Insight Guide Ecuador and the Galápagos is an indispensable guide to a land of epic scenery, astonishing wildlife and fascinating cultural diversity, accompanied by stunning travel photography. Be inspired by our Best of Ecuador section highlighting unmissable sights and experiences and lavish Photo Features on textiles, colonial architecture and the unique Galápagos birdlife. With a longer and more in-depth history and culture section than its competitors, this travel guide provides an essential introduction to Ecuador’s ancient civilizations, colonial history and contemporary politics and environmental issues. The informative text, written by regional experts, is a pleasure to read. A detailed Places section, with full-color maps, guides you around the regions that make up this small but varied country, from the highlands to the tropical Oriente region and the Pacific coastline to the Galápagos Islands. A comprehensive Travel Tips section gives you all the travel advice you need to plan your trip. The selective listings for hotels and restaurants are the personal recommendations of a regional specialist.