Quito’s UNESCO-listed old town is a sight like none other. Distinctive green and gold domes, grey-faced churches with glittering baroque interiors, indigenous street sellers with stacks of avocados, cherries, mangoes and blueberries and endless buses spewing petrol fumes combine to make a heady cocktail.
The closest city to my hometown, London has a special place in my heart. The UK‘s capital city has blossomed into a melting pot of culture, art and cuisine. Whether you’re chowing down on snacks at Borough Market, watching a Shakespeare play on the Thames or into indie gigs in Shoreditch, London has something for everyone. This London travel guide takes you through the best of the city.
Eating out in Ecuador can either be dirt cheap or surprisingly expensive, as restaurants seem either to be holes-in-the-wall or high-end. Our favourite local dishes were quinoa soup and llapingacho (a potato, cheese and egg concoction), as well as arepas often prepared in hole-in-the-wall joints owned and run by the Venezuelan community.
The Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is an adventure you’ll never forget. Take the spiralling mountain road from Quito into the deep, lush Amazon rainforest for a weekend or longer. Lace up your walking boots and find yourself immersed in dense vegetation, kapok leaves fringing the clouded sky. Find yourself surrounded by rainforest, abuzz with the sounds of wild parakeets, howler monkeys and tanager birds.
Is Colombia expensive to travel? We backpacked Colombia for under $40 a day.
Hike your way through the Andes mountains, around the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador. This 36km winding track takes you through green valleys as clouds descend on the mountain tops, past fluffy alpacas (though more sheep and cows than alpacas) and through traditional mountain villages.
The inescapable truth is that tourism leaves behind a carbon footprint, but we can all take steps to tread more lightly. In Europe, the eco-conscious traveller can search out sustainable travel accommodation that’s greener and reduces our carbon footprint.
Otavalo is home to Ecuador’s most famous market and it is the place to shop for ponchos, jumpers and other textiles in Ecuador. This highland town has a strong indigenous community who earn a living making and selling their beautiful textile products.
According to travel guides, the only safe place to cross the overland border between Colombia and Ecuador is Rumichaca. The closest Colombian town is Ipiales (but we recommend staying in Pasto) and the closest Ecuadorian town is Tulcan (but we’d go straight across to Otavalo).
Pasto is a small city near the Colombia/Ecuador border and a frequent stopover for those making the long overland journey from Colombia to Ecuador. It’s an unappealing city and we wouldn’t recommend more than an overnight stop here, but it’s a better option than stopping in Ipiales.
We’re Charlie and Luke — UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. We travel slow and write about sustainable travel. We want to make responsible travel choices and help you do the same. Get to know us.
