"intense heat" of Ecuador? Not in any of the three cities you mention. Quito and Cuenca are high in the Andes. The high temp rarely goes above 70F, and it is spring-like year-round. Guayaquil is lower on the coast, but is cooled by the Humboldt current. The average high doesn't get up to 90F for any month there.

I spent a month in Ecuador in 2008. I went to both locations of the centre of the world. I did climb much of the mountainous region surrounding Quito/Cuenca - Illinos Cotapaxi staying in Quito, small friendly Hotels in and around, camped on the sided of the peaks 200 feet away from the bulls bred for the Ring, Tomapaxi Lodge in the National Park and finally 4 days at Finch Bay waking up with Darwin's Finches and Lonesome George in the Galapagos. The people are so very humble, kind, friendly, helpful and so keen to learn English. The Cities architecture is a beautiful mix of Portuguese, Spanish, French, and British colonialism, and the plant life....well being in a region effected by the altitude it appears to be in miniature. I have never seen such small orchids - the size of my small fingernail. I have very small hands being only 5ft tall. The street Children work hard, long hours 7 days a week to save money for their older siblings to get an education. They resemble what I can only imagine one of Dickens poor London sweeps from one his 18c novels with there muckey little faces. Dirty as a dust bin lid to quote Cilla lol. All that aside, our driver spoke only Portuguese, yet I learned his and his wife's name, how many children they have,their names, where they live. He told me all about the small town the government kept evacuating due to the volcanic eruptions since the December before we arrived, but they kept returning all from a small map in a tourist information book he had in the bus. Neither of us spoke each others native tongue. I know I work in the communication sector, but this is telecoms not one on one IT FELT SO GOOD. It was fun and I felt a sense of pride that we both could converse so easily, overcoming the language barrier. This gave me the inspiration to return to region to share with the people and children the benefits I have been able to take for granted,an education. One thing not noted also is the pollution due to car fumes - no cats here - in fact a saw very few puss cats and dogs, plenty of horses with farmers in poncho's lol. They are some 40 yrs behind us when it comes to emissions considering they are so close to the US. It is a beautiful, rugged country, which gave me a sense of self awareness and feeling of privilege and respect for others and the challenges they face each day to survive. So I say go for it you will either hate it, want to stay for ever, or you will revisit time and time again - trust me I know,I do.

Great to hear Barbara, thanks for sharing that with us :)