Ecuador

Unfairly underrated, Ecuador seems to be the country in South America that travellers either rush through or skip all together. Those travellers are seriously missing out. Ecuador is beautiful and diverse. It is budget friendly and has a colourful culture that is deeply intertwined in its history.  Sure the famous Galapagos Islands are part of this little country, but don’t let that overshadow the rest of Ecuador. Give it a little time and without a doubt, you will be charmed by its culture, landscapes and friendly locals. 

While it may be one of the smallest countries in South America, within Ecuador’s borders you will find every type of adventure landscape. Spend nights under the stars deep in the Amazon basin. Watch monkeys swing high in the canopy above and pink dolphins swim curiously in the river below. The coast of Ecuador is home to beautiful beaches, some secluded, with world class surf crashing onto the sand while reggae-centric hostels create traveler havens nearby.

Spend time in the high Andes and take in a touch of life in altitude. Ecuador is a hiker's dream. With mountainscapes and active volcanoes you can easily experience sun, sand and snow within a day in Ecuador. Quechua locals will help you learn their language, share some of their best foods with you, and tour you through the Incan culture that envelopes the history of this country. 

You might not expect to love Ecuador, but spend a little intentional time in the country and you will see how quickly a week becomes an easy month.