Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest and most populated city. Sitting on the Pacific coast, the city is also the main entry point to hundreds of miles of stunning coastline. However, there is more to this area that just beautiful beaches. Humpback whales can be seen breaching spectacularly out of the ocean; all three species of Boobies can be found all on one island; rare coastal cloud forests can be explored...and did we mention the beaches?!

When the Nazca and South America tectonic plates collided 100 million years ago, it gave rise to the backbone of South America – the Andes. This geological collision also produced a secondary mountain chain within Ecuador’s Andes, the Cordilleras. The result of which was dozens of lofty volcanoes, several of which remain active. When explorer Alexander Van Humboldt visited the valley between the two ranges at the beginning of the 19th century, he coined it “The Avenue of Volcanoes”. The moniker has stuck ever since.

First things first - what’s the difference between a Cloud forest and a Rain forest? We’re not witty enough to offer a punchline, so let’s stick to the science! The key difference is elevation. Cloud forests are found on higher ground, typically between 1,800 – 3,500m. Consequently, they are much less humid, offering a cooler climate that results in the mesmerizing mist layers that shroud the forest for at least a part of each day.

This volcanic archipelago is synonymous with both the creature to which it is named after (Galápago is the old Spanish word for the Giant Tortoise) and the inspiration to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Yet there is so much more to these mesmerizing islands than finches and the iconic tortoise. Located 960km off the Ecuadorian coast, The Galapagos consists of 13 islands and dozens of islets – forging a truly unique ecosystem with a dazzling array or wildlife and landscapes.