Considered to be one of the best places to live, Ecuador is loved for its warm climate, cool environment, and low housing prices. Compared to places like Colombia and Peru, the entertainment and amenities in Ecuador are still incomparable. The real estate in Ecuador is also a wise place to invest, not only are you getting the value of the home you chose to reside in, the country offers modern public transportation and cheap utilities. Teaching English abroad in Ecuador provides affordable medical care, entertainment, and a wide range of unique and exotic foods. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and the official language is Spanish. Fun things to do include visiting Cuenca in the heart of the Andes mountains, exploring the Galapagos, and camping at Cotopaxi National Park.
Cuenca, or, Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca, founded in 1557, is considered the epicenter of arts and culture in Ecuador. With impressive churches dating back to the 16th and 17th century, visitors often have the feeling they’ve traveled back in time. The city is split in two by the River Tomebamba. The northern parts are the oldest, and the southern part is a newer suburb. The Tomebamba is lined with colonial buildings, museums, restaurants, shopping, and is an awesome site to feast your eyes on during sunset.
It’s about a 500 USD airline ticket from Ecuador to the Galapagos which can be visited all year long. The dry season offers blue skies and scattered showers throughout the day, where as the warm season is wetter with with cloudier skies. Formed by three major oceanic currents, the Galapagos is filled with a large mix of exotic creatures. Covered in wildlife, it gives the chance to get up close with the world’s rarest animals. The Alcedo Volcano is the only area visitors may climb, and also host the largest population of turtles on the island.
Visit Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Nicknamed the smooth neck of the moon, camping or staying at Cotopaxi is relatively inexpensive and offers breathtaking landscapes. About 50 kilometers south of Cuenca, activities include hiking, biking, and horse riding.