Top Destinations for Trekking in Ecuador

A couple of hours away from Quito, near the colourful market town of Otavalo, more hiking options abound, with several good day hikes in the vicinity. One lovely option is to hike around Lake Cuicocha, which is a little north of Otavalo. This circumnavigation of the lake can be done in approximately five hours, depending on the speed hiked, and hikers benefit from views of the lake almost all the way around. Another good walk in this area is up Fuya Fuya, which is a mountain next to Lake Mojanda, also near Otavalo. Be warned that this walk is quite steep, but you can enjoy fine views of the lake throughout the ascent and descent. Finally, Imbabura mountain is also nearby and can be climbed, for the more intrepid. Do not forget to pay a trip to the bustling market before or after your walk to pick up some lovely souvenirs.

For trekkers looking for multi-day experiences, some of the best trekking options in Ecuador can still be found within an hour or two of Quito. One of the best known routes for trekking in Ecuador is called the Trek of the Condor. It is so named because lucky hikers may get to see this massive bird soaring in the skies overhead, as several condors live in this region. The walk begins from Papallacta and typically lasts for five days, though some operators will run it in four. The route passes by various volcanoes, extinct or otherwise, including that of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi. The route ends in the Cotopaxi National Park. If you get clear weather, then this trek is stunning. Do not expect to be staying in hotels along the route. This trek is quite isolated, and you will almost certainly be camping most nights, if not all.

 Further afield, about six hours from Quito, another of the best trekking sites in Ecuador is along Ecuador’s own Inca Trail. This is a path much less traveled than the more famous Peruvian Inca Trail, but it is equally as pretty a route. The hike ends at Ingapirca, which though not as dramatic as Machu Picchu, is still the most important Inca ruin in Ecuador. One of the great things about this trek is that unlike Peru’s Inca Trail, you will most likely not run into any other trekkers. The walk commences at Achupallas , a small Andean village where the main source of income is farming. The trail head strikes away from the village and along the route you will enjoy spectacular glaciated valleys, and the opportunity to view the ruins of tambos. These were buildings that were developed along the way through history. Again, this is one of the best trekking options in Ecuador because it is so rural, but this does also mean that you will not be staying in hotels on this route either.