10 Best Hikes in Ecuador That Surprised Us
Planning a trip to include the best hikes in Ecuador can be tricky, as there are so many amazing hiking trails spread around the country.
Hiking in Ecuador is a diverse experience, from dense Amazon jungle hikes to high-altitude Andean peaks.
You could hike to volcanic craters, turquoise lakes, enormous peaks, or past giant sloths and colourful birds.
At Skyhook, we fully appreciate Ecuador's diverse and stunning landscapes.
After offering a range of adventure tours in Ecuador, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best hikes in the country.
1. Avenue of Volcanoes Trek
Distance: Approx. 100 km (varies depending on the route)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (high altitude and long distances)
Best for: Experienced trekkers looking for a multi-day adventure through diverse volcanic landscapes and traditional Andean culture.
The Avenue of Volcanoes is one of Ecuador’s most iconic trekking routes, running through the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. This isn’t only one of the best hikes in the country but one of the best hikes in South America.
Over several days, this trek takes you past some of the country’s highest and most stunning volcanoes, including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
You’ll traverse diverse landscapes, from lush valleys to high-altitude plains, and pass through traditional indigenous villages where you can experience local culture.
The trail also provides a chance to see various wildlife, including llamas and condors.
It’s undoubtedly one of the best hikes in Ecuador, thanks to the diverse natural landscapes and many iconic peaks and sights along the way.
If you want to experience this incredible adventure, consider joining our 8-day Avenue of Volcanoes trek.
Expert guidance along the way, as well as all your logistics planned, makes for a much more enjoyable hike along this trail.
2. Sierra Negra Crater and Volcan Chico (Galapagos)
Distance: 16 km round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Nature enthusiasts interested in volcanic landscapes and unique wildlife of the Galapagos.
The Galapagos is one of the world’s most impressive destinations for exploring unique nature. Well, if it’s nature you’re after, then this is undoubtedly one of the best hikes in Ecuador.
This hike on Isabela Island in the Galapagos offers a unique opportunity to explore an active volcanic landscape. Sierra Negra Crater, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, stretches over 10 kilometres across.
The trail winds through a young forest, and once you reach the crater’s rim, you’re rewarded with sweeping views of the vast lava-filled caldera.
If you still want to explore more, the extension to Volcan Chico offers a fascinating look at recent volcanic activity, with fumaroles and colourful lava formations.
After the hike, you can visit nearby Tintoreras Islet, home to diverse wildlife like marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.
This hike is included in our 10-day active adventure in the Galapagos and the Amazon. It’s a truly unforgettable experience in Ecuador!
3. Rucu Pichincha
Distance: 10 km round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (due to altitude)
Best for: Day hikers seeking an accessible high-altitude trek with rewarding views of Quito and the surrounding mountains.
Rucu Pichincha, a towering stratovolcano located just outside Quito, offers one of the most accessible high-altitude hikes in Ecuador. A cable car takes you up to 3,945 meters, where the hike begins.
The trail starts relatively easy, passing through paramo grasslands and providing sweeping views of the capital city below.
As you near the summit, the trail becomes steeper and rockier, requiring some scrambling over sand and loose rock.
At 4,698 meters, the summit provides incredible views of Quito and the surrounding Andes.
Though it’s a one-day hike, the high altitude makes it challenging, so you must take it slow.
4. Quilotoa Loop
Distance: 40 km loop (over 3 - 5 days)
Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Hikers interested in Andean culture and breathtaking volcanic landscapes.
The Quilotoa Loop is a multi-day trek that circles the stunning Quilotoa Crater Lake. This bright turquoise volcanic lake sits in a dormant caldera.
The trail takes you through remote Andean villages where traditional life continues largely untouched by modernity.
You’ll pass through deep canyons, beautiful valleys, and terraced farmlands along the way.
The highlight of the trek is reaching Quilotoa Lake itself, where you can hike down to the water’s edge or complete a circuit around the rim for spectacular panoramic views.
This is one of the best hikes in Ecuador for experiencing the local culture and fully immersing yourself in the unique environment of the Andes.
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5. Chimborazo
Distance: 38.4 km (round trip to summit), or shorter for day hikes
Difficulty: Difficult (requires acclimatisation and technical skills for summit attempt)
Best for: Experienced mountaineers and adventurous hikers looking for a challenge.
Chimborazo is Ecuador’s highest peak, standing at a towering 6,263 meters. Due to the Earth’s equatorial bulge, its summit is also the closest point on Earth to the sun.
Being such an impressive mountain peak, it’s one of the best hikes in Ecuador if you’re seeking a rewarding summit. However, it’s not an easy hike, and the altitude makes it even more challenging.
While climbing to the summit requires technical mountaineering skills, you can also hike to Chimborazo’s base camp, which still offers stunning views of this majestic volcano.
For those seeking a more relaxed adventure, shorter hikes in the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve allow you to explore the area’s unique high-altitude ecosystems, home to vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas.
6. Cajas National Park
Distance: 8 - 30 km (varies by trail)
Difficulty: Easy to difficult (depending on the route)
Best for: Hikers seeking diverse landscapes, high-altitude lakes, and a sense of solitude in nature.
Cajas National Park is a vast, high-altitude park near the city of Cuenca. It is beautiful and known for its hundreds of lakes, rugged mountains, and diverse ecosystems.
The park’s trails range from short, easy walks to challenging multi-day hikes.
A popular day hike starts at the park’s information centre and takes you on an 8-kilometre loop around Laguna Toreadora, one of the park’s most scenic lakes.
You’ll pass through cloud forests, rocky paramo landscapes, and cross glacial streams as you hike.
Cajas is also home to a section of the ancient Inca Trail, which adds a historical dimension to your hike.
7. Lake Cuicocha
Distance: 12 km loop
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Day hikers looking for a scenic and tranquil walk around a volcanic lake.
Lake Cuicocha, located in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve near Otavalo, is a stunning crater lake formed in the caldera of an extinct volcano.
The 12-kilometre trail around the lake offers a peaceful and scenic day hike with panoramic views of the turquoise waters and the surrounding Andean mountains.
The lake’s name comes from the Kichwa word for “guinea pig,” as the two small islands in the centre of the lake resemble the shape of guinea pigs.
The hike is relatively easy, perfect for those looking for a short, serene walk with beautiful scenery.
We’d recommend this as one of the best hikes in Ecuador for beginners who are after a highly rewarding trail without requiring too much effort.
8. Inca Trail to Ingapirca
Distance: 40 km (over 3 days)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (due to altitude and distance)
Best for: History lovers and hikers interested in exploring ancient Inca culture and remote highland scenery.
While the entire Inca Trail is one of the world’s excellent bucket list hikes, this section is one of the absolute best parts of Ecuador for a more manageable hike.
This lesser-known section of the Inca Trail takes you on a 40-kilometer journey through the Ecuadorian highlands, ending at the impressive Ingapirca ruins.
The trail follows ancient Inca roads and passes through remote wilderness, high-altitude grasslands, and tiny indigenous villages.
Along the way, you’ll experience stunning views of canyons, lagoons, and Andean peaks.
The final destination, Ingapirca, is Ecuador’s most significant Inca archaeological site.
It features the Temple of the Sun, an impressive stone structure aligned with the solar calendar.
9. Condor Trek
Distance: 51 km (over 5 days)
Difficulty: Difficult (due to high altitude and challenging terrain)
Best for: Experienced trekkers seeking a multi-day adventure in remote and wild landscapes.
The Condor Trek is one of Ecuador’s most challenging and rewarding hikes. Many who complete it regard it as one of the best multi-day hikes in the world.
Spanning five days, this 51-kilometre trek takes you through some of the country’s most remote and rugged terrain. It’s tough going, but it’s one of Ecuador’s best hikes if you’re after untouched Andean landscapes.
The trail winds through the páramo (high-altitude grasslands), with stunning views of volcanoes like Antisana and Cotopaxi.
You’ll pass by high-altitude lakes, cross steep valleys, and trek through areas home to the Andean condor, for which the trek is named.
The weather can be cold and unpredictable, but the dramatic landscapes make it worthwhile.
10. Yasuni National Park
Distance: Varies by trail (usually short hikes)
Difficulty: Moderate (due to heat and humidity)
Best for: Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers interested in exploring the Amazon rainforest.
Yasuni National Park, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. This park offers a different hiking experience, as you’ll trek through dense rainforest rather than mountains.
Trails such as the Tucán Trail and Tapir Trail take you deep into the Amazon, where you can encounter various wildlife, from monkeys and jaguars to colourful birds and giant sloths.
The trails are often muddy and humid, but the opportunity to immerse yourself in such a vibrant and untouched ecosystem makes it a memorable adventure.
Hiking in the Amazon is one of the most exciting things you can do in Ecuador, so we include two days of Amazon hiking in our Galapagos and Amazon quest.
Summary
These Ecuadorian hikes offer fantastic experiences, including trails that suit hikers of all levels. From easy day hikes to challenging multi-day treks, hiking in Ecuador offers something for everyone.
Ready to get out on the trails and experience the magic of this country? Then, consider booking an adventure group tour in Ecuador for the hiking experience of a lifetime.
