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
|
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
|
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
|
The
most known treks are: Cajas
National Park;
Trek
of the Condor; Volcán
Reventador;
Ingapirca
and
Saraguro
to Yacuambi.
Book a Tour |
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:
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