In the small country of Ecuador there exists a fantastic biological diversity. With so many incredible landscapes, ecosystems, as well as plant and animal species to protect, it’s no wonder that Ecuador has 44 protected areas, which include every single one of the ecosystems of this country. Some of these protected areas are as big as a province or as small as an urban park. Of the 28,356,100 hectares of Ecuador’s area, 4,675,376 hectares are part of protected areas. This means that 17% of Ecuador’s total land area is protected. While hikers and trekkers will definitely want to visit the Andean parks, wildlife and nature enthusiasts should head into the extensive reserves of the jungle. The coastal areas are excellent places to relax and enjoy the coastal tranquility while also discovering the incredibly bio-diverse marine life of Ecuador. The Galapagos are in a category of their own.

Galapagos

Galapagos National Park
Galapagos Marine Reserve

Coast

Galera-San Francisco Marine Reserve
Machalilla National Park
Mangalares-Churute Ecological Reserve

Andes

El Angel Ecological Reserve
Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Pasochoa Silvestre Refuge
Antisana Ecological Reserve
El Boliche National Recreation Area
Cotopaxi National Park
Los Illinizas Ecological Reserve
Llanganates National Park
Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve
Cajas National Park
Podocarpus National Park

Amazon

Cuyabeno Reserve for the Production of Fauna
Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve
Limoncocha Biological Reserve
Yasuni National Park
Sangay National Park

Other PANE Areas

Coast

Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve
Santa Clara Island Wildlife Refuge
Muisne River Estuary Mangroves Wildlife Refuge
El Salado Mangroves Fauna Production Reserve
Santa Elena Peninsula Marina Fauna Wildlife Reserve
El Morro Mangroves Wildlife Refuge
Pacoche Coastal Marine Wildlife Refuge
Esmeraldas River Estuary Mangroves Wildlife Refuge
Parque Lago National Recreation Area
Arenillas Ecological Reserve
Isla Corazon and Fragatas Wildlife Refuge
Cayapas Mataje Ecological Reserve
La Chiquita Refuge
Isla Santay and Isla Del Gallo National Recreation Area
Los Samanes National Recreation Area
Pambilar Wildlife Reserve

Amazon

El Zarza Wildlife Refuge
Cofan-Bermejo Ecological Reserve
Sumaco-Napo Galeras National Park
El Condor National Park
El-Quimi Biological Reserve
Yacuri National Park