the Inca Empire and were connected through the famous Inca Trails. Whether it is at its largest indigenous markets or at its metropolitan cities like Quito and Guayaquil, it boasts a rich cultural and historic diversity. Don’t miss out on the Avenue of Volcanoes or the Galapagos Islands. See our Galapagos section for trip ideas.