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Ecuador’s Nights Are a Destination of Their Own

In Ecuador, sleeping beneath the stars is almost a ritual for those who love to travel. From beaches and highland páramos to volcanoes, cloud forests, and the Amazon rainforest, the country offers countless places where spending the night surrounded by nature becomes a unique way to experience each destination. For years, this was also Camila’s favorite way to travel: a backpack, a tent, and the excitement of waking up every weekend in a different corner of Ecuador.

Until one night changed everything. The rain began after she had already pitched her tent, the cold slowly crept through her blankets, and getting a good night’s sleep became nearly impossible. The next morning, while waiting for her coffee to brew, she searched for alternatives on her phone. That was when she came across a word she had never heard before: glamping. The idea of staying immersed in nature while enjoying a little more comfort immediately caught her attention. It didn’t take long before it became the inspiration for her next adventure.

Her first stop was Nomads Ecuador, in Chimborazo Province. At nearly 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) above sea level, the sky felt incredibly close. As the páramo fell silent, Camila stepped outside her dome with a cup of hot chocolate and looked up. She had never seen so many stars at once. The following morning, Chimborazo Volcano revealed itself in all its grandeur, providing the perfect finale to one of the most breathtaking sunrises in the Ecuadorian Andes.

One weekend, she surprised her partner with a getaway to Samay Collections, in Tababela. After dinner, they turned off the garden lights and let the moon and the constellations become the stars of the evening. Some time later, a trip with friends brought her to River Lux Glamping, in Imbabura. No one was in a hurry to return to their dome. The campfire slowly faded, the gentle sound of the river filled the silence, and everyone ended up lying on a blanket, trying to identify the constellations shining above the mountains.

Her vacation later took her to the Ecuadorian Amazon. At Macas Glamping, the nighttime experience began inside the accommodation itself. Lying beneath a ceiling that opened onto the night sky, Camila watched the stars emerge above the treetops while the warmth of the private jacuzzi lingered nearby. Outside, the rainforest remained alive with the sounds of crickets, frogs, and nocturnal birds.

Months later came the journey she had dreamed about for years: Galápagos Safari Camp, on Santa Cruz Island. After spending the day hiking trails and encountering giant tortoises, the best plan was simply to let the night unfold. Beneath one of the clearest skies imaginable, the stars seemed to stretch endlessly until they blended into the Pacific Ocean, making the evening just as unforgettable as exploring the islands themselves.

When summer arrived, she packed her backpack once again, this time heading for Ecuador’s Pacific coast. At Cabalonga EcoAdventure, in Pedernales, the night slowly gave way to dawn as the last stars reflected over the ocean. Near the end of the year, one final getaway brought her to El Prado Glamping, in Saraguro. There, she discovered that the best part of the experience began when every light was turned off. A blanket of stars embraced the mountains of southern Ecuador, creating a sense of complete tranquility. At sunrise, the landscape invited her to explore nearby trails and enjoy the outdoors before heading home.

Camila returned convinced that she had never stopped loving camping she had simply discovered another way to experience nature. Some trips would still call for a tent, others for a dome, but the reason to return would always remain the same: realizing that in Ecuador, the nights are part of the journey too.

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