Ingapirca
1 hour north of Cuenca, 20minutes off Tambo on Pan-American Highway.

Visit Ecuador's
premier Inca site.

open every day from 9 am to 5 pm

$6.00 adults

Ecuador's only noteworthy Inca ruins offers the visitor the impressive Sun temple, other exhibits like
the bath of the Inca and a small museum. Click for organized tour and pictures

Butterfly Farm Caligo
a few kilometers from Mindo town.

Admire those 
beautiful creatures 
in a relaxed setting.

Every day from 9 am - 3 pm

$4 entrance fee

butterfly breeding facility for export, conservation and tourism. This farm has now over 20 species, where one can appreciate all four stages of the butterfly life cycle.
Click for our organized tour and pictures

Mindo Orchid Garden
in Mindo town at end of soccer field.

More than 
3000 orchids 
found in Ecuador.

Monday - Sunday at daytime

$1 entrance fee

Hugolindo, owner and guide of the garden has around 200 native orchids, gathered over the years from the surrounding cloud forest and a few imported ones at display in his garden. Tour of the garden includes admiration of the orchids in flower and explanation of these exquisite plants. 
Click for our organized tour and pictures

Train Ride:   Riobamba - Alausi - Devil's Nose - Alausi

Ride  
down  
Devil's  
Nose.  

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

7.00 am   Riobamba - Alausi - Devil's Nose - Alausi   $ 15 pp
  10.30 am                     Alausi - Devil's Nose - Alausi   $ 13 pp
1.30 pm                                    Alausi - Riobamba   $ 12 pp

After a landside, which destroyed part of the tracks, train has to return to Alausí after a 40 minute descent in the gorge passing Devil's Nose twice. At 1 pm you arrive at the station and you might return the same afternoon to Riobamba by train. Click for organized tour and pictures

La Tolita Culture
small island located in Northern Esmeraldas.

Interesting Outdoor
exhibition of 
an ancient culture.

every day 

$1.00 for guided tour.

This Indian culture, famous for its pottery and gold work (e.g. gold mask) had its main center on the island of La Tolita but was spread around the northern coast of Esmeraldas. You can visit the island by taking a boat (around $20) from La Tola and admire outdoor exhibitions and a small museum. Click for our organized tour and pictures

Botanical Garden Guayaquil
in the outskirst of Guayaquil, in the sector called Los Orchideas.

Display of
tropical flowers
and other plants

every day except Monday 

$2.00 per person.

Tropical flowers, orchids, bromeliads, heliconias are on disply in this faciltiy,
located on a small hill, overlooking Guayaquil. Palm trees and economic plants are also on display. There also exists a small inside butterfly area and a pond with water plants. Click for pictures

Malecon 2000 Guayaquil
along the River Guayas waterfront in the center of the city.

Outdoor exhibitions
and gardens.

every day

no entrance fee.

Starting at the foot of Las Peñas, the hill with the painted houses, it runs several kilometers along the river, blending in new architectural buildings with old colonial ones and monuments.
A botanical garden, outside concert hall and artists, working in the public, give the whole complex
life and entertainment to the visitors. Click for pictures

Museum Cuenca
 

In-situ site
and museum.

every day except Monday 

$2.00 per person.

This museum at the Banco Central has an in-situ site, where foundations of the old Cañari and
Inca town of Tomebamba can still be seen.
Inside it offers sections of diverse interest like a coins and money, pre-columbian and
religious art and an exhibition of  ethnic groups. Click for organized tour and pictures