Low altitude hiking in Ecuador?
Replies: 9 - Last Post: Jul 2, 2012 8:33 PM Last Post By: jgcp
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Low altitude hiking in Ecuador?
Hey guys,Im backpacking through Peru right now and just invited my dad down from the states to do a hike while I´m down here. Will most likely be in Ecuador but possibly Colombia as well.
He doesn´t have enough time to come down and spend days acclimatizing to the altitude, and I´m having trouble finding information on low-altitude hiking in Ecuador. It all seems to be about the glaciated peaks.
I´m just looking to spend a few days with the old man on a nice trail, doesn´t need to be the most epic hike ever.
Anyone have recommendations for hiking in Ecuador that won´t require many days of acclimatization?
Thanks!
2
Check out the area of Baños. It is at medium altitude and there are several 1-day hikes you can do in the surroundings, while staying based in the town. The town is very user-friendly, with an excellent array of accomodation and restaurants. As a bonus, you can soak in the hot springs (best in the evenings when less crowded). There also are trips downriver into the jungle. Some operators in Baños also offer longer trips with a combination of hiking, horse riding and sleeping on farms.4
- Sangay is one of the roughest trails - muddy most of the year, long, cold and up to 4000m, a bid hard to go without a guide.
- Ingapirca hike also reaches 4000m. http://www.summitpost.org/inca-trail-to-ingapirca/540944
You can do some nice shorter hikes on the coast - near Manglaralto (must know the way or take a guide or just get lost for a while) or near Machalilla.
More options very low you will find near Puyo - but there are no marked longer hikes and without a guide it is difficult and dangerous to get deeper in the jungle.
Another option is to hire a horse on the Ingapirca trail - this way he might do ok below 4000m.
5
At the bottom of Pasochoa volcano 45km from Quito there is a small reserve. They have several marked trails and part of it you walk through beautiful bamboo forest full of birds (I was there in February). I hiked to the summit as a day trip from Quito. Here is the link, I hope you read Spanish: http://www.ecuanex.net.ec/natura/biodiver/parque_pasochoa.htmSenderos:
Del Colibrí (30 minutos aproximadamente) fácil recorrido.
Amiga Naturaleza (30 minutos aproximadamente) fácil recorrido.
Bosque para todos(1 hora aproximadamente) un poco de esfuerzo.
Mayguayacu (2 horas aproximadamente) buen esfuerzo.
Palma de Cera (4 horas aproximadamente) mucho esfuerzo.
Los Pantzas (8 horas aproximadamente) gran esfuerzo.
ps. I wouldn't take "gran esfuerzo" to seriously ...
6
I highly recommend you hiking around the Cuicocha lagoon, near Otavalo - it´s not exactly low altitude, but it´s pretty easy and extremely beautiful...you will need about 3,5 hours! I did it with a friend of mine and we both loved it - we did it during her first days in Ecuador when she was still acclimatizing and she didn´t have any problems at all with the altitude.8
That´s not true plata_o_plomo! You can either got to Cuicocha in the form of an excursion and do a boat trip on the lagoon (which won´t take more than an hour in total) or do the hike which can be around 3,5 to 5 hours depending which way you take. It is a hike indeed. And at least on Saturdays there are not only locals...also a lot of foreigners.9
Yes #8 that's what we found but then those not from Ecuador may not be so aware of it.
