Ecuador is a country that in spite of its small size surprises everyone
with its diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Ecuador is crossed
by the Andes mountains, has primary jungle forest, hundreds of kilometers
of beaches and the Galapagos islands. These offers ideal conditions
for hiking in pretty much any enviroment that you wish. Mountains,
active and inactive volcanoes are ready to provide you with endless
opportunities for an adrenaline rush.
If you like hiking and trekking, there are a number of excellent trips
through the Andean paramo (a sub-alpine zone) which features spectacular
views of Ecuador's volcanic peaks. The most popular treks are the
Trek de Condor, which passes the often cloud-shrouded Antisana, Sincholagua
and Cotopaxi volcanoes; and the Ingapirca trek which takes you along
an old Incan trail to Ecuador's most important Incan ruins, Ingapirca.
Where can this activity be done?
For the intrepid trekker there are several Andes-to-Amazon
hikes that take you from the grassy plains of the high
altitude paramo, through cloudforest, and finally to lowland
rainforest. During your descent, as you pass from one
ecosystem to another, you'll see dramatic changes in the
flora and fauna while you are peeling off layer after
layer of clothing. At the beginning of your journey, you
may be huddled on a paramo cushion plant as a condor soars
overhead; and a few days later, you could be wiping the
sweat off your brow as you try to get a glimpse of a blue
and green macaw squawking in the crown of a palm tree.
There are numerous route options, since the locals keep
most trails well-trodden. On the Eastern Slope of the
Andes heading down to the Amazon basin, try the routes
running from Oyacachi to El Chaco, Atillo to Macas, or
Saraguro to 25 de Mayo. Recommended treks on the coastal
side of the Andes include the Golondrinas hike, Lloa to
Mindo, and Chugchilan to Pucayacu.
Coastal and rainforest hikes are possible, but it's a
good idea to hire a local guide as it is easy to get lost
and you're often traveling though private or community-held
land. There are some great hikes from lodges along the
Napo River. For the more adventurous, a canoe trip along
the Tiputini or Yasuni rivers can be arranged with indigenous
guides. Near the coast, an especially interesting area
is the Bilsa Reserve near Quinide. This area is also home
to the Chachi indigenous group.
Regarding hiking, there are numerous options and most
locations have well marked trails. In the eastern Andes
going down towards the Amazon jungle, try these routes:
From Oyacachi to El Chaco (beginners route)
Atillo to Macas (intermediaries)
Saraguro to 25 de Mayo (experts)
For difficult trips recommended to the coastal side of
the Andes are:
The rise of Golondrinas
Lloa to Mindo, Chugchilan to Pucayacu
We recommend you to use a guide because it is easy to
get lost due to the exuberance of the landscape.
