| Ecuador HIGHLIGHTS |  |
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| Climbing & Trekking in Ecuador: | | The sheer variance in bio-ecological environments, landscaped variations and indigenous villages of the Andes mountain ranges coupled with the Oriente and lower coastland areas makes Ecuador a paradise for trekkers wherever you decide to venture. In addition the Paramo treks take you through changing climates leading from and to tropical
rain forests and back to cloud forests all within the same day as you discover the diversity of animal and bird life that differs considerably through the changing lands.
Some of the most popular treks are still through the Cotopaxi, Cajas, Machalilla and Podocarpus National parks along with Galapagos. Also of note and Considered second tier parks, though with improving levels of infrastructure worth mentioning are Sangay, Yasuni, Sumaco Napo-Galeras as well as Antisana Ecological Reserves and Cayambe-Coca National Park, the latter areas have also been labeled in the second category often as a result of their remoteness in comparison to the former locations but with improved roads and logistics they are becoming more popular.
The
best maps for exploring Ecuador's most protected regions may be bought at the Ministerio del Ambiente's offices in the MAG (Ministerio de AgricuItura y Ganadería) building, on Av. Eloy Alfaro and Av. Amazonas, Quito. Tel. 2548924-2563816-2541921. Fax: 2564037 while the typical fees for entering parks and conservation areas will vary from US$10 to US$20.
Alternatively for Topographic maps go to the IGM (Instituto Geográfico Militar) in Quito. The 1:50,000 scale maps are the most practical but for more remote locations bring a handheld GPS, in addition bring your compass and do study a basic level of Spanish as well as being competent in map reading skills.
You can also book experienced guides ranging from (US$25-$100 per day) from most major cities or take one on route at the villages you visit with guides ranging from (US$ 10-$35 per day).
See also National Parks,
for a detailed list and more information about fees. |  Equipment rental & Guiding | |
| It is usually more cost effective to rent Equipment and hire guides in the areas where you'll be camping, climbing and hiking from, such as Baños, Riobamba, the Oriente and Otavalo in preference to Quito located under Tour operators, making comparisons if you have the time of your chosen destination with the bigger cities, is therefore recommended as this rule isn't written on a tablet of stone. The cities of Cuenca and Loja in the south also have several rental companies in addition to the aforementioned areas. |  |
| Equipment | | | It is most wise to load up with a good pair of rubber boots for Andes treks as well as the Oriente due to muddy, wet conditions which can be intermittently changed with hiking boots when necessary along with waterproof clothing and Iodine tablets for water purification practice. The best stove fuels are white gas, gas canisters and Kerosene and if you have difficulty locating any of these fuels try Ace Hardware in Quito or with the local camping company you rent your equipment from. Check out Camping, climbing and trekking equipment in Quito. |
| | Safety |
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As well as reading more in the other sections on sunburn and altitude sickness and minimizing food risks here are a few pointers in addition. Due to the geographic position of Ecuador which falls on the equator line at 0.00 Latitude the sunlight added to the high elevations is very strong so do wear and protect yourself with the higher levels of SPF (sun block factor) minimum 28-30 when you arrive (See sunburn and altitude), especially facial areas including ears, nose and neck parts.
Also you should acclimatize yourself in areas such as Quito which stands at around 2500m elevation for 3-4 days before ascending to higher levels and climbs or you will suffer from altitude sickness known locally as "Soroche" as well as drinking several glasses of water daily to avoid dehydration in the warmer parts of the country, continue with this intake also when you venture to hotter climates away from the Andes regions.
With regards to personal safety do check with tour operators, locals and the tourist information centers as well as your embassy for the excursions that have bad track records of armed robberies as well as pickpocket areas.
Finally, we do recommend you use a safe practice for food intake and only drink bottled water unless you pre-boil local water due to new forms of bacteria that the locals are used to as well as recommending you take local guides for any adventures including volcano climbing because rescues (see Guides and rescue) can be very expensive and detract from your planned routes of vacation through unnecessary additional costs. |
| | Terrains |
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There are several variances in the terrain of Ecuador and one of the most popular is the high Andes Paramo which traverses the various northerly and southerly indigenous cultures, villages and agricultural areas and snow peaked mountains and volcanoes as well as cloud forest and wetlands. The coastal areas also have a few hikes which also encompass the major National Machalilla park and combine both coastal rain and dry forests while the Oriente offers even more humid tropical pristine forests and wetlands as well as concentrated levels of guided eco-ethno based tourism infrastructures.
There are also various ancient trade routes through the Paramo and Oriente areas that lead you down to major rivers and valleys and offer hikes where the ancients once trod and are still in use today by some indigenous groups. | |
| When to go |
| As a general rule of thumb the Oriente is hot, humid and wet all year round with the exception of December-February when rain is minimal and so heavy clothing is not recommended or necessary although do prepare with plastic rainproof attire for heavy rainfalls.
In contrast the Coastal areas do have longer wet and dry seasons with the southerly areas enjoying their dry season May-December and the more Northerly including Esmeraldas province experiencing higher frequencies of rain during the dry season, light clothing as with the Oriente is also highly recommended due to humidity.
The Sierra has two distinct climates and while the Westerly section is dryer from June to September and December to January, the easterly section in comparison is affected by the Oriente and mirrors the dry period between the December-February months making it more suitable for hiking during this time frame, heavier clothing and rainproof jackets and pants along with rubber boots are highly recommended along with warm sweaters due to the chilly evenings and higher altitude levels. | | | Trek descriptions |
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| The most known treks are: Cajas National Park; Trek of the Condor; Volcán Reventador; Ingapirca and Saraguro to Yacuambi. | | | Book a Tour |
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| The Best of Ecuador.com (BOE) has lately teamed up with the most recognized, respected Travel Agencies and Tour operators in the country. By filling in our online Travel Agencies and Tour operators network reservation form, visitors may ask for a quote and book in advance as well for professional guided trekking tours to the above mentioned destinations. | | | Climbing & Trekking in Ecuador: | | | Tour operators: | |
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