Outbound Collective logo
  • Ecuador
  • Ecuador

    20,000 ft volcanoes, dense rainforest, and more - all packed into a country the size of Colorado. Whether you visit to climb some of the iconic volcanoes like Chimborazo or Cotopaxi, try adventure sports in Baños, or take a more leisurely trip to explore the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador has something for everyone.

    Top Spots in and near Ecuador

    • Tierra del Volcán, Ecuador

      Tierra del Volcán

      UPDATE: as of August 2017, Cotopaxi is open again to climbing. Though only Ecuador’s second-tallest peak, Cotopaxi (19,347 ft.), the world’s tallest active volcano, is certainly its most iconic.  Visible from Quito, the near-perfect volcanic cone is visible from Quito and stretches nearly four m...
      Read more
    • Baños de Agua Santa, Ecuador

      Hike to the Swing at the End of the World

      5.0
      6.2 mi / 2624.7 ft gain
      For those in Banos, Ecuador who want to get their ass kicked with a good day hike, this is the one. The trail begins at a set of stairs up to a small cross. From there the trial turns into a series of switchback for about 1.5 hours, if you're in good shape. In all it takes around 3 hours to get t...
      Read more
    • Candelária, Ecuador

      Backpack to El Altar

      4.5
      8.1 mi / 4000 ft gain
      Local Ecuadorian outdoorspeople constantly tout El Altar as the best place in Ecuador for outdoor adventure.  Ecuador’s 5th highest peak, El Altar (17,451 ft.) is actually several peaks, the remnants of an ancient volcano that blew its top leaving a ring of glacial peaks surrounding a turquoise l...
      Read more
    • 28C, Ecuador

      Climb Volcan Antisana

      Antisana is the 4th highest peak in Ecuador, after Chimborazo, Cayambe, and Cotopaxi. However, due to it's access restrictions and remote location, it is climbed far less than the others. East of Quito, surrounded by an ecological preserve, you won't find a cushy refugio here to start your hike. ...
      Read more
    • Vía Cotacachi - Quiroga - Cuicocha, Ecuador

      Hike around Cuicocha Lake

      5.0
      6.2 mi / 1000 ft gain
      Not very far from the touristy Ecuadorian town of Otavalo and the retirement paradise of Cotacachi is the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. It boasts a rainforest, many volcanic lakes, and waterfalls. The infamous 11,089 foot tall Cotacachi Volcano is located within the reserve, towering near...
      Read more
    • Río Verde, Ecuador

      Hike to the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall

      2.5 mi
      The Pailon del Diablo, or Devil's Cauldron, is an aptly-named waterfall on the Rio Pastaza, a tributary of the upper Amazon River Basin. The trail begins in a small village called Rio Verde, located about 30 minutes from the recreational haven of Baños. The trailhead for this hike is conveniently...
      Read more
    • Laguna Quilotoa Trailhead, Ecuador

      Camp at Laguna Quilotoa

      1 mi / 918.6 ft gain
      Laguna Quilotoa is an incredibly scenic and relatively easy place to do a day hike in Ecuador. The hike down only takes ~30 minutes and views of the turquoise lake make it impossible to not stop every 2 minutes. Although it's a popular place to visit by the surrounding indigenous people, Laguna Q...
      Read more
    • Quito, Ecuador

      Hike Rucu Pinchincha

      5.0
      Rucu Pinchincha is an incredibly accessible (yet difficult) hike from Quito. If you're staying in the Old Town or Mariscal, it's a cheap cab ride to the base of the Teleferico (cable car) that will take you up to the start of the hike. The cable car opens at 9am most days, and costs 8.50 for fore...
      Read more
    • Cantón Ambato, Ecuador

      Climb Volcan Chimborazo

      5.0
       Rising 20,548 ft above sea level, Chimborazo is nearly 9,000 ft shorter than Everest. However, because the Earth bulges a bit around the equator, Chimborazo is actually the point on Earth furthest from the core and closest to the sun!Your climb will begin at the Whymper Refugio at the base of th...
      Read more
    • E582, Ecuador

      Hike the San Luis Trail in Cajas National Park

      5.0
      2.5 mi / 1000 ft gain
      From the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, Ecuador’s third largest city and a Unesco World Heritage Site, it’s an easy bus or taxi ride to Parque Nacional Cajas (Cajas National Park). There are many hiking options, but for a short day hike, the San Luis trail provides a moderately strenuous circ...
      Read more
    • Volcan Cayambe, Ecuador

      Climb Volcan Cayambe

      5 mi / 4000 ft gain
      Cayambe is Ecuador’s third tallest peak and is often recommended as an excellent mountain for first-time mountaineers looking to gain glacier travel and high-altitude climbing experience.  It’s also the highest point along the equator anywhere in the world.  At 18,996 feet (5,790 meters), it’s th...
      Read more
    • Sierra Negra, Ecuador

      Hike Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico

      I don't know what you think of when you think of the Galapagos, but giant volcanoes isn't one of the things that was in my head. This day tour (around $40-$60) will take you to the second largest caldera in the world, and then explore the lava fields of Sierra Negra.You'll be picked up at your ho...
      Read more
    • Zamora, Ecuador

      Explore La Chimosa in Podocarpus National Park

      0.3 mi
      At 970m above sea level in one of the most bio diverse places on earth one entrance to Podocarpus National Park can be reached by way of the small city of Zamora.  This side of the park hosts jungle and cloud forest climate and vegetation.  ARRIVE: Zamora is about 1.5 hours by bus and 3 USD from ...
      Read more
    • Playa de Los Frailes, Ecuador

      Hike along Playa de Los Frailes, Machalilla NP

      2.5 mi
      The 4km loop trail winds along steep bluffs and descends into several other "hidden" beaches before reaching Playa de Los Frailes -- a no brainer for this crowd.Truly a gem of Ecuador's Pacific coastline, a hike through Playa de Los Frailes offers a rare glimpse of a series of pristine beaches si...
      Read more
    • E682, Ecuador

      Hike Mandango "The Sleeping Inca"

      / 1640.4 ft gain
      In the very south of the Ecuadorian Andes lies a mountain that appears in the form of a giant, sleeping, Inca god.  At 1,500 masl, this area is nearly always sunny, with perfect temperatures of around 70-80 F. Information, maps, and access to the Mandango Loop can be obtained at Hostal Izhcayluma...
      Read more
    • Puerto Villamil, Ecuador

      Snorkel at Concha Perla

      From the main square of Puerto Villamil, head down down the road towards the docks. When you reach the docks, take the path on the left through the mangrove forest until you reach the mini pier that is the entrance to Concha de Perla. Jump on in and swim around this small cove teeming with life. ...
      Read more

    Top Activities

    Guides, Insights and Stories from Ecuador

    On the Edge of Cotopaxi at Tambopaxi Eco-lodge

    On the Edge of Cotopaxi at Tambopaxi Eco-lodge

    Jennifer Carr

    All About Ecuador

    All About Ecuador

    Kyle Frost

    How to Plan a Trip to the Galapagos

    How to Plan a Trip to the Galapagos

    Kyle Frost

    Everest Isn't the Highest Point on Earth

    Everest Isn't the Highest Point on Earth

    Kyle Frost