Ecuador has so many adventures to offer that maybe one life is not enough. However, with a little bit of planning, you might succeed in at least scraping the top of this rich playground of natural treasures.

Let’s start with the animal kingdom. Nature lovers are able to swim with sea lions and meet the giant tortoises in the Galapagos Island, while exploring on marine life or snorkeling with pilot whales and white-tipped reef sharks. Some adventure travel programs in Ecuador even offer the possibility of volunteering alongside your wild dives; you could spend one week volunteering and three weeks adventure traveling. Not a bad deal that lets you kill (er, conserve) two birds with one stone. When ired of sea animals, Ecuador will bring you back to earth with a healthy dose of birdwatching or horseback riding.

Cycling is the perfect way to get to know the Andes, but there’s nothing wrong with tackling a climbing trip through the majestic Andes either. Most adventure travel programs in Ecuador offer all equipment, local transportation, and a good dose of thrill, so the only thing you need to bring is a courageous heart and your GoPro. For adventures in Ecuador at lower altitudes, try hiking and rafting in the Amazon. Have fun in humid paradise while brushing up on jungle survival methods!

Adventure travel program characteristics vary, but most last between one and four weeks, with instructions offered in both English and Spanish. Due to liability issues, the majority of travel programs only accept travelers of legal age. Regardless of age or language, the most important thing to keep in mind when traveling to Ecuador is the weather. The dry season (summer) runs from June to September and the wet season (winter) runs from October to May. Research well about proper weather, animal, and trail seasons before signing up!