Me and Mrs Mat are looking at The Galapagos for a holiday but given its a long way to go for just a week we were looking to add on another week on mainland, I've been looking at access from either Guayaquil or Quito, she's been to Guayaquil before and has a bit of a 'meh' attitude in terms of things she wants to see in Ecuador. skimming through the guidebooks and the Internet I was thinking Cuenca seems interesting and accessible, I fancied something reasonably active, doing some hiking would be cool. I'd been considering el cajas national park. I was thinking of hiring a car to get around as well. I'm unsure of how safe it is to do that sort of stuff, I read on one hand its a safe country then in other places seeing advice not to take night busses because they get stopped by robbers! Any advice anyone has would be much appreciated!
I'm going out there myself in August.
Visiting a friend who is travelling around South America.
He has planned for us to go to Banos. It's a spa/outdoors town in the mountains. Thermally heated spas (nearby volcano) and lots of hiking, rafting and other outdoors things to do.
http://www.nerdtravels.com/2013/07/10/11-bangin-things-to-do-in-banos/
http://hopeengaged.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/top-10-things-to-do-in-banos-ecuador.html
Look up devils nose train, I think they have banned riding on the roof now.
Banos is a spa resort town, popular with locals & visitors and none the worse for it. We particularly enjoyed a couple of days in Otovalo, a less commercialised market town. Cotopaxi climb if you're up for the altitude. Guided, but non-technical. If I'm honest, while the walking was enjoyable enough I can't say it merited travelling 1/2 way round the world for. Better elsewhere in S America.
Mind you all this was 25 years ago......