Inspiring Ecuador in seven photos
May 17, 2011 in Ecuador
Later this year, we hope to visit Ecuador for the first time. We’ll be travelling from Peru to Colombia, but want to spend a month or two exploring on the way. While trawling through flickr for inspiration, I came across these seven photos which just make me want to get there sooner.
If you have any advice for travel in Ecuador, please leave it in the comments. If you have any questions about your trip to Ecuador, start a thread in the South America travel forum.
Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Cuenca
Interior of Quito Cathedral
A fire eater doing his hot thing on a dark night
Crater lake at the summit of Mt Quilotoa
Two llamas and their owner wait at a street corner
Street art: a stencil monster meets its prey
Stunning view of the cliff face on a mountain hike
Take better travel photos, see our South America travel section for trip inspiration and, if you have any advice for our upcoming travels in Ecuador, please leave them in the comments below.
This article was written by Craig Martin
Podcaster and writer Craig Martin has been living on the road since leaving Auckland, New Zealand in February 2006. With a degree in Media Studies and English plus a penchant for Coleridge, he's still travelling. Craig podcasts at the Indie Travel Podcast and has penned several travel books for Indie Travel Media Ltd.
Since November 2006 the Indie Travel Podcast has evolved into an independent travel hub with regular audio and video podcasts along with articles by travellers from all over the world. 
Hosts Craig and Linda Martin started travelling in February 2006 and have been to over 50 countries. They were 
Mark Horrell said on May 18, 2011
Nice pics, brought back a few great memories!
The crater lake is actually Quilotoa not Cotopaxi. I’ve peered down into both.
Craig and Linda said on May 18, 2011
Thanks Mark – the caption is now corrected. That’s the problem with looking for inspiration, rather than doing our normal trick of going ourselves!
If you’ve got a sec, what was your experience of climbing the two mountains? Do they offer different things or are they quite similar?
Mark Horrell said on May 19, 2011
Very different. I wouldn’t describe Quilotoa as a mountain, and it certainly doesn’t involve climbing. It’s a collapsed crater lake in the Ecuadorian Highlands of similar height to the surrounding landscape. There is actually a car park a few metres from where this photo was taken. Cotopaxi on the other hand is a much more serious proposition involving ice axe, crampons and rope work. It is however straightforward for an experienced climber, and can be climbed in a day from a mountain hut at 4600m.
If interested I have more pics of both on my website.
Quilotoa
http://www.markhorrell.com/travel/ecuador/volcanoes/ind_quilotoa.html
Cotopaxi
http://www.markhorrell.com/travel/ecuador/volcanoes/ind_cotopaxi.html
Tahlei said on May 20, 2011
You guys would love walking the Quilotoa loop. There’s not much info around, but its easy to get a bus from Latacunga to Isinlivi and stay at Llullu Llama, walk to Chugchilan where there are a few places to stay, then next day walk to Quilotoa- for me a very tough walk nearly uphill the whole way at altitude, but the reward of the views of the crater are worth it. Lots of people walk the other way which would definitely be easier, but I don’t think it would be as satisfying
Tahlei said on May 20, 2011
Oh, and in Quito you have to mountain bike down Cotopaxi with the Biking Dutchman- best organised activity we did in the whole of South America.
Craig and Linda said on May 20, 2011
Mark, Tahlei – Thanks so much for your comments and ides. The Quilotoa is almost a certainty if we head that way.
Cotopaxi, although it looks beautiful, might be beyond us. I (Craig) have done a little climbing a long time ago, Linda almost none.
Peg said on May 20, 2011
Great photos. Thanks for sharing. I’m heading to Ecuador in October and this provides great inspiration. I’m now even more excited to get there!
Mark Horrell said on May 21, 2011
You can get a taste of the Cotopaxi experience by driving up to the car park at 4600m and a short walk up to the climbers’ hut where you can get food. There are also some nice walks through the paramo grasslands on Ruminahui, the adjacent volcano to Cotopaxi. A full day walk would involve going to the central summit, which is an easy scramble. Can also recommend staying a night at Tambopaxi, a pleasant lodge nestling beneath Cotopaxi with great views.
Aniko said on May 23, 2011
Beautiful pictures!
Quilotoa is one of my favorite places in the world. I’m Argentinian and visited Ecuador in 2008 and loved it.
I think the art of Guayasamin (indigenous artist from Ecuador) is truly inspiring as well and says a lot about his country.