Because in Ecuador, there is life beyond the Galapagos
** Ecuador ** moves between extremes. land of multiple landscapes, Ecuador is the mother of the mountains, the ocean, the jungle. And, as a good mother, don't ask her to choose her favourite: she loves them all equally.
That yes, if you ask beyond the borders of this Andean secret (ever worse kept), the traveling community will announce the chosen one loudly: the Galapagos, those ancient islands lost in the Pacific that have caught the imagination of scientists and adventurers alike.
However, once the crown is bestowed, what other worthy contenders for more spectacular natural beauty does Ecuador fiercely guard? They are not few.
THE HIGHEST POINT: THE CHIMBORAZO VOLCANO
In a country of volcanoes **(Ecuador has 30, including an active one in the Galapagos)**, Chimborazo towers above them all – literally.
The roof of Ecuador is called Chimborazo
This dormant volcano It is the highest peak in the country, with 6,384 kilometers, and it is an overwhelming and unforgettable sight as soon as you enter the province of the same name.
In fact, this volcano is not only an icon for Ecuador, but for the world: Chimborazo is the furthest point from the earth's center. Due to the shape of the planet (not quite round, but oval, a bit flattened at the poles and wider at the equator), the volcano is not the tallest mountain in the world (that title is held by Everest), but it is the closest point on Earth to space.
Chimborazo is a very popular destination for climbers and hikers. The volcano has open routes all year round, although the best time to climb is between December and January or July and August.
THE LAGOON OF THE GODS: THE CUICOCHA VOLCANIC LAKE
And from the volcano, to the crater. An eruption of the Cotacachi volcano 3,000 years ago was so powerful that it left behind a crater four kilometers long and 200 meters deep.
The subterranean heat caused the melting of the top of the volcano and the water went to the crater, in a kind of geological drama that resulted in the creation of the Cuicocha lagoon.
Cuicocha, one of the most beautiful lakes in Ecuador
And it's good that events happened like this, because Cuicocha is one of the most beautiful lakes in Ecuador and well worth a visit to the Sierra Norte of the country.
Yes indeed, at more than 3,000 meters high, the lagoon of the Gods (meaning of his name in Kichwa) makes himself desired. Reaching it is a spiritual experience, literally: the lake is a sacred place, where shamanic purification rites are performed during the summer solstice.
attention, because this is the only way one can bathe in the lake: It is not open for recreational purposes, although it is allowed to cross it by kayak, as long as it does not coincide with ritual dates.
THE LITTLE GALAPAGOS: THE ISLAND OF LA PLATA
Also called 'Galapagos for the poor', Isla de la Plata is a perfect option if you want to see everything great about Galapagos, but you can't afford the flight plus cruise needed to visit the famous islands.
For La Plata, however, you don't need a plane. An hour from the fishing village of Puerto López, the island is easily accessible by boat , putting on a platter an experience similar to the Galapagos for a percentage of the price.
The birds are the owners and ladies of the Isla de la Plata
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the absolute silence of an island without human inhabitants, without vacationers (there are no beaches of major interest) and without buildings… but with some very special residents: the characteristic birds of Ecuador , which populate the Galapagos and the Machalilla National Park (to which the Silver belongs) . Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, albatrosses, and tropicbirds have claimed the island for themselves, and roam freely no matter who is watching.
With a little luck, the shores of the island will also receive visitors, such as sea lions, dolphins and humpback whales, They come between July and September to give birth and breed.
THE GREAT KAHUNA: THE AMAZON JUNGLE
Although Ecuador can only claim a small part of the Amazon Rainforest (less than 2%), believe us that it is enough to let yourself be overwhelmed by this wonder of nature.
The jungle can be accessed through various points, such as the Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserve, the Huaorani Protectorate, El Alto Napo, and the Yasuní National Park.
Each one of them offers its own point of view to the magic of the jungle, but any one of them will provide you with an incomparable sensory spectacle: rivers of dark waters (rich in tannins from decomposing foliage), lush vegetation as far as the eye can see and the murmurs of the jungle as a soundtrack.
As for the fauna that you can find, the options are endless: pink dolphins, manatees, toucans, macaws, squirrel monkeys or sloths They will become your travel companions. Do not make them wait and go visit them now.
2% of the Amazon Rainforest is on Ecuadorian land