Recreation

There are myriad of recreational activities that one can enjoy in Ecuador.

Amazon Jungle Tours:

Amazon jungles are known worldwide for their tropical rainforests, which are characterized by hundreds of beautiful rivers, estuaries and lagoons. A walk through the tropical forests, which abounds in flora and fauna and inhabited by people with different culture can be an unforgettable experience. There are number of national parks and other attractions that serve the recreational needs of the travelers. These are Cuyabeno Reserve, Limoncocha Biological Reserve, Yasuni National Park, Sumaco-Galeras National Park, Sangay National Park, and Kapawi Reserve. You can avail of the facilities provided by the tour operators to visit the forests.

Andes Treks & Hiking:

People who enjoy trekking and hiking can avail of the number of excellent trips through the Andean paramo from where you can have a spectacular glimpse of the Ecuador's volcanic peaks. The popular treks are the Trek de Condor, which passes the famous Cotopaxi volcanoes and the Ingapirca trek, which can take you to the famous Incan ruins of Ecuador called the Ingapirca.Again there are tour operators which offer flexible packages and routes which might be easy or complicated depending on your requirements.

Archeology and Learning:

People who evince interest in exploring the historical facts of the place can avail of the tour packages conducted by the local experts. The tour can help you discover interesting realities behind the consolidation of one of the largest civilization here in the history of Andes. You can also visit number of museums in the important cities mainly, Quito, to get an insight on the culture of the land, the specimens of which have been preserved here for centuries.

Bird Watching:

With more than 1800 species of birds and a great variety of hummingbird species also referred to as quindes, Ecuador is an attractive destination for bird lovers. One can relish the sight of the national bird of Ecuador, called Condor, which has become extinct in most of the countries.

While in Ecuador, you can also enjoy salt-water fishing in Galapagos and fresh water fishing in places like Laguna Mojanda, Laguna La Mica, the lacs and rivers in the Cajas National Park and in the Osogoche area.

Galapagos cruises can be an enchanting experience. You have options ranging from luxury cruise ships, smaller yachts to motor and sailboats to get exposed to the unique and untouched aspect of nature in the archipelago.

Bungee Jumping, Climbing, Tuning, Rapeling and Canyoning are the extreme games, which offer the best of recreational activities in Ecuador. The authorities conducting the activity make sure to take all necessary precautions for the safety of the people, but caution is advised and only people who do not have health related problems should undertake these sports.

Hang gliding in Imbabura Province near Quito, Puengasi Hill, Pichincha Volcano (Antennas) in Quito, Banos (Pelileo), Niton, Crucita and Canoa Beach in Manabi Province, is another extreme sport activity, which can be enjoyed.

Horseback riding tours are also available for adults and children alike. These tours can last from a day to eight days depending upon the travelers liking for it.

Mountain biking in Guagua Pichincha, Quito, Quiloto Lake at Cotopaxi Province, the City of Banos in Tungurahua Province, Geo-botanical Reserve Of Pululahua, Quito and others is another sporting activity in Ecuador.

Mountain climbing on the high Andean peaks or some of the young summits or straight forward climbs up to 20,000 feet for basic or more challenging rock and ice routes such as the peaks on El Altar can be a great recreational activity for the adventure loving travelers.

Scuba diving in Galapagos Island can be an exciting activity as the isle has been rated amongst the best destination in the world for harboring exotic marine-life. The sea inhabitants include manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions, dolphins, whales, and hammerhead sharks.

Sea kayaking & Canoeing can be taken up on all the coastlines and highland lakes. The best places for it are Mompiche, Crucita, Puerto Lopez and Salinas.

Different types of surfing such as body surf, canoeing surf; belly board and long board are other adventurous activities. There are specialized agencies and trained instructors to provide you assistance regarding the same.

You can also go whale watching to places such as Puerto Lopez, a village in southern Manabi or to Salinas, Manta and Tonsupa y Atacames.

Whitewater rafting can be done in the waters of the Napo River (Grade III), Misahualli River (Grade IV-V) in Amazonas, Toachi River (Grade III) in Sierra and Pilaton (Grade IV-V), Mindo (Grade III-IV) Caoni (Grade II-III) and Mulate (Grade III).

Tourists who are inclined more towards culture, the city provides an opportunity to relive the diverse communities and understand their unique customs and peculiarities through various cultural tours.