Ecuador

If we decide against the Quito to Guayaquil train (see post in February), is Ecuador still a draw (especially since the Galapagos aren't on our list)? That's the subject of today's research. Why Ecuador?

Fun facts about Ecuador

• The equator runs through the country
• Four geographical regions: coastal lowlands, mountain highlands, eastern jungle lowlands, Galapagos
• Largest cities are Guayaquil (pop 3.6M), Quito (2.6M), and Portoviejo (1.4M) 
• Quito is the world's highest capital city (9, 350 ft)
• According to one site, Quito is the "best preserved historic center in all of Latin America"
• Currency is US Dollar (take small bills!), but English speakers are less common
• In 2008, Ecuador declared that nature has constitutional rights

Language schools

• There are 58 language schools in Ecuador! When we started thinking about this trip months ago, we thought a homestay with a focus on learning Spanish would be useful. But that's before we decided to go to Mexico City first.
• It will take some time to research this.

Top Attractions (Kate's Google Map)

• Quito
• Otavalo Market  (wikipedia)
• Banos for adventure -- probably not for us (small town in the Andes on the hill of Ecuador's most active volcano, Tungurahua)
• Cotapaxi Mountain
• Rainforest tour -- half of Ecuador is covered in rainforest
• overview to Ecuadorian Amazon (wikitravel)
• Ten best jungle lodges in the Amazon (Rough Guides, 2012)
• Top 5 Ecuadorian jungle lodges (Lonely Planet, 2011)
• Google doc comparing lodge packages
• The Devil's Nose train ... "the most difficult train ride in the world" not for the acrophobic (see Quito to Guayaquil post in February)
• Ingapirca -- premier Inca site with Temple of the Sun 
• Cuenca -- Ecuador's intellectual capital ... the "Athens of the Andes"
• Two-week itineraries from travel sites
•  Lonely Planet
• Frommer's
• Fodor's user forum
• TravelNation (UK)