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Ecuador is a hiker’s paradise, due to all of the different types of climates and landscapes to experience. There are hikes of different durations, from half a day up to five or six days.
Additionally, the nation’s capital, Quito, offers a wide variety of hiking opportunities nearby. Dozens of volcanoes and mountains extend across the long “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Some of the most popular day-hikes include Fuya Fuya, Pasochoa, and Rucu Pichincha. None of these require any technical skills.
Hikers in Ecuador should be aware that the weather can change rapidly. A bright sunny day can quickly turn into a cold, rainy one in the mountains. In Ecuador it is possible to experience four seasons in one day. Those who want to hike should be prepared for this. Waterproof gear is important. An abundance of water is also necessary. Hiking poles can be useful, especially for walking in the mountains. Don’t forget to bring enough food and snacks for the trip.
Ilaló – this is a four hour hike on the Ilalo hill near Quito. Ilaló used to be a volcano but it is now extinct. The site is accessed from Tumbaco, which is about 40 minutes by bus from Quito. The hike is done on a cobbled road, followed by a dirt track and then a footpath up the hill. After hiking up to the summit and over to the other side, the hike ends again in the Tumbaco area.
Pululahua – the verdant and dormant Pululahua crater is a pleasant place to hike for a few hours. Located just north of the equator. the hiker should take a bus in the direction of Mindo, past the equator monument. There is a turning off for the crater. Walk up the hill, and from the top of the hill it is possible to walk down into the crater. From here, the hiker can walk around, before hiking down the same way. The last eruption of this volcano was about 2400 years ago. Set at an elevation of 3356 m, this volcanic crater offers spectacular views of a patchwork of golden and green farms and forests.
There are hikes of different durations, from half a day up to five or six days...
Yanacocha – a half day hike can be taken at the Yanacocha reserve in the cloudforest. This hike follows a defined path through the reserve. It costs a few dollars to get into the reserve. The hike passes a couple of spots where you can watch hummingbirds zip past your head. There are a few dark tunnels on the way, so take a flashlight. The path ends at a water treatment facility, and hikers should return the same way. The easiest way to get there is a bus to Nono, and then take a taxi from there to the reserve entrance.
Fuya Fuya – this is a day hike south of Otavalo, in páramo countryside. Take transportation to Mojanda – a bus to Otavalo, and a taxi from there up to the Lagunas de Mojanda. From the Mojanda lakes it is possible to hike the steep hike up the Fuya Fuya mountain. The hiker is rewarded with great views from the top. This hike usually takes about four hours to get up and back. This straightforward climb provides spectacular views of the Lagunas de Mojanda, three pristine lakes located at the base of the mountain, and wide expanses of paramo grasslands. Fuya Fuya is a good mountain for climbers hoping to acclimatize for some of Ecuador’s higher peaks.
