Ecuador

Straddling the equator with snow-capped volcanoes, Amazon rainforest, and Pacific coastline all within a few hours’ drive, Ecuador packs more adventure per square mile than almost anywhere on Earth. It is also the gateway to the legendary Galapagos Islands.

The Avenue of Volcanoes — Alexander von Humboldt’s famous corridor of peaks flanking the Inter-Andean Valley — is a trekker’s paradise. Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 5,897 metres, offers a challenging summit attempt. Chimborazo, technically the point on Earth closest to the sun, is Ecuador’s highest peak. Between them, charming highland markets at Otavalo and the colonial splendour of Quito — the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage city — add cultural depth.

Descend from the highlands into the Amazon basin and the landscape transforms utterly. Ecuador’s slice of the Amazon is among the most biodiverse and accessible in South America. Stay in a jungle lodge and explore by canoe, spotting caimans, monkeys, and vivid macaws. Back on the Pacific coast, whale watching (June to September) and surfing complete an incredibly varied country.

Ecuador is a year-round destination. The highlands are driest from June to September. The Amazon sees less rain from November to February. British passport holders do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. The currency is the US dollar, making budgeting straightforward. Quito sits at 2,850m — allow a day to acclimatise.