Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Andean Highlands is a region in Ecuador.

1 Cities
2 More Destinations
3 Introduction
4 Local Language in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
5 Travel to Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
6 Transportation in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
7 What to See
8 Halal Tours and Excursions in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
9 Muslim Travel Tips
10 Halal Restaurants & Food in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
11 Stay Safe
12 Medical Issues in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)
13 Where to go next

Cities

Quito - Capital of Ecuador and an international travel hub
Alausi - Start of the famous Devil's nose train ride.
Ambato - Transport hub in the center of Ecuador
Baños - Adventure capital of Ecuador, popular with tourists but far from overrun with them. Here you can go biking, rafting, hiking and a lot more.
Cuenca - The third largest city in the nation, a modern place with lot of attractions and beautiful colonial architecture.
Ibarra - Capital of Imbabura province, close to Colombia
Loja - Larger city along south, close to Vilcabamba
Mindo - Small town in a beautiful cloud forest
Otavalo - World famous for its handicrafts market.
Riobamba - Nice city in Central Ecuador. Starting point for tours of the 6,268m (20,500ft) Chimborazo volcano, which can also be seen from the city
Guaranda - (City of the Seven Hills) was founded by the Spanish in 1571. The quiet colonial town is the capital of Bolivar Province called also "the Rome of Ecuador" because it was built on seven hills. It also claims the Gold as the smallest provincial capital in Ecuador.

More Destinations

Cotopaxi
Laguna Cuicocha
Laguna Quilotoa
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
San National Park
Vilcabamba - Very scenic valley south of Loja with good hiking opportunities.
If you continue on by San Miguel you'll pass San José de las Palmas to Bilován there are a set of worthwhile caves to explore called Las Guardias (west) which then leads on to a waterfall and river type beach in Balsapamba.
A 2-day hike down from Salinas takes you to the tiny village of Piedra Blanca and the little town of San Luis de Pambil in the warm, sub-tropical part of the province.

Introduction

At an elevation of over 2,200m (and often a lot more!) and the Andean highlands are very scenic and can offer breathtaking natural experience. This part of Ecuador also preserves much of its original pre-Columbian legacy, which is notable in the food language, clothes and costumes of many people. It has a varied climate of cold páramo as well as warm subtropical zones.

Local Language in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Almost everyone speaks Spanish. However for many people, mainly in the nationside and Chimborazo/Tungurahua provinces, Quichua is the first language and any attempt to speak some will be very well received. English is not commonly spoken, at least at a more advanced level.

Travel to Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Quito (IATA Flight Code: UIO) is the main air hub and there are also international buses from Peru and Colombia. Domestically, you can take buses from many places in the Coastal Lowlands and the Amazon Rainforest and Flights to Mariscal Lamar International Airport (IATA Flight Code: CUE).

Although not too frequented by tourists the bus ride from Guayaquil into Babahoyo is most scenic and you will often see agricultural workers hard at work tilling the fields.

Transportation in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Due to the very uneven terrain, even short distance can take some time to cover. Buses run almost everywhere and is the main mode of transportation. For longer distances (e.g. Quito-Cuenca/Loja) you could consider flying.

What to See

There are beautiful colonial towns which you should see and spend time in, however the natural scenery is even more breathtaking.

Halal Tours and Excursions in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Quilotoa Loop : Saquisilí, Laguna Quilotoa and Isinliví

Muslim Travel Tips

The Andean Highlands offers many opportunities for world-class hiking, biking, rafting, mountain climbing, birdwatching and horse-back riding.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

All local dishes are delicious:

guaguatanda is the bread of All Souls Day,
potato cakes and empanadas
and the famous "Salinas cheese" in Salinas de Guaranda.

Stay Safe

Look at individual city guides for more information. The coast and Ecuador in general are very safe, but take normal precautions and use common sense. Don't wander around at dark in places you don't know are safe. If going off the path, do some extra research.

Medical Issues in Andean Highlands (Ecuador)

Due to the elevation, altitude sickness is a risk. Take it easy the first day(s).