Measuring the approximate size of Colorado, Ecuador is not only a geographically diverse country, straddling part of the Andes, occupying part of the Amazon Basin, and sitting on the equator (hence its name meaning Republic of the Equator), but the country also proclaims a rich cultural heritage including the Inca Empire.

Sitting about 600 miles west of the mainland, the Pacific archipelago of the Galapagos Islands (Archipiélago de Colón) is also a big part of Ecuador. The volcanic Galapagos Islands consists of 19 rugged islands and scores of islets and rocks.

Please enjoy our few days of photographing what once formed the northern part of the Inca Empire.