Ecuador

Otavalo hosts probably the most famous tourists' market in South America, and most definitely Ecuador's most important. The Otavalan Indians, the women instantly recognizable by the layers of gold necklaces which throng their necks, are renowned for their textiles and weaving, but also for their business acumen … and ambition.

Ecuador boasts dozens of old haciendas, rich in history and comfort. The best lie within an easy drive of Quito, making fantastic bases from which to explore the surrounding countryside. Most also offer their own excursions, whether on foot, by bike or on horseback. By North American or European standards, the country's haciendas are a bargain…

Before travelling to the Galapagos, I knew that its animals were famously tame; I didn't realize, however, that they are often downright inquisitive. When Darwin first came to the islands he described with astonishment how 'A gun is here almost superfluous; for with the muzzle I pushed a hawk out of the branch of a tree.'

From the publisher of the legendary South America Handbook comes the fifth edition of the most practical and informative guide available to this remarkably diverse country and its breathtakingly beautiful island neighbor.

From the publisher of the legendary South America Handbook comes the fourth edition of the most practical and informative guide available to this remarkably diverse country and its breathtakingly beautiful island neighbor.

Majestic mountains, lush rainforests and islands inhabited by flora and fauna so diverse that Charles Darwin chose them as laboratories for his ground- breaking theory of evolution - this is Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Ecuador, so tiny on the map of the world, has always possessed the grandeur of a great country to those who know her well

From rugged Andean mountains and lush Amazonian jungle, to serene Pacific beaches and the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands, Ecuador offers a unique landscape for every traveler's taste

From horseback riding between ancient haciendas in the Andes and cruising around the Galapagos Islands to relaxing in a mellow coastal beach town, Moon Handbooks Ecuador is the guide to the best the country has to offer, both on and off the beaten path

Henri Michaux was born in 1899 in Namur, Belgium. After dropping out of university, he sailed with the merchant marine throughout Asia and South America and, legend has it, left his ship just days before a fatal wreck.