Ecuador is one of South America’s smaller countries, but it’s also one of the most diverse. The Andes run directly through the country, creating incredible opportunities for hiking and mountaineering. To the east lies the Amazon Basin, while the west opens toward tropical lowlands and the Pacific coast. Far offshore are the Galápagos Islands, one of the most unique wildlife destinations on Earth.
That dramatic geography also creates huge cultural differences across the country, from Indigenous communities in the Andes and Amazon to the cities and coastal regions. Pound for pound, Ecuador is still one of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited.
Explore Quito
Located about 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) high in the Andes, Quito is one of the world’s highest capital cities. Its elevation gives it a much cooler climate than Ecuador’s tropical lowlands. The city is famous for its enormous historic center, the lively Mariscal district, and attractions around the equator just outside the city.
Explore Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, rising to 19,347 feet (5,897 meters). Easily reached from Quito, the surrounding national park offers dramatic volcanic scenery, hiking, wildlife, and opportunities for mountaineering when conditions allow. On a clear day, Cotopaxi’s massive snow-covered cone dominates the landscape.
Explore Illiniza Refuge
The Illiniza Refuge is one of the most beautiful mountain areas I visited in Ecuador. Its accessibility from Quito makes it an easy place to reach for hiking, camping, and mountaineering. Despite the scenery, it can feel surprisingly quiet, and during parts of my visit I felt like I had the mountains almost entirely to myself.
Explore Otavalo
Otavalo is a picturesque town in the Andes, famous for its Indigenous markets and surrounding mountain scenery. Between the markets, nearby lakes, hiking, and traditional culture, it’s one of the best places in Ecuador to combine outdoor travel with a more local experience.
Explore the Cloud Forests
Ecuador’s cloud forests are among the most biologically diverse environments in the country. Rapid changes in elevation create different habitats over relatively short distances, which means the plant and animal life can change dramatically during a single hike. They’re also especially famous for birdwatching.
Explore the Amazon
Eastern Ecuador reaches deep into the Amazon Basin, one of the world’s greatest natural environments. Remote lodges, river travel, dense rainforest, and incredible wildlife make this region feel completely different from the Andes. Some eco-lodges are reached only by boat, placing you far from the cities and towns and much closer to the forest itself.
Explore the Galápagos
The Galápagos Islands became famous around the world through the work of Charles Darwin and are now one of Ecuador’s most extraordinary destinations. The islands offer wildlife experiences found almost nowhere else, from marine iguanas and giant tortoises to penguins, sea lions, volcanic landscapes, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
