Ecuador - Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca

"Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca is set in a valley surrounded by the Andean mountains in the south of Ecuador. This inland colonial town (entroterra), now the country's third city, was founded in 1557 on the rigorous planning guidelines issued 30 years earlier by the Spanish king Charles V. Cuenca still observes the formal orthogonal town plan that it has respected for 400 years. One of the region's agricultural and administrative centres, it has been a melting pot for local and immigrant populations. Cuenca's architecture, much of which dates from the 18th century, was 'modernized' in the economic prosperity of the 19th century as the city became a major exporter of quinine, straw hats and other products." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard of El Puente Roto of Cuenca, Ecuador. Thanks to Jenny.

Ecuador - Sangay National Park

"With its outstanding natural beauty and two active volcanoes, the park illustrates the entire spectrum of ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests to glaciers, with striking contrasts between the snowcapped peaks and the forests of the plains. Its isolation has encouraged the survival of indigenous species such as the mountain tapir and the Andean condor." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Great postcard of the Mount Tungurahua - "Throat of Fire", is one of two active volcanoes in Sangay National Park, Ecuador. The park has tropical rainforest and glaciers and home to mountain tapirs and spectacled bears. Thanks to Violet of Germany.

Ecuador - City of Quito

"Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 2,850 m. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Palacio Arzobispal at Plaza Grande of Quito, Ecuador. Nice stamps. Thanks so much to Ruth was visiting Quito.





Postcard 2
Plaza de la Independencia, Quito which is the capital of Ecuador. Really colorful nice stamps. Thanks to Ruth.






Postcard 3
Quito is the capital of Ecuador. Thanks to "b1bob" of USA who was visiting here.

Postcard 4

Church of El Sagarario, Quito. Thanks to Hasti for mailing this Quito postcard from neighboring Colombia.

Ecuador - Galápagos Islands

"Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent, these 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galápagos are a ‘melting pot’ of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life – such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch – that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Wow... it took awhile but really great to get a postcard sent from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, made famous by author of the "Origin of the Species" - Charles Darwin. A big thank you to Ann of Florida who sent me several postcards from Ecuador.






Postcard 2
Ann of Florida sent me two postcards from the Galapagos Islands and both of them reached me. The first card was mailed from Galapagos using Ecuador stamp. This second card was "left" at the post-office in Galapagos for another traveller to mail to me which is a tradition in Galapagos. The card was picked up Helen and Terry of Liverpool from Galapagos as they were travelling to Sarawak, Malaysia and sent it from there to me. Thanks Ann and thanks Helen and Terry.






Postcard 3
This is my 3rd postcard of Galapagos island and the second one to be sent using the "Left" postal tradition of Galapagos. It was written up and left by Elsa of Greece who was there on holiday. The card was picked up by Floreana who mailed it from Denver, USA. Thanks Elsa and Floreana.