Things to see and do in Ecuador

Attractions in Ecuador

All aboard Tren Crucero

Ecuador's railways fell out of favour in the 1970s as the country's inhabitants took the roads. However, train travel has been enjoying a renaissance since 2012, when a £183million project to reopen the country's ancient railways was completed. The flagship service is Tren Crucero, a luxury tourist train that wends its way from the lofty capital, Quito, to the coastal city of Guayaquil via the infamous Devil's Nose.

Bathe in Baños

This tourist resort is booming despite having been several times evacuated because of its violent neighbour – the permanently erupting Tungurahua volcano. At night you can watch the mountain exhale fumes and lava, and during the day you can slip into one of the thermal baths, shower beneath a waterfall, take a hike or saddle up and ride through the forest.

Climb Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is one of the world's highest active volcanoes and is the perfect peak to start your climbing career. Previous experience is not necessary if you want to scale Cotopaxi's ice-capped summit, but you need to be very fit and accustomed to high altitude. All ascents ought to be accompanied by an experienced, qualified guide.

Discover the lofty town of Zaruma

Hidden in the highlands of El Oro is this beautifully preserved colonial town that doubles as a mountain retreat. Perched on a hilltop at the heart of a pre-Hispanic gold mining area, it has steep twisting streets, painted wooden houses, a beautiful main plaza and Ecuador's largest wooden church.

Explore the lofty capital, Quito

Scattered across a spectacular valley and surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, Quito is one of South America's best-preserved colonial cities. Its lavishly decorated 16th-century churches are full of exquisite religious art, while its plazas remember marching conquistadores, shackled slaves and Jesuits preaching to the Indians. It's not all crumbling colonial facades, though: the hip New Town abounds with chic hotels, contemporary restaurants and cool bars.

Go surfing

The Pacific coast of Ecuador has sandy beaches and rolling surf that are a big draw for board riders. The village of Montañita has grown into something of a surfers' enclave with plenty of cheap accommodation and a lively nightlife. Mompiche in the north is also a superb place to catch a wave.

Go to the Galapagos Islands

Straddling the Equator, 1,000km (622 miles) off mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands famously helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Considered the most biodiverse place on Earth, this volcanic archipelago is home to a unique collection of wildlife including giant tortoises, iguanas, boobies, penguins, flamingos, sea lions, whales and sharks. The creatures are largely indifferent to humans, which means visitors can get up close and personal without them scurrying off. If you can, fork out for a cruise: it's the best way to see Galapagos.

Haggle at an Indian market

Indigenous markets are an ethnologist's wonder, but also a cheap and efficient way to stock up on gifts for your friends and families. Otavalo is perhaps the most famous bazaar in Ecuador and its stalls sell anything from alpaca pashminas to wooden handicrafts. For a less touristy experience, head to the market in Saqisili, which offers an authentic slice of local life.

Kick back in Cuenca

Cuenca is a charming colonial city crammed full of heritage buildings, which have earned it a place on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Wander down Cuenca's cobblestone streets and discover an excellent archaeology museum, beautiful blue-domed cathedral, pretty plazas and countless whitewashed buildings with ironwork balconies. Nearby Ingapirca gives a glimpse of Ecuador's pre-colonial history; the country's best-developed archaeological site, which dates back to pre-Inca times but was incorporated into an Inca site.

Learn Spanish

Quito is the Spanish language learning capital of South America, with a wealth of schools and classes set up to help you master the language, which locally is spoken softly and clearly. One-on-one and group tuition is available with personalised programmes drawn up to help speaking and communication skills in a short period of time. Check reviews and talk to other students to gauge the quality of the course and the academy in advance.

Marvel at the mounds of Cochasqui

North of Quito stand the most elaborate pre-Inca mounds and monuments in the country; 15 truncated clay pyramids, nine of which have long ramps attached. Covered by earth and grass they vanished from view but several have been subsequently uncovered and excavated to show how they were built.

Ride the Devil's Nose

Trains rattling along the so-called Devil's Nose pull off the seemingly impossible task of scaling a mountain, making this one of the world's most impressive railway journeys. Zigzagging through switchbacks and skirting along track inches from a rocky precipice, trains flirt with the edge as they navigate this perilous route, which takes passengers from the jungle to the lofty Andes above. A must do if you're visiting Ecuador.

Straddle the equator

A huge granite monument marks the equator just north of Quito – the only problem is that this massive marker is in the wrong place. The nearby Inti Nan museum claims to sit on the true equator, where guides show you how water swirls clockwise and anti-clockwise on either side of the line, plus various other tricks.

Subject yourself to a good thrashing

The traditional healers of San Francisco Market in Quito offer cures for various afflictions, ranging from anxiety to nightmares. Treatments differ, but most involve being thrashed with nettles, which is thought to help patients gain control of their feelings. If the healers aren't sure what's wrong with you, they may give you an x-ray… using a dead guinea pig.

Tackle the white water at Tena

Famous for its rainforest and the rivers that flow through it, Tena is a beautiful place from which to discover the Amazon. It is, however, whitewater rafting that Tena is most famous for, with some of the best runs in the world available to tackle nearby. Sign up with a licensed agency and paddle down stunning stretches of river before riding grade 3-4+ rapids, depending on the route and river.

Take a hike in the Andes

High-altitude walks in the Cotopaxi and El Cajas national parks require some serious stamina due to the lack of oxygen, but if you can brave the altitude they offer the chance to see the stunning scenery of the grass-covered paramo plateaus, surrounded by volcanoes.

Trek through the Amazon

The tropical rainforest of the Oriente teems with wildlife; there are thought to be at least 230 species of mammal and 1,600 species of bird here, not to mention 3,500 types of orchids and 4,500 butterflies. The Oriente begins as cloud forest on the flanks of the Andes, before plunging into the steamy Amazon jungle. This wet wilderness is home to a smattering of eco-lodges, from where travellers can embark on canoe expeditions through the intricate network of rivers and creeks that form the Amazon basin. Independent travel in the jungle is unadvisable.

Veer off the tourist trail to Loja

The isolated province of Loja is a maze of small ranges, valleys and cloud forest that is home to the town of Loja, one of Ecuador's most cultured cities. Removed from the regular tourist trail, it has a distinct character. Culturally self-sufficient it is home to the proud Saraguros people who maintain many of their old traditions. Loja is also a good base for visiting Parque Nacional Podocarpus and is a stopping point on the route to Vilcabamba.

Wend your way down the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’

Driving along the Pan Americana Highway, you'll find yourself surrounded by the snow-capped volcanoes that dominate the central highlands. Dubbed the 'Avenue of Volcanoes' by German explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt, the lofty Andean peaks are prime for hiking and climbing. Cotopaxi and Chimborazo are the most notable volcanoes; the latter has the distinction of being the closest point on Earth to the sun, thanks to something called the equatorial bulge.

Wend your way to Guayaquil

The economic heartland and commercial centre of the country, as well as the logical access point from the south, Guayaquil is a proud and prosperous place. The Malecon, the long riverside promenade that doubles as a town square, is a masterpiece of modern architecture, with shady gardens and nice restaurants. Nearby, Barrio las Peñas is a former slum converted into a bohemian district, full of galleries, souvenir shops and bars. All flights to the Galapagos originate or stop here en route from Quito.

Tourist offices

Ecuador Ministry of Tourism

Mon-Fri 0830-1730.