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is a technically challenging mountain to climb with
a glacier at the top. It should only be climbed by
the experienced climbers and accompanied by a
guide.
Cayambe – north of Quito in the direction of Ota-
valo. The volcano of Cayambe is frequently visible
to those travelling along Ecuador’s northern sec-
tion of the Pan American Highway. After taking a
few snapshots of the volcano, or climbing it (for
the experienced climber), visitors can head into
Cayambe town and pick up some bizcochos, a
tasty local treat served with cheese.
Antisana – this four-peaked mountain sits in the
national reserve that has the same name: Anti-
sana. It is often not visible as its summit and gla-
ciers are hidden by clouds. It can be seen from
the Papallacta area, and on a very clear day from
Quito. The climb is technically challenging and
travelers might be lucky enough to spot a condor
or two circling above.
Cotacachi- this legendary volcano is listed as one
of Ecuador’s dormant volcanoes. Climbing it is a
real challenge due to its eroded peak. It is consid-
ered that as a result of one of its erosions, the vol-
cano Cuicocha was formed. Within the crater of
the Cuicocha volcano emerges a lake that holds
the same name.
Imbabura – this is a full day hike on this extinct
volcano, which is close to Otavalo. There is loose
rock at the top. The climb takes around eight
hours from the parking lot, or 12 hours from La
Esperanza. From Quito, take a bus to Otavalo and
from there take a taxi to La Esperanza or the park-
ing lot, depending on how much you want to hike.
Pichincha – Guagua and Rucu Pichicnha are two
volcanoes located 10km west of Quito. Guagua
which means baby in the Quichua languages is
higher than its neighbor and currently active. In
fact, it covered the Ecuadorian capital with ash
in 1999. Rucu, which means old, is inactive and
located a bit closer to Quito.
Sincholagua- an inactive volcano located 45km
southeast of Quito and about 15 km northeast
of Cotopaxi Volcano. It is less frequently climbed
than any of the other mountains because it is dif-
ficult to access. However, those who make the
effort to get to the volcano are rewarded with a
beautiful hike and spectacular views of Cotopaxi.
Ruta de los parques nacionales
NATIONAL PROTECTED AREAS (AMAZING +
DIVERSE)
With its relatively small territory, 0,17% of the plan-
et’s land surface, Ecuador was ranked among one of
the 17 most biodiverse countries in the world.
Ecuador holds more than 11% of all the land verte-
brates in the world, 16.087 vascular plant species
and approximately 600 species and marine fish.
Among the “mega diverse” countries, Ecuador holds
the biggest biodiversity of land vertebrates per area.
Such a diversity is explained by 3 main factors: the
Andes mountain range that divides the country from
North to South, Ecuador’s geographical location in
the Tropic of Cancer and the influence of two ocean-
ographic phenomena: the warm and humid “El Niño”
current and the cold and dry “Humboldt” current.
Ecuador is home to 21 National Protected Areas
and is home to many National Parks; two of them
were declared “World Heritage Natural Sites” by UN-
ESCO: the Galapagos Archipelago and the Sangay
National Park (Amazonian region).
1. Machalilla National Park
Located in the province of Manabi, Machalilla oc-
cupies 136,000 acres with its yearly temperature of
75°F and conserves the amazing tropical humid and
dry tropical forests. One of the main attractions of
the park is “Isla de la Plata”, the island surrounded
by Coral Reefs where one can enjoy amazing scuba
diving experiences. To visit the park, one must pur-
chase a 5-day pass for a free or 25 dollars to be able
to visit all the sites.
2. Sumaco-Napo-Galeras
With a surface of 507,181 acres, this National Park
houses a wide diversity of ecosystems, ranging
from high mountains to cloud and lowland forests.
The park is famous for the Napogaleras mountain
range with its rivers and springs and the Sumaco
volcano (12,792 feet) with its surrounding area that
was declared “Biosphere Reserve” by the UNESCO
in 2000.
3. Yasuni
Located in the Napo Province, it is an important bio-
geographical area. According to the UNESCO, it has
more than 700 plant species, 500 bird species and
200 different animals. The best way to access the
park is by the Napo River.