The Best Hiking in Ecuador

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 mil...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

The Galapagos Tortoise can live to over 150 years old, grow up to 5 feet long, and can weigh up to 550 pounds. Seeing them in person in their natural habitat is an experience you won't ever forget. On the island of Santa Cruz in the Galápagos, there are quite a few places you can see giant tortoi...