Trekking in Ecuador (Trekking)

Includes a thorough introduction to Ecuador and its people.

No-nonsense information on what to expect, preparations, and safety.

Twenty-nine detailed trek descriptions, with 50 photos, 33 topographic maps, and 27 elevation profiles.

Comprehensive appendices, including lists of trekking companies, emergency contacts, and conservation organizations.

Ecuador's special appeal to trekkers, day-trippers, and nature lovers can be summed up in one word: accessibility. The country's unique combination of small size, exceptional geographic and biological diversity, and good transportation infrastructure places an outstanding variety of splendid natural experiences within easy reach of the adventurous visitor. Ecuador boasts more than forty-five protected natural areas, including national parks and private reserves, almost all of which offer trekking and day-hiking possibilities.

Many longer treks span several natural regions, from the highlands down toward the Amazon jungle or coastal plain. Ecuador receives many visitors (approximately 500,000 a year), but as yet relatively few people come specifically to trek. Unlike well-known trekking venues such as Nepal, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, trails in Ecuador are never crowded and offer virtually unlimited scope for exploration. Trekking in Ecuador is easily combined with a visit to the country's more traditional destinations: the Galapagos Islands, colorful indigenous markets, Amazon jungle lodges or Pacific coast beaches.