Ecuador

The Avenue of the Volcanoes", a term first coined by the Prussian scientist Alexander Von Humboldt, runs south from Quito, passing through the rugged volcanic landscape of the Central Andes. Driving through this region takes you beneath the perfectly conical snow-capped peak of the Cotopaxi volcano before passing the imposing Chimborazo volcano on the way to the southern Ecuadorian city of Cuenca. The important Inca ruins of Ingapirca are worthy of a visit, displaying typically fine Inca architecture and offering spectacular views over the surrounding Andean panorama.

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This world famous archipelago – consisting of 13main islands, six smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets – is a must for anyone travelling to Ecuador. The islands became famous following CharlesDarwin's visit in 1835 when he spent five weeks studying the wildlife in the area and before reaching his ground-breaking conclusions in his book The Origin of Species where he laid out the theory of evolution. Not only does the wildlife astonish, but much of it is unique to the islands which boast an impressive number of endemic species found only in the Galapagos Islands, and in many cases only on one island.

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The Ecuadorian Amazon is one of the world's true biodiversity hotspots, supporting 50% of the country's mammals and a staggering 5% of the world's plant and bird species. Largely untouched in colonial times and remaining to this day a true wilderness, the Ecuadorian jungle is easily accessible from Quito with a short 35 minute flight to the jungle town of Coca before an onward journey by river to one of the jungle lodges. For those looking for a more remote setting, a visit to the southernEcuadorian jungle accessible only by light aircraft is sure to provide a unique experience.

Quito is without doubt amongst South America's most beautiful capital cities. Located high up in the Ecuadorian Andes at2,850 metres (9,350 ft), it comes as no surprise that it has been named aUNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ecuador's third city and also one of the country's four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Cuenca remains a hidden treasure for the curious traveller. Described as Ecuador's most beautiful city by many who pass through, it is easy to see why with its quaint cobbled streets and wrought iron balconies. A fantastic city to discover on foot, the easily navigable centre boasts a stunning blue-domed cathedral with capacity for 9,000people, a flower market where Ecuador's famous roses can be found in abundance, and a number of excellent museums highlighting the strong cultural and artistic aspects of this part of Ecuador. In addition, Cuenca is where the best Panama hats can be found.

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The grasslands of the Ecuadorian high sierra once attracted land-loving colonial Spaniards, who built large haciendas in order to manage their widespread ranches and farms. Because of changes in regulations governing land ownership, few of these haciendas remain today, but many of those that do are open to the public for day tours and overnight stays.

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Ecuador is full of markets, including the world-famous Otavalo market which provides captivating insights into the lives and culture of the indigenous inhabitants of Ecuador's Northern Andes. Two hours north of Quito, Otavalo is the oldest and largest handicrafts market in all of South America and has been exporting textiles worldwide since the 16th Century. Explore the tantalizing produce market and seek out some of the locally produced handicrafts and fabrics that make the dress of the Andean people so colourful.