The adventure begins at the Rumichaca crossing on the northern border between Colombia and Ecuador. Why not kick off your first taste of the country by visiting Otavalo, home to one of South America’s largest indigenous markets. From here, continue on down to Quito, the capital of Ecuador surrounded by the Andes mountain range. Take a walking tour around the historic colonial old town or jump on the TelerifQo up to 4,100m at Cruz de Loma for stunning panoramic views across the city.

Using Quito as a central base, head north-west for a couple of days in the lush, green rainforests of Mindo or travel east to soak in the hot volcanic springs of Papallacta. Looking for adventure? Then we’re heading south down the Pan-American Highway to Latacunga where we’ll spend three-to-four days hiking the legendary Quilotoa Loop. The fun doesn’t stop here, as further south is Baños, the adventure capital of the country and home to the magnificent Pailon del Diablo waterfall.

There’s multiple options to choose from upon leaving Baños. Do you want to head east to Puyo, the gateway to the Amazon or continue south to Riobamba, where you can climb the tallest volcano in the world? Either one sounds fun. After all the climbing and walking, it’s time to let the train do the hard work, riding up to Nariz del Diablo (or Devil’s Nose) high up in the Southern Andes.

Ingapirca awaits with Ecuador’s very own Incan ruins, which can be reached via the three-day Camino del Inca hike from Cuenca. From there, you can either head west to Guayaquill and the coastal villages of Montañita or continue south towards the Peruvian border via the towns of Loja or Vilcabamba.*

*After extensive research in the preceding months, this was the route I planned to take during my stay in Ecuador. Unfortunately, this came to a premature end at Latacunga and Baños as the country shutdown due to the growing Coronavirus pandemic. My experience during these anxious times can be followed here.