Adventure Tours in Ecuador
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” Ecuador is more than just the equator that it is named after; it’s a country full of dark jungles, mighty mountains, rumbling volcanoes, cliffy coasts, hidden Inca ruins, really bizarre wildlife, and never-ending adventures. If your feet need a break from hiking, water sport-ing, ziplining, and sightseeing, there are plenty of options to kick back with the locals over a cup of colada de avena and listen to the energizing strums of pasillo music. Throw some Spanish practice into the mix, and you’ve got yourself an adventure travel itinerary larger than this modest landmass.
40 Adventure Programs in Ecuador

Encounter My Way
Encounter Ecuador Adventure Program
Embark on a 30-day adventure through Ecuador, combining culture, ...

Seamester Study Abroad at Sea
Seamester Study Abroad and Gap Year Voyages
Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more th...
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International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
World’s #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) brings people together from all...
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Pacific Discovery
Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands Gap Semester
Pacific Discovery's South America Gap Semester is a transformativ...

Gapforce
South America Explorer with Gapforce
Visit two of South America’s most iconic countries – Peru and Ecu...

Global Works - Travel with Purpose
Ecuador: Summer Service Adventures
Experience the remarkable beauty and vibrant culture of Ecuador d...

Broadreach
Amazon + Galapagos: Eco Adventure
Track a tapir and Andean bears in a cloud forest. Study primates ...

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad
GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with awa...
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ARCC Programs
Ecuador & Galápagos: Animals of the Amazon
Embark on a transformative 19-day service-learning program in Ecu...

GoBeyond Student Travel
GoBeyond - Global Community Service Adventures for Teens
This program goes beyond ordinary high school travel programs and...
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Rustic Pathways
Ecuador: Wild Galápagos Eco-Service with Rustic Pathways
Visit the center of the earth! Ecuador’s capital is Quito, the cl...

Projects Abroad
Global Leader In Meaningful Travel. Trusted By 130,000
At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose....

Travel For Teens
TFT: Peru, Ecuador and the Galápagos Service
Peru and Ecuador are two countries in South America that are both...
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Sergio Photo Tours
Photography Tours in South America's Iconic Landscapes
Sergio Photo Tours offers immersive photography expeditions acros...

ELEP Volunteer & Internship Programs
Adventure Education Programs in Ecuador, South America
There is no better teacher than the great outdoors! For many year...
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A Guide to Adventure Travel in Ecuador
Locations
They say that “the best perfume comes in small bottles,” and this is most definitely Ecuador’s philosophy. Although Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, it is one of the most diverse (and one of 17 worldwide labeled as “megadiverse”), both in terms of its people and its geography. With the first two UNESCO sites of the world and a wide array of nature, Ecuador offers something for every kind of adventure traveler.
Start your adventure travel in Ecuador in colonial Quito, the second-highest capital of the world. Visit the historical town centre, stand with one foot on each side of the equator, check out the weekend markets in Parque El Ejido, and eat one of its famous envueltos. Enjoy nights in La Floresta and fill up on all the pubs, because there’s not a lot of ‘em in the jungle.
Next up, the Galapagos Islands is the location for sea lovers. These islands are a heritage of humanity; the very same islands that inspired Darwin to form his evolution and coral atolls theories. Whether your interest lies in studying turtles or snorkeling, there are blue skies and even bluer water to keep you company. Take a dive in Los Tuneles or hike to the top of the Sierra Negra volcano, and if you stray off-path or dive a little bit deeper, you might even discover a new specie!
In The Amazon, adventure travelers can canoe along its waterways and discover the jungle life (even if you do not bump into Marsupilami, you will probably spot a scarlet macaw or two). If that doesn’t make your heart beat faster, consider rafting in the Amazon Basin, making new friends while visiting long-lost communities, taking night tours to search for nocturnal critters, or learning how to use a blowgun.
If you’d like to take your adventure in Ecuador one step higher, check out the Andes. The Andean region is one of the most visited in Ecuador and it’s the perfect place to find new adventures and climb every mountain; at the top of any of which, you will feel as mighty as Emperor Kuzco. Don’t forget to check out Chimborazo, the point of Earth closest to space (yee-haw, equatorial bulge!).
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