Have you had the privilege of an Ecuador nature travel experience? Ecuador’s landscape is at once enticing and daunting. Giant volcanoes and dense Amazonian jungles take some planning to navigate. The Galápagos Islands require a voyage by plane or by sea. Ecuador's natural wonders beckon you to come out and play, but also require that you have the proper apparel and footgear to make the most of your time. What's a traveller to do? Explore these exciting destinations full of Ecuador's natural wonders, and then plan accordingly.
If you visit the Andes and the beaches along the Pacific coast, you'll get a great sense of how diverse the altitude and landscape of Ecuador is. Mindo is a town in the Northern Sierra known for having “more birds than people.” In addition to what is obviously excellent birdwatching, you can enjoy great hiking and whitewater tubing. Head to Cotundo and you'll be staying in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon jungle; go on adventure excursions, and explore petroglyphs and caves.
No matter what trek you embark on, bring a camera to help you remember the rare plants and animals you will encounter along the way. Ecuador's nature expeditions will show you species not found anywhere else on planet Earth — if that's not a one of a kind travel experience, then what is?
#1: Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Island is a popular travel hub, and tours that leave from Santa Cruz take you to all types of wildlife attractions, like South Plaza Island and North Seymour Island — both good places for seeing some of the most unusual birds in the Galápagos Archipelago. You may also want to plan a trip to Floreana Island, home to some of the islands' most interesting human history.
On Santa Cruz itself, you'll want to venture into its moist highlands to see some Galápagos tortoises roaming free. Of course, you can also see these animals up close at the Charles Darwin Research Station or El Chato Ranch.
If you want to stay immersed in nature for the duration of your visit to Santa Cruz, choose from accommodations that offer their own little slice of the waterfront or the highlands. When you're done with your tours, appreciate the beauty of the island’s various beaches and well-maintained hiking trails.
#2: San Cristóbal
Travelers come to San Cristóbal Island so they can be a mere hour away from some of the exceptionally rare sights that make the Galápagos Islands such an important destination.
These sights include León Dormido, aka “Kicker Rock”— the vertical rock formation formed by an ancient eruption of lava. Around here, you can see a huge variety of fish as well as sea turtles and rays. Tours to Kicker Rock often include a stop at the Leon Dormido beach, where you'll see sea lions basking.
Islands near San Cristóbal also offer incredible opportunities for birdwatching. Isla Lobos is home to albatross, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies, to name just a few.
Walk to the top of Frigate Bird Hill for a stunning view of the island and Kicker Rock in the distance. It takes about an hour to reach the top of the hill. The highlands offer other incredible sights like the El Junco Lagoon.
