One of my favourite things about adventure travel is getting to explore different parts of the world in a very different way. Through the ‘quick guide’ series I’m going to talk about some of the lesser travelled places I’ve been to and highlight how to get there, what to do and what to eat!

Ecuador?
Ecuador is a small beautiful country in South America. It is known to have the most biodiversity per square kilometre than any other country and has an incredibly diverse terrain. From pristine beaches to the cloud rainforest, Ecuador has the most incredible natural beauty and wildlife sightings! 

How To Get There

• Getting to Ecuador is quite a long journey from India! You can get direct flights from Madrid or Amsterdam and fly to the International airport at Guayaquil or Quito in Ecuador. 
• Alternatively, you can catch flights from Miami, Houston or Atlanta in the US. 

What To Do

• Visit the Galapagos Islands: The islands are home to some of the most unique species on our planet. Swim with giant sea lions and sea turtles, dive with manta rays and spot flamingoes! If wildlife is not your thing, you can always just relax on the beautiful beaches. 
• Float Through the Amazon Jungle: Fish for piranhas, look for pink river dolphins and if you’re brave – go on and search for the anaconda!
• Explore the streets of Quito: Ecuador’s capital city is a UNESCO listed world heritage site. Walking down the cobbled streets of the city will make you feel like you are in a different era altogether. 

Must-Try Foods

• Empanada de Viento: These delicious giant fluffy empanadas are stuffed with cheese and have a light sprinkling of powdered sugar on top.  
• Horando: As you walk through the Quito or Otavalo markets, you will be sure to see locals roasting giant pigs! While it might be an ungainly sight, be sure to try it. It is extremely flavourful. 
• Exciting fruit: Ecuador has a variety of fruit that you may have never heard of before! Be sure to try the granadillas (a type of passionfruit), naranjillas (delicious citrus fruits ) and uvilla (small bright orange fruits which taste like cherry tomatoes)

Ecuador is an incredible country with much more to do and eat! This is meant to be a quick guide so I haven’t gone into as much detail as the country deserves. Comment if you’ve been to Ecuador or have any recommendations about more to do/ eat!

Originally written by Deeya Bajaj for Onmanorama