We have been the owners of WalkingWomen for just 3 years this month August 2024.
During this time we have tested new holidays in places we know well and kept going the WalkingWomen favourites. We began when people were only just starting to travel and slowly but surely women began to book holidays with us.
Most booked in the UK but soon Europe took off and we started getting requests for further afield. We found an incredible guide in India and one in Canada and we offered holidays in these two very different countries. A group has just returned from Ladakh.
We went with small groups and we saw the nervousness as women boarded long flights to unknown destinations. But the curiosity was there and we intend to develop and host more holidays to wonderful far off places.
Right now we are introducing Ecuador as we are excited about our first trip here – the Autumn of 2025 and a perfect time to visit. Read on to discover why our local guides Lisa and Johana think this is the ideal holiday for WalkingWomen.
10 REASONS WHY ECUADOR IS THE IDEAL GETAWAY FOR WOMEN
1. Exceptional Diversity
Ecuador covers an area of 256,370 km2 and is divided into four distinct regions, ranging from the topographical diversity of the Amazon, the ideal place to become a jungle explorer, to the natural wonders and cultures of the Andes, where large volcanoes and mountains emerge, to the ecological beaches along the Pacific Coast, and the legendary Galapagos Islands, a natural laboratory for evolution. Like nowhere else, these are the unique four worlds of Ecuador.
2. Authentic cultural experiences
Ecuador is home to 14 distinct indigenous nationalities, each with its own cultural identity. Some of them, particularly those in the Amazon region, have had little interaction with the contemporary world and continue maintaining their ancestors’ Cosmo-Visionary practices.
You should not miss projects led by women, such as Amupakin, a birthing center run by a group of traditional Kichwa midwives, where you will learn that Kichwa knowledge has tremendous value and should be preserved as a means of achieving Sumak Kawsay (wellness and balance between a human being and their environment). Ecuadorians are extremely proud of their culture, are deeply committed to their traditions, and want to share their customs and rituals with travelers.
3. Safe and friendly
Ecuadorians are great hostesses who are always eager to assist travelers.
In recent years, a culture of respect and equal treatment has been developed, with a focus on preventing discrimination based on disability, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, and so on.
There are various locations and regions that provide fully inclusive experiences, allowing travelers to enjoy themselves in freedom, quiet, and safety.
Our friendly and genuine personality allows travelers to feel welcome and treated as friends.
4. Endless adventure options
Only in Ecuador can you climb the highest active volcano in the world (Cotopaxi, 5,897 m) or reach the closest point to the sun by climbing the Chimborazo Volcano, 6,310 m, the highest mountain on the planet measured from the center of the Earth; navigate the rivers of the Amazon only hearing bird sounds and monkeys rustling in the treetops; cross the equatorial line, surf in the Pacific Ocean; visit pre-Inca archaeological sites, and swim side by side with penguins, sharks, iguanas and sea lions. All these adventures can be experienced in just one trip!
5. A model for sustainable tourism
Ecuador prioritizes environmental conservation and sustainable tourism development. The government is developing a master plan for sustainable tourism that will enable the execution of steps to construct a sustainable infrastructure for the tourism industry, ensuring the conservation and protection of its distinctive environments, cultures, and peoples. Travelers that visit Ecuador contribute to the local economy and help the country achieve its aim of being the world leader in sustainable tourism.
6. To suit all tastes
Whether you want to spend your vacation with friends, as a couple, as a solo traveler, or as a senior citizen, Ecuador is your destination because it provides a variety of options and choices. From adventure traveling to ecotourism, bird watching, history and culture, water sports, … the options are endless.
7. Easy access
Most international airlines offer daily flights to Ecuador from Europe, North America and South America. The cities of Quito and Guayaquil possess modern international airport facilities, an efficient national public air-land transport system, a good selection of hotels and lodging facilities as well as other tourist minded services that make it easy for you to travel around the country at your convenience. Distances are always relatively short. Ecuador is a country made up of four worlds that can be experienced in as little as 10 days. National flights make connections in the main cities of the country and offer a variety of flight schedules each day of the week.
8. A climate of never ending Spring
Being situated at the Equator has its advantages! Ecuador is the ideal country to visit at any time of the year. Ecuador enjoys springtime weather all year round; this creates the perfect conditions for the nurture and growth of its flora and fauna.
9. The Galapagos Island and other tourist destinations within Ecuador declared a world heritage site by UNESCO
The Galapagos Islands, 1000 km from the mainland, are located within the limits of Ecuadorian territory and are located in the Galapagos National Park. In 1978, this Archipelago was declared a World Heritage Site. There’s nothing quite like gliding at our own pace on its turquoise waters, traveling slowly encourages us to contemplate the formation of these islands and how plant and animal species have adapted to each unique ecosystem.
Other places that have been recognized by UNESCO are:
UNESCO has also recognized the traditions and language of the Zapara´s Nation. This indigenous nationality of Ecuador located in the Amazon, keeps alive its oral culture that expresses ancestral natural knowledge, which describes the flora and fauna of the Amazon and displays a deep knowledge of medicinal plants.
10. An alternative option from traditional tourism
Ecuador, thanks to its rich diversity, always has something new to offer that is just waiting to be discovered. Free from mass tourism exploitation, the country is a paradise for those who want to visit four distinct and fascinating worlds within one country and for those who wish to have a unique and genuine experience.
We really hope you will snap up one of these places and join Ginny on a trip of a lifetime. Click here to book…
