Historic towns
Ecuador’s historical treasures
If you’re a culture lover, you’ll be in your element in the beautifully restored historic centres of cities such as Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil. Stroll through the narrow streets, visit the finest museums and, in the evening, enjoy traditional dishes in the best restaurants.
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A beautiful town with a rich history
Quito, situated at an altitude of around 2,800 metres in the Andes valley, is a charming city with a rich history and a beautiful colonial centre. The colourful, picturesque streets, the bustling squares and the authentic local atmosphere make it well worth a visit. In the newer part of the city centre, you’ll find charming little shops and markets. In the old town, you’ll discover the beautiful squares of Plaza de la Independencia and Plaza San Francisco.
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Staying at the Illa Hotel
The idea behind the Illa Experience concept is that you don’t just come to stay the night, but that you enjoy an authentic experience and get to know the culture of Quito. The hotel is housed in a historic mansion built in the 17th century. The building is spread over three floors, each of which is inspired by a different historical period.
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A cocktail with a view over the city
The charming Casa Gangotena hotel is situated on the lively Plaza San Francisco. It is a beautiful hotel where you are guaranteed a wonderful stay. But even if you are not a guest here, we recommend you pay a visit to this hotel for a drink on the roof terrace. The view over the city from here is simply stunning.
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The most beautiful town in Ecuador
Cuenca was founded in the 16th century and boasts a beautiful colonial centre with an impressive cathedral and many stately Spanish colonial buildings. The town itself is home to a number of charming boutique hotels, whose interiors envelop you in the atmosphere of a bygone era. You can treat yourself to a delicious meal at one of the many excellent restaurants.
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Hormero Ortega hat factory
As far as we’re concerned, a stay in Cuenca always goes hand in hand with a visit to Homero Ortega’s factory, the place where the finest Toquilla straw hats – better known as Panama hats – are made.
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Guayaquil in the 19th and 20th centuries
Right in the heart of Guayaquil you’ll find Parque Histórico. This park shows what Guayaquil looked like in the 19th and 20th centuries. The buildings have been constructed using materials from that era, and the main activities of the time are re-enacted, such as cocoa and tobacco production. All this takes place in a beautiful tropical botanical garden featuring the unique flora and fauna of the Equatorial region. Here you’ll see spider monkeys, iguanas, tropical macaws, hummingbirds and even crocodiles.
Ecuador’s three most important cities
Quito
After Havana in Cuba, Quito has the largest historic centre in Latin America. In 1978, Quito’s colonial centre was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Along with Kraków in Poland, it was the first city in the world to have its centre included on this list, and the historic centre is a well-deserved tourist attraction. The ‘Compañía de Jesús’ church is one of the city’s most important sights. Built between 1605 and 1765, it is constructed from volcanic rock and decorated with over fifty kilos of gold leaf. If you’re in the city on a Monday, it’s well worth watching the changing of the presidential guard at the ‘Plaza de la Independencia’.
Cuenca
Cuenca is known for its world-famous Toquilla straw hat – which is actually, and somewhat incorrectly, commonly referred to as a Panama hat – and its extensive ceramics industry. A stroll through the cobbled streets with their beautiful courtyards, across the flower-filled squares and past the green and white plastered houses with wooden doors and cast-iron balconies, is enough to understand why this city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999. The 52 churches in the city’s historic centre are strikingly beautiful. The El Sagrario church and the ‘old’ cathedral are the most historically significant. However, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or the ‘new’ cathedral (built in 1885), is the most impressive of them all, with three enormous domes and a stunning marble interior.
Guayaquil
The Malecón 2000 is the most pleasant spot in the city. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along a lovely, wide promenade on the western bank of the broad Río Guayas. This part of the city is always busy, but as it is car-free, you won’t be bothered by the traffic. As part of the promenade, near Imbabura Street, you’ll find the lovely ‘Jardines del Malecón’ park. This park is home to no fewer than 350 plant species, an artificial estuary and a lagoon where ducks, geese and fish live. As the Malecón connects some of Guayaquil’s best-known monuments, it is generally regarded by locals as the city’s most beloved area.
Fancy a trip of Ecuador?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Ecuador, including visits to the historic towns, and are you curious about the options available? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together to inspire you. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your preferences and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.