4 Fascinating
Attractions In Ecuador
Ecuador
straddles the equator on the west coast of South America and has a fascinating
and diverse landscape. Here you can experience the Andean highlands, the
Amazon jungle and the fascinating Galápagos Islands with their many
species of wildlife. However, there is also a fascinating side of this
South American country, with unusual and often eerie attractions to visit.
Whether
booking a luxury, tailor-made tour with the Latin
America Travel Company or exploring on your own, make a plan to visit
these unusual spots.
1. The
Swing at the End of the World, Banos
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Photo:
Swing at the End of the World by Rinaldo Wurglitsch / Flickr
/ CC BY-SA-3.0
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Someone
with a fear of heights might want to avoid this, but the swing is attached
to a seismic monitoring station, set as a tree house in a tree and called
La Casa del Arbol. The tree house itself is fascinating, but it’s the swing,
hanging directly from one of the branches, that captures interest. There
is a seat belt to hold the rider in, as it swings directly out over the
canyon, with an incredible drop beneath. Atlas
Obscura reports that no one knows where the swing originally came from,
but it was probably put there by a whimsical seismologist. Whoever placed
it, there is an incredible view to enjoy.
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Photo:
La Casa del Arbol by Rinaldo Wurglitsch / Flickr
/ CC BY-SA-3.0
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2. Garcia
Moreno Prison, Quito
A once
infamous prison, which dates back 140 years, has been converted into a
museum. The prison was known for housing corrupt politicians and even a
con man who posed as the Costa Rican president’s son. These days, while
many of the inmates’ belongings can still be viewed, the prison is abandoned.
Religious images were hung on the walls in an attempt to uplift prisoners,
but in this image, more salacious posters appear. In the cells you can
see socks, old clothing and magazines, previously owned by prison inmates.
A two-hour tour is available through the prison where your guides, many
of whom were former prison guards, tell you their stories of the colorful
characters imprisoned there and their many dramas.
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Photo
via Flickr
by Agencia de Noticias ANDES/CC BY-SA 2.0
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3.
Laguna Quilotoa
Laguna Quilotoa is a beautiful,
turquoise lake nestled in a volcanic crater. The last eruption of the Quilotoa
volcano happened in 1280, which left behind the 3 km (1.8 mile) caldera,
which eventually became filled with water. The small town of Quilotoa is
at the southwest edge of the lake, offering a 7.5 km (4.7 mile) hike around
the crater rim. The location is pretty high at around 3,900 meters (12,795
feet) up the Andes mountain, which is criss-crossed with many hiking trails.
Visitors are warned that this is a challenging hiking area, but the views
experienced are well worth the trouble.
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Photo Laguna Quilotoa
by Cecilia Heinen/Flickr/CC
BY 2.0
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4. Intiñan
Solar Museum, Quito
This fascinating
museum claims to be home to the “true equator.” Nestled in the foothills
of the Andes, the museum is a mixture of folklore, culture and physics.
The museum is a short distance from what it believed to be the “official”
monument to the equator and has been bisected with a line of red paint,
marking what officials there claim is the site of the middle of the world.
It is reportedly very close, but with the rocks surrounding the monument,
GPS tests offer mixed results. However a tour of the museum is fascinating,
as it has life-sized dioramas on display, depicting daily life in Ecuador.
There is a totem pole, pickled snakes, a blow-dart range and even a “real”
shrunken head to see during your visit.
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Photo Murray
Foubister/Wikimedia/
CC BY-SA 2.0
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While
there is plenty to see and do in Ecuador while on a holiday in Latin America,
make sure you make a side trip or two to see these fascinating attractions.
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