Nature lovers shouldn’t pass up one of my favorite places in Ecuador, El Cajas National Park. Located an hour from Cuenca amid the golden grasslands of the southern highlands, the park spans a vast paradise of evergreen cloud forests, cascading waterfalls and glacial lakes harboring species such as Andean condor, giant hummingbird and raccoon-like coati. I am always struck by the tranquil, shimmering waters of these lakes. This enchanting wilderness affords endless opportunities to hike, fish, ride horseback and just plain explore.

If cultural immersion is more your speed, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed cities of Quito and Cuenca welcome you to dive into a treasure trove of art and architecture. Here, historic colonial churches mingle amid daring contemporary homes by award-winning international architects. I also love how the city’s museums blend collections of old and new, offering something for art lovers of every inclination.

History buffs can easily lose themselves in the tales of Ecuador’s rich indigenous, maritime and colonial legacies. In Cuenca’s Ingapirca archeological complex, I like to retrace the footprints of the Canari and Inca civilizations. Further afield, the seafaring exploits of Sir Francis Drake and the epic saga of King Louis XV’s Geodesic Mission lie waiting to be explored.

For the foodies among us, Ecuador thrills the palate with one of the hottest emerging culinary scenes on the planet. Having recently visited celebrity chef Quique Sempere’s latest restaurant, Aura, and tasted the world’s rarest cacao at the To’Ak Chocolate Experience, I can say that Ecuador has the put the Old World’s old-guard gourmets on notice.