Ecuador

About the size of the state of Nevada, Ecuador harbors a great variety of people, geography and climate. Her history is rich and tumultuous with the rise and fall of the Incan empire as well as the constant change of governments. Today Ecuador is a Republic under a democratically elected regime but remains politically unstable. But despite conflicts, mostly economic in nature, the country is a magnificent tourist destination due to the biodiversity and ecotourism. Ecuador is one of the seventeen most diverse countries in the world, with the Pacific Ocean bordering the west, the Andes Mountains cutting through the middle, and the Amazon on the east. The capital city of Quito is located in the mountainous region and proudly proclaims itself the center of the world. Right outside the city, La Mitad del Mundo is a series of monuments and a small village built to recognize the equator's meeting of hemispheres. The main monument sits on the first recognized location of the equator, but it has since been proven that the actual equator passes about 250 meters away through the Intiñan Museum. The city of Quito is also home to one of the most well preserved historic centers in Latin America. Once the capital of the Incan empire, the city was destroyed and rebuilt by the Spanish. The Old Town district of the city is still littered with ancient colonial architecture and reminders of that time. Throughout the rest of the country there are many museums that tell the story of the ancient people that once populated the land. Beyond that, the many rivers, lakes, mountains and forests beg to be explored. The Galapagos Islands off the Pacific coast are famous for their resident giant tortoises but even more for the unmatched variety of wildlife. From these islands to the history of the capital city, Ecuador has a world of adventure to offer.