The all-important annual Queen of Quito competition is held at the Teatro Nacional. A posse of Ecuadorian beauties from across the country primp and preen themselves with the hope of reigning…

Truly a ghostly experience, the matador and the bull come face to face by candlelight and accompanied by the singing of Spanish flamenco at the Nocturnal Flamenco Bullfighting Festival. This…

The Pase del Niño Viajero is an impressive procession that takes place every year on Christmas Eve in the municipality of Cuenca.

The yearly Guaranda Carnival is known to be one of the best in Ecuador and is eagerly anticipated by the bolivarenses, the people from the Bolívar province.

Accomplished dancers and choreographers from around the globe display their skill at Quito's yearly International Women in Dance Festival (Mujeres en La Danza). Catch performances in the Casa…

Student marching bands, impressive baton twirlers and military bands take to the streets in Quito's Old Quarter on 31 October every year to celebrate the Ecuadorian Coat of Arms Day. Dancing…

Folklore song and dance groups from the provinces come together to fill Ambato's large Plaza de la Segunda Constituyente square with strictly white or brightly coloured costumes and a lively…

Galapago means "saddle", alluding to the shell of the giant tortoise that lives in the magic isles beyond Ecuador - the Galapagos Islands. Since their discovery in 1535, they have bewitched…

The Sangay National Park is one of Ecuador's most remote and outstandingly beautiful areas and justifiably a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The capital of Azuay province in the southern Ecuadorean Andes, Cuenca has become a popular destination on the backpackers' trail. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with colonial…

Vilcabamba Valley, near Loja in southern Ecuador, is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. The area is also known as the Valley of Longevity due to the unusual number of residents over…

Otavalo's Market, known locally as the Feria Sabatina, is one of the most important indigenous markets in Latin America. It is held every day in Poncho Plaza and in the surrounding streets.

Cotopaxi, located close to Latacunga, is Ecuador's most popular national park. At 5897 metres, snow-capped Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world and the park's main attraction.…

If there is one place in the world that every diver dreams of, it is the Galapagos. On most dives you will see several hundred large marine animals and it is not uncommon to see sea lions…

The Old Town's San Francisco Church is a combination of indigenous and Moorish motifs, and Colonial-Baroque architecture. A large church complex built over an Inca temple, it houses religious…

If in need of a good draft beer and the company of Europeans and Americans, head to the Turtle's Head, a lively Scottish pub in La Mariscal. It has its own micro-brewery and quality fish and…

The most important archaeological site in Ecuador, Ingapirca Ruins are testimony to the presence of the Incas.

Baños has several hot springs due to the active Tungurahua volcano ("throat of fire" in Quechua). There have been earthquakes here, but it is still a popular destination for backpackers and…

The Mitad del Mundo means "the middle of the world" and it is, in fact, on the equator just north of Quito. A stone monument marks latitude zero and visitors can have one foot in the northern…

Dedicated to Peruvian colonial art from the 16th-19th century, the Museo de Arte Colonial is situated in Quito's city centre. See paintings by distinguished artists such as Miguel de Santiago…