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The most diverse country in the world

Hammerhead shark, Galapagos.
Hammerhead shark, Galapagos.

Ecuador is the most diverse country in the world in proportion with the size of its territory.

  • With four very different worlds:
    • Galapagos, nature at its purest.
    • Costa, where the green beaches meet the sea.
    • Andes, the avenue of the volcanoes.
    • Amazonía, from the Andean peaks to the jungle.
  • With large protected areas (18% of the country’s area).
  • With the uniqueness of the Galapagos National Park and its Marine Biological Reserve, as well as the Sangay National Park, natural heritage of humanity sites.
  • With the Sumaco, Yasuni, and Galapagos National Parks, declared Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO.
Orchid (Odontoglossum hallii).
Orchid (Odontoglossum hallii).
  • With the largest amount of flora and fauna per square kilometer in the world:
    • Second in the world for endemic vertebrates.
    • Third in the world for amphibians.
    • Fourth in the world for bird species.
    • Fifth in the world for butterflies.
    • Home to 10% of the world’s plant species.
    • Home to 10.7% of all vertebrate animals on the planet.
    • And 35% of all species of humming birds...

....all this in 0.19% of the earth’s surface.


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Ecuador and its four worlds

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Summary

Blue footed boobie nesting.
Blue footed boobie nesting.
Nature at its purest Galapagos is one of the most important national parks in the world. It has 13 main islands and dozens of islets and minor volcanic islands. This archipelago, 97% of which is protected by the government, is located almost 620 miles from the Ecuadorian coast and is characterized by its white-sand beaches, cactus forests, giant turtles, and colored birds – such as the blue-footed, redfooted and masked boobies, flamingos, and penguins. The Islands...

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The city of Guayaquil seen from Santa Ana hill.
The city of Guayaquil seen from Santa Ana hill.
Where the green beaches meet the sea Beautiful beaches are found from north to south on the Ecuadorian Pacific coast. Alongside ports, fishing villages, and modern cities, dense protected forests grow with their gigantic and moist terracotta roots. The tallest mangroves in the world (64 meters / 194 feet) are found in the Majagual forest in the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve. In Machalilla National Park,...

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Antisana volcano.
Antisana volcano.
Avenue of the volcanoes In the mythical Andes mountains, there are volcanoes that are more than 16,400 feet/5,000 meters high and are permanently covered with snow and glaciers dating back to ancient times. The tallest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi (19,350 feet/5,897 meters above sea level), is the perfect setting for charming villages and fertile valleys. Chimborazo (20,702 feet/6,310 meters above sea level) has five summits on flanks of rocks and an extensive Andean plateau. Cayambe...

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Yasuni National Park.
Yasuni National Park.
From the Andean peaks to the Amazon Rainforest Visitors will find that Ecuador offers the easiest access to the Amazon. In just a few hours, visitors can travel from the Andean peaks to the jungle. Volcanoes such as El Sangay and El Altar, with their numerous and sharp peaks, can be seen from the exuberant and dense vegetation of the Amazon. Reserves and national parks are home to hundreds of bird and fish species. They are also home to tapirs, anacondas, boa constrictors, turtles,...

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