How to Choose Ecuador Experiences Without Trying to See Everything

Rowan Lee Aug 23, 2026 · 21 min read

Start here: choose the version of Ecuador you want to experience

The most useful list of things to see and do in Ecuador is not a universal ranking. It is a menu of distinct trip styles:

Quito’s historic center for churches, plazas, museums, architecture, and street life.
The Galápagos for naturalist-led wildlife outings, snorkeling, kayaking, beaches, and volcanic landscapes.
Cotopaxi or Quilotoa for a first look at Ecuador’s high-altitude volcanic scenery.
Baños for waterfalls, thermal pools, cycling, and operator-led adventure sports.
Mindo for cloud forest, birdlife, butterflies, waterfalls, and chocolate experiences.
Otavalo and Cuicocha for market culture paired with crater-lake scenery.
Cuenca with El Cajas or Ingapirca for a slower city, nature, and archaeology combination.
A multi-day Amazon stay for rainforest waterways, guided walks, and community or cultural activities.

These experiences span five broad environments: the Andes, cloud forest, Amazon, mainland coast, and Galápagos. None is right for every traveler. Someone interested in architecture and markets will make different choices from someone prioritizing snorkeling, birding, hiking, rafting, or beach time.

Use this quick guide to narrow the options:

Your main interest	Start with
Urban heritage	Quito and Cuenca
Volcanoes and high-altitude hiking	Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Chimborazo, or El Cajas
Birdlife and cloud forest	Mindo
Waterfalls and active adventure	Baños
Island wildlife and marine activities	Galápagos
Rainforest waterways and guided exploration	Amazon
Markets and highland culture	Otavalo with Cuicocha
Surf and nightlife	Montañita
Archaeology	Ingapirca

Ecuador can look easy to cover because the country appears compact on a map. In practice, elevation, winding mountain roads, domestic flights, early departures, fixed excursions, and multi-stage transfers limit how much fits comfortably. Commercial itineraries demonstrate that several headline destinations can be combined quickly, but those routes may depend on private vehicles, guides, and tightly controlled schedules. Independent travelers and anyone allowing more recovery time will move differently.

For a first visit, choose one primary region and one complementary cluster. Quito plus Mindo works because urban heritage contrasts with cloud forest. Quito, Cotopaxi, and Baños form a coherent mainland route. Cuenca, El Cajas, and Ingapirca create a self-contained southern cluster. The Galápagos can stand almost alone, with only light time in Quito or Guayaquil around the flights.

This selective approach does not mean missing Ecuador. It means deciding which version of Ecuador you want enough time to experience.

Quito and the northern highlands: heritage, cloud forest, markets, and crater lakes

Quito works as both an urban destination and a staging point, but it deserves more than a night between flights. Make the historic center the city anchor, then choose a few elements rather than treating every church and museum as compulsory.

A heritage day might include the Basilica del Voto Nacional, Iglesia de la Compañía, one or two central plazas, a museum, La Ronda, and time to walk without a rigid sequence. The aim is not to collect interiors. It is to notice how steep streets, religious architecture, courtyards, public spaces, shops, and everyday city life fit together.

Quito’s historic center is UNESCO-listed, and the city sits at approximately 2,850 metres above sea level (Go Backpacking’s Ecuador guide). That elevation can make an ordinary walking day feel more demanding than expected, particularly at the beginning of a trip.

The TelefériQo offers a different perspective on the city and access toward Rucu Pichincha. Treat riding the cable car and attempting a summit hike as separate commitments. Looking at the view and walking briefly near the upper station is not equivalent to continuing onto a long, exposed, high-altitude route. Clouds can erase the panorama, while wind and rain can change the appeal of going higher. Keep an indoor or lower-elevation city option available for the same day.

Choose Quito-area excursions according to interest rather than proximity alone:

Mindo: cloud forest, birds, butterflies, waterfalls, chocolate experiences, and optional zip-lining.
Papallacta: thermal pools, with the possibility of adding a nearby nature walk.
Equator sites: a cultural and interpretive half- or full-day outing, depending on which locations you combine.
Otavalo and Cuicocha: market culture, crafts, highland landscapes, and a crater lake.
Cotopaxi or Quilotoa: a longer and higher outing where road, weather, and altitude conditions can shape the day.

Mindo is often presented as a day trip, and it can be visited that way. One or two nights, however, allow a less hurried experience if bird activity, waterfalls, or an adventure activity matters more than simply reaching town. Staying locally also avoids repeating a long out-and-back road journey in one day.

The same principle applies to the northern highlands. Otavalo’s larger market takes place on Saturday, although market activity is not confined to that day. Pairing it with Cuicocha produces a more varied outing: social and commercial energy at the market, followed by open crater scenery. Peguche Falls can be another stop if time, transport, and current access permit.

Cuicocha does not have to mean completing the full crater route. You might visit the viewpoints, take a boat outing if one is operating, or hike part of the rim. One Andean travel guide reports the full loop as approximately 20 kilometres and five to six hours, but that is an indicative travel-account estimate rather than a guaranteed duration (Back-Packer’s Andean Ecuador guide). Fitness, elevation, weather, trail condition, and stops will affect the actual day.

Decide before departure whether Cuicocha is a scenic stop or the day’s principal hike. That one decision will determine whether it combines comfortably with Otavalo.

Quito base or overnight?

Stay in Quito when: you value one hotel, straightforward access to city sights, and the ability to select excursions according to the forecast. This can suit a shorter trip if you do not mind early starts and repeated road time.

Stay locally when: Mindo, Otavalo, Cuicocha, or the northern countryside is a major interest rather than a checkbox. An overnight reduces the daily transfer load and creates time for early or late activities.

Practical compromise: use Quito for the historic center and one excursion, then move for one or two nights only if the second base supports several activities you genuinely want to do.

The Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños: choose your effort level

Ecuador’s Andean attractions are often grouped together as “volcano hikes,” but the experience and required effort differ considerably.

Cotopaxi is a landscape destination, not only a summit-oriented one. Depending on current access and conditions, a visit may focus on páramo scenery, Limpiopungo Lagoon, horseback riding, cycling, or a higher excursion. A gentle lagoon walk and an ascent toward a high refuge should not occupy the same category in your schedule.

A crater visit can anchor one day; the longer loop requires several days, route planning, and a realistic assessment of repeated climbing at altitude.

Chimborazo suits travelers drawn to immense, sparse, high-altitude landscapes. Even non-summit outings can begin at considerable elevation. Vicuñas may be seen in the surrounding terrain, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. Choose Chimborazo because you want the scale and atmosphere of the mountain environment, not because it is another pin between cities.

Sequence these places conservatively. Quito is already high, while Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Rucu Pichincha, Chimborazo, and parts of El Cajas rise substantially higher. An easy first day followed by a moderate outing creates more room to adjust than arriving and immediately committing to the hardest hike.

For travelers who want active days without turning the entire trip into a mountain test, Baños is the more flexible base. Its signature excursion is the Ruta de las Cascadas along the Pastaza River corridor. Landmarks include Agoyán, Manto de la Novia, and Pailón del Diablo. You can cycle, arrange a vehicle-based outing, or select particular waterfall stops instead of treating the complete corridor as mandatory.

Baños supports several energy levels:

Lower intensity: thermal pools, selected waterfall viewpoints, a scenic drive, or a slow town day.
Moderate: cycling part of the waterfall route, short walks, or horseback riding.
Higher intensity: rafting, canyoning, zip-lining, or paragliding with an operator.

Do not assume an activity is appropriate simply because it appears frequently in tour brochures. Weather, water levels, equipment, participant experience, swimming ability, age limits, and an operator’s rules can all affect participation. The same caution applies to independent cycling and mountain outings.

A balanced volcano-and-waterfall sequence might make Cotopaxi or Quilotoa the demanding outdoor anchor, follow it with a transfer or thermal-pool day, and then schedule the Ruta de las Cascadas. If clouds hide the mountain, a lagoon walk, crater viewpoint, or lower scenic stop can still give the day a clear purpose.

Before leaving for a volcano, trail, or adventure activity, verify:

current volcanic alerts and access restrictions;
park, road, and trail status;
weather and visibility;
whether a guide is required;
pickup arrangements and road conditions;
the operator’s fitness, age, swimming, and equipment requirements;
the cancellation or route-change policy.

The objective is not to eliminate uncertainty. It is to prevent one closure or difficult day from breaking the rest of the route.

Cuenca and the southern Andes: a city-and-nature cluster that deserves time

Cuenca is sometimes inserted as a quick architectural stop at the end of an Andean circuit. It works better as a base with several distinct day purposes.

Begin with its UNESCO-listed historic center. Possible components include churches and cathedrals, Calderón Park, city markets, San Sebastián, the Tomebamba riverfront, and a viewpoint. These can form a structured heritage walk, but Cuenca also rewards an unstructured day: a market in the morning, a long lunch, a river walk, and whichever church or museum suits the weather and your energy.

Then reserve a dedicated day for El Cajas National Park. Its highland terrain includes lakes, waterfalls, open landscapes, and Polylepis groves, with options ranging from shorter walks to longer hikes. It should not be treated as a casual roadside addition to an already full city day.

Published travel estimates illustrate why the intended trailhead and current transport arrangements matter. One account describes El Cajas as roughly an hour from Cuenca (Awe Around the Earth’s Ecuador guide), while another commercial guide gives an estimate of about 30 minutes. Neither should be treated as a current timetable.

Weather can alter trail conditions, visibility, and the suitability of a route in El Cajas. Choose an outing by terrain, distance, and exposure—not only by a route number or photograph. A shorter lake walk still serves the day if the ground is wet, the group is tired, or a higher route is unsuitable.

Ingapirca provides a different type of excursion. A commercial Andean itinerary describes it as approximately two hours from Cuenca and identifies both Inca and Cañari archaeology, including the Temple of the Sun (Kuoda’s Andean itinerary). Treat that journey time as an approximate planning reference, not a promise.

Ingapirca’s value does not depend on whether it resembles a larger archaeological complex elsewhere. Visit to understand the layered regional history, construction, landscape, and relationship between Cañari and Inca presence.

Cuenca can also support hands-on cultural experiences. Depending on current availability, these may involve toquilla-straw hat making, markets, cooking, cacao, or craft workshops. Some commercial itineraries advertise private workshops or after-hours access; do not assume these are walk-in public activities. Ask whether a reservation, minimum group, guide, or operator arrangement is required.

A practical structure for this cluster is:

Historic Cuenca: architecture, markets, riverfront, and neighborhoods.
El Cajas: a nature day selected for current conditions and your preferred effort level.
Ingapirca or an unstructured city day: archaeology for a broader regional picture, or spare time for culture and recovery.

With more time, Vilcabamba can become a slower southern extension. Its appeal lies in mountain scenery, walking, horseback riding, and access toward Podocarpus-area nature. It is not essential to a first trip, especially if reaching it would create a rushed return. Its strength is the opportunity to slow down.

Galápagos: choose a cruise or a land-based island stay

The Galápagos is not a single attraction but a trip structure of its own. Core activities include naturalist-guided excursions, snorkeling, kayaking, short hikes, beaches, lava landscapes, conservation or research sites, and patient wildlife observation.

Examples show the range:

Tortuga Bay and Puerto Chino for beaches.
La Lobería and Tintoreras for possible sea-lion encounters.
Charles Darwin Research Station and El Chato for tortoise-focused visits.
Los Túneles for lava formations and a specialized snorkeling outing.
Sierra Negra for a volcanic hiking day.
Tintoreras for guided kayaking, snorkeling, or a combined excursion.

Possible wildlife includes sea lions, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, penguins, rays, sea turtles, and numerous fish species. These are possibilities, not appointments. Route, weather, water conditions, season, and animal behavior affect what visitors see.

The central planning decision is whether to cruise or stay on inhabited islands.

Cruise	Land-based island stay
Fixed naturalist-led schedule	Greater control over daily pace
Can connect a planned sequence of remote visitor sites	Day trips depend on the chosen island base
Many logistics are organized through one product	Accommodation and excursions can be selected separately
More continuous time aboard a vessel	Return to land-based accommodation most nights
Less freedom to change the daily plan	Easier to preserve a rest block
The vessel’s route largely determines access	The base island shapes practical excursion choices

Neither format is inherently superior. A cruise may suit travelers who prioritize a defined chain of visitor sites and prefer organized logistics. A land-based trip may suit those who want more control over accommodation, beach time, mornings, and rest days. Seasickness tolerance, mobility, budget, desired sites, and willingness to repack should all influence the choice. Cruise inclusions vary, so compare the actual product rather than assuming every sailing bundles the same services.

Flights to the Galápagos generally depart through Quito or Guayaquil, which is why the islands should be treated as a substantial trip component rather than a casual mainland add-on (Your Time to Fly’s Ecuador itinerary comparison). Protect flight days from ambitious mainland activities and allow room for transfers at both ends.

Current protected-area and wildlife regulations are not established by the travel sources used for this guide. Before each excursion, obtain instructions from the Galápagos National Park, protected-area staff, naturalists, and the operator responsible for the visit. Follow the current site-specific directions rather than relying on an old trip report, particularly for wildlife distance, photography, swimming, snorkeling, and access.

Before booking and again before departure, verify:

current conservation and entry fees;
transit or registration requirements;
protected-area rules;
inter-island boat and flight arrangements;
luggage limits;
guide and excursion availability;
site-specific swimming or snorkeling restrictions;
cancellation terms for poor sea or weather conditions.

Build the trip around the format you prefer, then accept that no itinerary can guarantee a particular wildlife encounter.

Amazon and mainland coast: worthwhile options beyond the standard circuit

Ecuador’s Amazon is best planned as a multi-day, guided or lodge-based segment. Reaching a lodge or community setting may involve a road transfer followed by river travel, while activities depend on guides, daylight, water levels, weather, and local arrangements. A short visit may provide an introduction, but it leaves little room for the slower observation that distinguishes a rainforest stay.

Typical activities include canoe travel, guided plant and wildlife walks, time on creeks or larger waterways, paddling or fishing where locally permitted, and community or cultural experiences. None should be framed as a guaranteed wildlife spectacle. Forest observation can reward attention to sounds, tracks, insects, plants, and smaller animals as much as a distant view of a larger species.

Yasuní is one supported setting for lodge-based itineraries involving waterways, nature walks, and Kichwa cultural activities. It is not the only Amazon option, nor does the available evidence establish it as a universal first choice. Compare Amazon stays by:

transfer complexity;
number of nights;
group size;
guide structure;
included activities;
comfort level;
dependence on fixed boat departures;
how community visits are organized.

The mainland coast offers several distinct experiences rather than one interchangeable “beach region”:

Machalilla National Park: a broader coastal and nature destination.
Agua Blanca: a stop within the Machalilla area associated in the supplied travel evidence with a sulfur lagoon.
Isla de la Plata: boat-based access for hiking, birdwatching, and snorkeling.
Montañita: a surf-and-nightlife stop.
Guayaquil’s Malecón 2000: an urban promenade along the Guayas River with gardens, landmarks, shops, and cultural venues.

Isla de la Plata may offer seasonal opportunities to see humpback whales, but timing, current excursions, sea conditions, and sightings require verification. It should not be marketed as equivalent to the Galápagos or as a guaranteed inexpensive substitute. The destinations differ in ecosystems, access, regulations, trip structure, and range of visitor sites.

Montañita makes sense when surfing or nightlife is a deliberate priority, not simply because an itinerary happens to touch the coast. Malecón 2000 is an urban riverfront outing that may fit around a flight or city stay; it is not a beach experience.

The evidence available for both the mainland coast and the Amazon is thinner than for the Andes and Galápagos. Treat the descriptions here as planning inspiration, then verify seasonal conditions, road and boat access, operator standards, departure requirements, and current regional advisories. This is particularly important when a route depends on one boat, a remote lodge transfer, or a weather-sensitive outing.

Build a realistic route for 7, 10, 14, or 21 days

The best route is not the one that joins the greatest number of famous names. It is the one that keeps transfers subordinate to actual experiences.

Start with geographic clusters:

Quito–Mindo: city heritage plus cloud forest.
Otavalo–Cuicocha: market culture plus crater scenery.
Cotopaxi–Quilotoa: two distinct volcanic landscapes.
Baños–waterfall corridor: one base supporting several effort levels.
Cuenca–El Cajas–Ingapirca: city, nature, and archaeology.
Galápagos: a dedicated flight-and-island segment.
Amazon: a dedicated guided or lodge-based segment.

Seven days

Option A: Quito, cloud forest, and one volcano or crater

Two or three nights associated with Quito, including the historic center.
One or two nights in Mindo, or one long cloud-forest day trip.
One focused Cotopaxi or Quilotoa outing.
A final buffer near the departure airport.

This gives the week three clear environments without requiring a hotel change every day.

Option B: Galápagos-focused week

Light mainland time in Quito or Guayaquil around the flights.
Most of the trip devoted to a cruise or island-based stay.
No attempt to add Baños, Cuenca, and an Amazon lodge.

The Galápagos option is fuller than it appears because flight procedures and island transfers consume usable time.

Ten days

A coherent mainland route is:

Quito and one northern excursion, such as Mindo or Otavalo–Cuicocha.
Cotopaxi or Quilotoa.
Baños and the waterfall corridor.
A recovery or weather block before departure.

An alternative is Quito plus a substantial Galápagos segment. Do not use the mainland portion to force in every nearby day trip; choose one that contrasts with the islands.

Fourteen days

A varied Andean route can combine:

Quito.
Mindo or Otavalo–Cuicocha.
Cotopaxi or Quilotoa.
Baños.
Cuenca with El Cajas and perhaps Ingapirca.

This is already a substantial journey. If the Amazon or Galápagos is the priority, substitute it for part of the mainland route rather than adding it on top. For example, omit Cuenca and reduce the northern highlands to create room for several Amazon nights. Alternatively, keep Quito and one Andean cluster, then devote the second half to the Galápagos.

Twenty-one days

Three weeks allow a measured mainland journey plus one major ecosystem change:

Quito and one northern cluster.
Cotopaxi or Quilotoa.
Baños.
Cuenca, El Cajas, and Ingapirca.
Either a multi-day Amazon stay or a meaningful Galápagos segment.
Open recovery and weather buffers.

It is possible to include both the Amazon and Galápagos, but the trip then involves more flights, transfers, repacking, and fixed departures. Make that choice only if ecosystem variety matters more than depth and slow days.

Across all trip lengths, use the same planning pattern:

Give each day one anchor.
Add one nearby backup for different weather or energy.
Alternate harder and easier days.
Leave at least one block unassigned.
Avoid placing a crucial flight immediately after a fragile connection or remote stay.

In Ecuador, it is useful because a cloud-covered mountain, a delayed road transfer, or a lower-energy day can otherwise disrupt several consecutive plans.

Accommodation should support the intended rhythm. If most outings leave from Quito, one city base may reduce friction. If Mindo is the real priority, sleeping there avoids turning the cloud forest into a commute. In Baños or Cuenca, choose a base that makes both active days and easier alternatives practical. A useful filter is arrival ease, daily movement, walkability, noise, and rest—not the prestige of the address.

Avoid designing the route around exact transfer times copied from travel reports. Mountain roads, traffic, weather, flight procedures, and pickup patterns vary. A route that works only if every connection matches its shortest estimate is not resilient.

Plan for altitude, changing climates, safety, and closures

Quito sits at approximately 2,850 metres, and several prominent Andean outings rise substantially higher. The supplied evidence establishes the elevation difference but does not provide the medical authority needed to diagnose symptoms or prescribe altitude treatment. Plan an easier arrival day, increase effort gradually, and do not let a prepaid itinerary pressure you to continue an activity when you feel unwell.

Individual responses to elevation vary. One family travel account reported headaches, fatigue, and breathlessness during a highland itinerary, but that personal experience should not be treated as clinical guidance (Marquez Five Adventures’ Ecuador account). Travelers with concerns about altitude or symptoms should seek advice from an appropriately qualified medical professional rather than relying on travel-blog remedies.

Ecuador also rewards modular packing. One trip may combine cool, rainy highlands with warm, humid islands or rainforest. Pack by function rather than creating a separate wardrobe for every destination:

light base layers;
a warmer mid-layer;
rain protection;
sun protection;
dependable walking footwear;
swim gear where relevant;
a small day bag suitable for city and nature outings.

The aim is to combine a small number of compatible pieces rather than carry separate wardrobes for Quito, the Amazon, and the islands.

Every region should have an easier fallback:

Region	Demanding anchor	Easier alternative
Quito	Rucu Pichincha hike	Museum, church interior, or heritage walk
Northern highlands	Full Cuicocha circuit	Viewpoint, available boat outing, or market visit
Cotopaxi	Higher excursion	Limpiopungo-area scenery
Quilotoa	Descent and climb or long route	Crater viewpoints
Baños	Rafting, canyoning, or long cycling route	Thermal pools or selected waterfalls
Cuenca	Long El Cajas hike	City market, riverfront, or shorter park walk
Galápagos	Long boat or hiking day	Beach time or a shorter local visit
Amazon	Full excursion schedule	Lodge time or a shorter guided activity

Access and visibility can change because of volcanic activity, weather, erosion, park management, road conditions, water conditions, or wildlife behavior. The travel sources in this guide do not establish current operating rules. Shortly before each outing, consult the relevant government advisory, park or protected-area notice, volcanic monitoring service, transport provider, and operator.

Railway experiences require the same caution. A nonofficial Andean guide consulted for this article reported Tren Crucero and Devil’s Nose service as suspended, but that report does not establish their current operating status (Back-Packer’s Andean guide). Do not build an itinerary around either railway unless a current authoritative operator confirms service, dates, and booking arrangements.

Responsible travel also affects how the itinerary works. Obtain and follow current protected-area and wildlife instructions at the destination. In Indigenous markets and communities, remember that these are living social spaces rather than staged attractions. Ask before photographing people, respect a refusal, and clarify how any organized community visit is structured.

What are the best things to see and do in Ecuador on a first trip?

For a first trip, choose among Quito’s historic center, Mindo, Otavalo and Cuicocha, Cotopaxi or Quilotoa, Baños, Cuenca with El Cajas, the Amazon, and the Galápagos. Trying to include all of them is likely to produce more transfers than meaningful time in place unless the trip extends for several weeks.

A strong first-trip combination is Quito plus one nearby nature cluster and one contrasting region. Examples include Quito–Mindo–Cotopaxi for urban heritage, cloud forest, and volcanic scenery; Quito–Baños–Cuenca for a mainland journey; or Quito plus the Galápagos for architecture and island wildlife.

Can I see Quito, the Amazon, and the Galápagos in one week?

A tightly organized itinerary might touch all three, but it would be dominated by flights, road or river transfers, fixed departures, and repacking. It would also leave little protection against delays and limited time within each environment.

For one week, choose Quito plus the Amazon, or keep mainland time light and focus on the Galápagos. With more time, all three can be combined more comfortably, but the Amazon and Galápagos should each receive a meaningful multi-day block.

Which day trips can I take from Quito?

Common options include Mindo, Otavalo with Cuicocha, Papallacta, equator sites, Cotopaxi, and Quilotoa. They are not equivalent days.

Choose Mindo for cloud forest and birds; Otavalo–Cuicocha for market culture and crater scenery; Papallacta for thermal pools and nearby nature; equator sites for a cultural outing; and Cotopaxi or Quilotoa for higher, longer landscape days. Mindo and the northern highlands may be more rewarding as overnights if they are central to the trip.

Is Quilotoa or Cuicocha better for a crater-lake experience?

Choose Quilotoa if the crater itself is the main event and you want dramatic high-altitude views, a descent, rim walking, or a multi-day highland route. Choose Cuicocha if you want to combine crater scenery with Otavalo, markets, and the northern highlands.

Both offer viewpoints and hiking, but they fit different routes. Cuicocha is the more natural partner for an Otavalo cluster; Quilotoa fits an Avenue of the Volcanoes or central-highlands journey. For either destination, decide whether you want a viewpoint visit or a substantial hike before arranging transport.

Should I explore the Galápagos by cruise or stay on the islands?

Choose a cruise if you value a fixed naturalist-led program and access to a planned sequence of visitor sites. Choose an island stay if you value control over pace, accommodation, rest time, and separately selected excursions from a local base.

Neither format guarantees better wildlife encounters. Compare actual itineraries, guide arrangements, time aboard boats, luggage rules, mobility demands, inclusions, cancellation terms, and visitor sites—not just the headline price or number of islands.

The final decision is simpler than the destination list suggests: choose the Ecuador cluster that best matches your main interest, then add one contrasting environment only if time genuinely permits. Leave room for altitude, weather, transport changes, and lower-energy days.

A successful Ecuador itinerary is not the one with the most pins. It is the one whose core experiences still work when a trail closes, clouds hide a volcano, wildlife stays out of view, or you need to slow down.