Ecuador was originally part of the Incan Empire prior to Spanish colonization in the sixteenth century. Its capital of Quito is currently considered a World Heritage Site, and is also home to the presidential Palacio de Carondelet. Although Ecuador's days vary very little throughout...

Ecuador was originally part of the Incan Empire prior to Spanish colonization in the sixteenth century. Its capital of Quito is currently considered a World Heritage Site, and is also home to the presidential Palacio de Carondelet. Although Ecuador's days vary very little throughout the year, its climate changes greatly from the tropical temperatures of the Pacific coast to the higher altitudes of the Andean highlands which are dry and temperate. The Amazon basin, in contrast, is a rainforest climate. Ecuador also is home to the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin studied wildlife to support his theory of natural selection. Taking Spanish courses in Ecuador is any outdoor adventure-seeker's dream, and is a breathtaking display of nature at its finest. If you are more interested in exploring Ecuador’s cultural points (or scoring some nice swag at the marketplace) you should plan a visit to Otavalo, a market town only two hours outside of Quito famous for its Saturday markets.