From independence in 1830 to dollarization in 2000, Ecuador's journey has been shaped by cocoa and banana booms, Eloy Alfaro's historic railway, oil in the Amazon, and a major banking crisis. You can explore the country's modern history firsthand at the Museo de la Ciudad in Quito.

From the Spanish conquest in 1534 to the Battle of Pichincha in 1822, discover Quito's colonial history at the City Museum. You'll explore stunning Baroque churches, the unique Escuela Quiteña art movement, the historic textile workshops known as obrajes, and the city's historic first cry for independence.

Discover the fascinating history of tsantsas (shrunken heads), Amazonian tribes, and Inca ruins at the Pumapungo Museum in Cuenca, Ecuador. With 10,794 ethnographic artifacts, it offers an incredible window into the Shuar worldview and ancestral rituals.

Volunteering at a dog shelter and looking after 98 dogs for 2 weeks is quite an adventure—you really build an amazing bond with the animals!

Imagine 60,000 km of roads built without wheels, 200-ton stone blocks seamlessly fitted without mortar, and suspension bridges swinging over deep canyons. On our Salkantay Trek adventure, we set out to answer the big questions about the marvels of Inca engineering.

Long before the Incas, Peru was home to Caral, the Chavin, the Chimu, and dozens of other forgotten civilizations. We retrace 5,000 years of Andean history through the stories shared by our guide on the Salkantay trek.

Deified mountains, high-altitude sacrifices, and Christian festivals packed with Inca roots: here is your guide to Andean cosmology, all shared with us by our local guide on the Salkantay trek.

Peru is home to 75% of the world's tropical glaciers. While hiking the Salkantay Trek, our guide explained what they mean to the locals, as well as the natural disasters they can cause.

From the Atacama Desert and tropical glaciers to the richest coastline in the world: here is what makes Peru truly exceptional, well beyond Machu Picchu. Discovered while hiking the Salkantay trek.