Straddling the equator, Ecuador is a stunning microcosm of South America packed into one beautifully navigable country. Where else can you wander the high-altitude, gold-leafed streets of colonial Quito, descend into the lush biodiversity of the Amazon, and breathe in the mist of Andean cloud forests all in a single journey? From the legendary, fiercely protected wildlife of the Galápagos Islands to the vibrant indigenous artisan markets of Otavalo, Ecuador offers an astonishing concentration of natural and cultural wonders that begs to be explored.