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Ecuador is one of the smaller South American countries along the Pan American Highway , but it packs a lot of punch ! Its landscapes vary from Amazon jungle , via cool mountains , mysterious cloud forests and snowcapped volcanoes , to hot pacific beaches with pink and golden sunsets .
With the varied landscapes and climates come different customs and traditions . Big cities like the capital are modern ; with almost everything available and world cuisine like ramen , burgers , and jam-filled donuts to complement the local cuisine . You ’ ll want to arrive a day or two early to acclimatise to the altitude of around 2500 metres and explore Quito ’ s extensive old town ; perfect for wandering through , admiring the architecture , and spotting the day-to-day craftsmen working inside through open doors . There is even a small bar selling craft beer atop one of the towers of the Church of La Compañía de Jesús with excellent views over the city as it sprawls through the valley and up the hills .
Ecuador ’ s weather is predictably unpredictable and can change from grey drizzle to glorious sunshine within a few hours and temperatures vary from piling on woolly base layers in the volcano national parks to stripping down to bare minimum safety gear along the humid coastlines . On the guided and self-guided tours from Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental you experience it all within a week or two , even if you end up packing the same amount of clothes as you would for a round-theworld trip .
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