i am heading into ecuador from the north of peru in a few days...does anyone have a list of places absolutely worth visiting that are NOT already mentioned in the lonely planet shoe string south america...i already have places like Cuenca, Vilcabamba, banos, the Quilotoa loop, those kind of places to visit but am looking for some more unusual places to add to my list as i have a month in ecuador...
thanks
spacyraja
1
jgcp
Most of the 'off gringo trails' are secret since the locals don't want hoards of 'gringos' invading their space - so to speak. You really need to know Ecuadorians - especially the locals to know where to go. I have had some amazing experiences due to my partner's family and friends inviting me to join them for various events. I consider myself very privileged to have been invited to these things. I think that is the best way to experience the 'real Ecuador' if possible. Make good friends with the locals and see what happens. Otherwise enjoy any experiences you might have even if they aren't as unique as you want - they hopefully will still give you some insight to the local life.
2
mmarin
I visited nice places in ecuador that were not mentioned in LP.
Thanks to Martinj from www.movingecuador.com<BR>I had great time living with an indigenous community near Tena and i visited a small market town called Simiatug in the Andes.
regards, marin
3
wlady
I know a few offroad places..
Check pics here
Horseback video on chimborazo highlands
huacayñan trekking video
All places from the gallery are off guide places, e mail me if you are interested in info.
Enjoy Ecuador
4
tehach
I don't know whether its in the guides, but I found the hiking around Angamarca spectacular, particularly the region with the rock formation known as Chivo.
5
redtoffee
Dont know if its in the lonely planet but i went to Santa Lucia and Ecolodge in the cloud forest. It was 2.5 hours by bus fom Quito and you got off just be a small town (or village?) called Nanegal. You would then have to take minbus organised by Santa Lucia 30 mins to a river. Then you cross the river bridge and climb for about 1.5 - 2 hours before getting to the ecolodge at the top of the cloudforest. There should be mules to take up your bags if you arrange well enough in advance which we didnt! However if arranged in advance you can also get the mules to take you up at an extra cost.
You can have a guide to give you tours of the cloudforest. I would recommend one as we didnt have one when we were there and i think we missed out as we didnt know what we were looking for. We did see a couple of snakes though, butterflies, insects etc... There is also a beautiful waterfall you can go right up to and a swing which goes up to about 30m with fantastic views of the cloudforest.
This is a cheap and i would say off the beaten track place, especially as you have tp be reasonably fit to go there and it is not the most luxurious place in the world. You have to use an outside compost toilet except during the night, but hey you will never have better veiws from a toliet/shower again. The food was homecooked and lovely. And you spend the evening generally playing cards and enjoying wine by candlelight (no electricity - hence ecolodge!)
Dont do it if you are not fit. It is one hell of a climb. But well worth it. And i thought it was very well priced too.
Laura
~X~
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