Ecuador — Media Gallery

Ecuador's capital, Quito (San Francisco de Quito), is built in a valley and on the eastern slope of an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.

Santa Cruz Island's beach at Dragon Hill.

Guayaquil, founded in 1538 on the Guayas River, is today Ecuador's main port. It is also the largest and most populous city in the country.

A statue of the "Virgin of the Apocalypse" on El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill), overlooking Quito. The 45 m- (148 ft-) tall aluminum statue depicts the Virgin Mary with wings.

Overlooking the Church of La Merced (built 1736) in Quito's historic neighborhood. Constructed in a Moorish style, the structure incorporates a monastery as well as the oldest clock in Quito.

The Plaza de San Francisco, built atop an Incan town's market place, is one of Quito's greatest squares. Bordered on three sides by two-story colonial mansions, the fourth side consists of the huge Monastery of San Francisco, the largest colonial building and oldest church in the city.

Galapagos sea lions are frequently seen soaking up sun rays on most of the islands' beaches or rocks near the water.

Quito's altitude is approximately 2,800 meters (9,200 ft), making it the second-highest administrative capital city in the world, after La Paz, Bolivia.

Fernandina Volcano on Fernandina Island is the archipelago's most active volcano.

A view of the capital of Ecuador - San Francisco de Quito or Quito for short - which is the country's second most populous city (after Guayaquil) and one of the highest capitals in South America. It is also the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations. Quito's old city has been declared a world heritage site.

One of Santa Cruz Island's numerous lava tubes.

A clearly outlined crater near Pinnacle Rock Overlook on Bartholomew Island.

A Galapagos fur seal relaxing in clear water.

A magnificent frigate takes flight at dusk.

One of the front towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow), a Roman Catholic church in the historic center of Quito. Begun in the late 19th century, it was consecrated in 1988. Technically the basilica remains unfinished, since, according to local legend, its completion would signal the end of the world.

A Galapagos Island blue-footed booby.

Barbary Macaques are ubiquitous in Gibraltar; here two are grooming. Gibraltar Harbour is in the background.

The two westernmost islands of the Galapagos archipelago. The largest of the group, Isabela, stretches across most of the frame. It was created from the merger of six shield volcanoes, several of which are visible in this view. The northernmost and highest, Volcano Wolf (1,707 m or 5,600 ft), lies directly on the equator. The smaller island of Fernandina displays a single volcanic cone. Image courtesy of NASA.

Inside the Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow) in Quito.

The colorful Sally Lightfoot crab is solid black when it is young.

A cruise ship beside a color-streaked cliff in Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island.

Marine iguanas are unique to the Galapagos archipelago, where they inhabit almost all of the islands; the largest colonies may be found in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island.

The blue-footed booby, here standing on a lava rock, is a marine bird native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its diet consists mainly of fish, which it catches by diving and sometimes swimming underwater.

The Palacio de Carondelet (Carondelet Palace) on Independence Square in Quito. The building serves as the seat of government and is the presidential residence. The luxury Hotel Plaza Grande on the right takes its name from the original appellation for the square. Historic Independence Square and its surrounding buildings have all been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Marine iguanas and lava lizards live in harmony with each other, like most Galapagos species.

A land iguana that is approximately 35 years old, half the species lifespan.

One of the oldest churches in South America is the Quito Cathedral. Built in the 1500s in the city center, it features a collection of gargoyles depicting native animals of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Marine iguanas are excellent swimmers capable of diving up to half an hour at depths of 10 m (32 ft) or more. The males grow to approximately 1.7 m (5.6 ft) long.

Another view of Quito from El Panecillo (Bread Loaf Hill).

The fearless blue-footed booby is unfazed by humans, even while caring for its young. Approximately one half of all blue-footed booby breeding pairs in the Pacific nest on the Galapagos Islands.

A side view of Fernandina Volcano.

Marine iguanas and a lava lizard on Fernandina Island.

A view of Bartolome Island with the top of Pinnacle Rock showing to the right.

Sign about the famous Lonesome George.

The Virgin of the Apocalypse statue overlooking historic Quito from El Panecillo hill.

A colorful lava rock on Bartholomew (Bartolome) Island.

A male magnificent frigatebird on North Seymour Island inflates his scarlet pouch during the breeding season.

Waved albatross (Galapagos albatross) have a wingspan of at least 225 cm (7 ft), a lifespan up to 45 years, and live primarily on Espanola (Hood) Island.

Closeup of a Galapagos tortoise.

A Galapagos sea lion and her pup calling to each other.

A brown pelican on San Cristobal Island with volcanic rocks in the background.

A lifelong pair of waved albatrosses begin a mating dance.

Marine iguanas camouflaged against lava rocks.

A sea turtle at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island.

The Galapagos archipelago has seven subspecies of the ubiquitous lava lizards, which are endemic to the archipelago. This one at Wizard Hill on San Cristobal Island is approximately 30 cm (1 ft), the typical length for these critters who live up to 10 years.

The two westernmost islands of the Galapagos archipelago. The largest of the group, Isabela, stretches across most of the frame. It was created from the merger of six shield volcanoes, several of which are visible in this view. The northernmost and highest, Volcano Wolf (1,707 m or 5,600 ft), lies directly on the equator. The smaller island of Fernandina displays a single volcanic cone. Image courtesy of NASA.

A flightless cormorant with Sally Lightfoot crabs in Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island.

The prickly pear cactus is the most common of all cacti on the Galapagos Islands; it will grow trunks as high as 1.5 m (5 ft) tall on islands where herbivores are a threat.

The average Galapagos penguin is 49 cm (19 in); this one resides in Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island.

A beach view on the volcanic Galapagos Islands. In all there are 15 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and over 100 rocks and islets composing the archipelago, which is an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve.

Another view of distinctive Pinnacle Rock on Bartholomew Island.

Low-growing flora on a beach at Wizard Hill on San Cristobal Island.

This close up of a blue-footed booby reveals the bird's deep blue bill and rich plumage.

A pair of blue-footed boobies engaged in a mating dance on Espanola Island.

Bartholomew Island's Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sights on the Galapagos Islands.

Lonesome George, a male Pinta Island tortoise, was the last of his species when he passed away on 24 June 2012 at the age of approximately 101-102 years old.

The younger a blue-footed booby, the brighter its feet. Blue feet play a key role in courtship, with the male displaying (raising) its feet to attract females.

A beach on Bartholomew Island with a crater in the foreground and Pinnacle Rock in the background.

Diego, an Espanola tortoise at the Charles Darwin research station on Santa Cruz Island, was returned to the Galapagos in 1977 from the San Diego Zoo in California, where he had lived since the 1930s.

This Galapagos orange foot giant centipede at Wizard Hill (Cerro Brujo) on San Cristobal Island is a full-grown adult at approximately 45 cm (18 in).

A banana tree about to bloom at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island.

A masked booby on Espanola Island.

Area comparison map

Located 28 km (17 mi) from Quito is snow-capped Cotopaxi, a volcano that last erupted in the 1940s. It is the second highest peak in the country, reaching a height of 5,897 m (19, 347 ft).