ACTIVITIES IN ECUADOR

Thanks to its vast diversity, Ecuador offers visitors a wide variety of activities for all ages and tastes. Each region provides special attractions and alternatives and thanks to the country’s climate they are available all year long.

MOUNTAINEERING & CLIMBING

In Ecuador hiking is available all year long and mountaineering experience is not required. However, this does not mean that several volcanoes are not a big challenge for professional climbers.
Along the Panamerican Highway, stretching from Alaska through the Andes to Fireland in Argentina, 20 volcanoes are located in the north and south of Quito alone. The most well-known of them is the 5897m high Cotopaxi Volcano, which with its surrounding páramo landscape, has been declared National Park on August 11th, 1975. With its snow-covered summit, Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world.
The inactive Chimborazo volcano (6310m) is the highest mountain in Ecuador and distinguishes itself by its unique zone of mountain forest and páramo vegetation. The view you will have from its peak makes it worth climbing. Tungurahua volcano is situated in the Sangay National Park and ascending is considered to be quite demanding, as one starts already at 1800m in the little town of Baños and the climb is temporarily very steep. Today the mountain is off-limits to climbers due to high volcanic activity. Interesting hiking excursions can also be organised in Cajas National Park or in the surroundings of Otavalo, from where you can admire Cayambe and Imbabura, both extinct volcanoes.

Beginners, as well as experienced mountaineers, are best advised to acclimatise themselves before starting the big ascent to the summit. Acclimatisation is aimed to adapt to the high altitudes where the air is relatively thin and with little oxygen. Particular caution has to be paid to orientation and weather, and you should not attempt to hike alone, but in a guided group promising a lot of fun and a social atmosphere. Hiking activities are also offered by most of our partners in the Highlands. For more information please contact us.

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It is well known that biking is a great source of fun and exercise for all ages and Ecuador offers a large variety of rides, ranging from snow-capped trails to unpaved roads in the Coast and evergreen paths in the cloud forest..
Mountain biking can be a real challenge in the Highlands. Lagoons near Otavalo, especially San Pablo and Cuicocha, as well as the Cotopaxi region are frequently visited by tourists willing to practice this sport. The trail Banos-Puyo is also popular.
For biking experts interested in travelling across the entire country, there are several suitable destinations for starting the trip, but it is highly recommended to plan tours downhill, because uphill trails may be too demanding.
If cycling in a specific region attracts your attention, please visit our recommended hotels, hosterias, lodges and haciendas or contact us. We would be glad to assist you with your request at any time.

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Camping constitutes a very good alternative to enjoy Ecuador’s immense biodiversity and amazing landscapes. Some of our recommended haciendas and loges, both in the Highlands and the Rainforest, provide special areas for camping activities.

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