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 Adventures in Ecuador
Discover an Andean Playground at 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 i...
Hike to the Swing at the End of the World
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 g...
6.2 miles
2624.7 ft gain
Backpack to El Altar
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...
8.1 miles
4000 ft gain
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 wo...
Hike around Cuicocha Lake
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 Vo...
6.2 miles
1000 ft gain
Hike to the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall
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 ...
2.5 miles
Camp at Laguna Quilotoa
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 vi...
1 miles
918.6 ft gain
Hike Rucu Pinchincha
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 c...
Climb Volcan Chimborazo
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 w...
Hike the San Luis Trail in Cajas National Park
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 S...
2.5 miles
1000 ft gain
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 fie...
Climb Volcan Cayambe
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 ...
5 miles
4000 ft gain
