Mainland Ecuador

The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, a humid and dense rainforest, a large stretch of golden coast and the one of a kind Galapagos Islands.

"If an argumentative group of travelers sat down to design a shared destination, they would be hard put to come up with a place that would best Ecuador. Packed like a knee-cap between Peru and Colombia, Ecuador contains within its borders an improbable variety of landscape and culture.” –LONELY PLANET AND INTERKNOWLEDGE.

This is an area of outstanding ecological and cultural importance, with a unique and highly diverse natural beauty: mountainous landscapes and incredible views of the volcanoes. One will find countless colonial villages and towns of artisans, highly specialized in woodcarvings, back strip loom weavings, leather goods, and bread dough figures. Quasar offers countless activities in this region like stays at colonial haciendas, visits to indigenous markets and handcraft villages, horseback riding tours around the volcanoes, visits to colonial cities and museums, and many others that are sure to unveil the wonders of this region. A visit to Ecuador must include a few days in the Andes region. (read more)

East of the Andes, the Amazon Basin is one of the most biologically rich areas on Earth. There are innumerable varieties of flora including many of Ecuador's 4,500 species of orchids, as well as many plants with medicinal value. Wildlife such as butterflies, sloths, monkeys, parrots, river dolphins, and caimans are relatively easy to see. Ecuador is paradise for birdwatchers as it offers 1600 species of birds (twice as many as those found in all of Europe). We offer stays at world renown lodges that include a variety of activities so that you can experience the amazon region at its best. (read more)

Characterized by coffee and tropical fruit plantations, secluded beaches and excellent seafood dishes, the coastal lowlands provide some of the finest white-water rafting routes in the country. The region contains Ecuador's only coastal national park -Machalilla- with its ecologically rare tropical dry forest and La Plata Island, a favored habitat where some whale species including Humpback, Sperm, Pilot and the false Killer choose to mate and give birth. (read more)