Ecuador - the smallest of the three Andean countries (after Bolivia and Peru) - covers only 0.2% of the world's surface, anyhow it belongs to the most biologically diverse countries on earth as it contains one fifth of the worldwide bird species, almost 10% of the amphibians, 8% of the mammals, and 10% of all plant species.
Though its small surface it offers 4 different worlds close to each other (Amazon, Andes, Coast, and Galapagos) which favour the presence of 46 ecosystems (16 in the coast, 21 in the Andes, and 9 in the Amazon region) ranging from mangrove ecosystems to dry forest, tropical wet forest, paramos, cloud forests, to the rain forest in the Amazon.
The Oriente (Amazon region) can be geographically divided into two subregions: the High Amazon (covering the Andean foothills slowly descending towards the Amazon River basin) and the Amazon lowlands. It contains 25% of the nation's territory and provides tourists with excellent opportunities of observing wildlife and getting in contact with the indigenous communities in the rain forest.
The Sierra (Andean region) crosses the country from north to south, between the two ranges (Occidental and Oriental Range) there is a plateau which reaches heights of three thousand meters. Highest point is the volcanoe Chimborazo (6,310 m). Ecuador's Andean region is particularly suitable for any kind of nature-based tourism, such as mountaineering, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, rafting or birdwatching in the Tropical Andes as well as cultural tourism, such as visits of the colonial cities in the Andes, tours to the ruins of Ingapirca (the only still existing Inca memorial in Ecuador) and trips to one of the indigenous handicraft markets (as the famous one in Otavalo).
The Costa (Coast) encompasses 2,237 kilometers of coastline and is made up of fertile plains, rolling hills, and sedimentary basins. The "Ruta del Sol" is a tourist trail 640 km along the sea; there is an upcoming trend in surf tourism in the small "surfer towns" Montañita and Canoa and whale watching tourism in and around Puerto López. Guayaquil which is located on the southern part of the coast is the biggest city of the country.
The Galapagos Islands are made up of 13 main islands and 17 islets. They lie 1,000 off the mainland and encompass an area of 8,000 kilometers in all. The appeal of the Galapagos Islands lies in its unrivalled flora and fauna.