Trekking is our passion. Between 2000 and 2002 we explored 30 new trekking routes to write Trekking in Ecuador, the most up-to-date hiking guide for this country. It remains an unforgettable experience and taught us that, however well we might know Ecuador, there would always be more to discover here.

We are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), in Wyoming, USA. We live in Ecuador and know the country intimately, its places, people, strengths and weaknesses. In addition to our personal knowledge, we have developed an extensive network of contacts throughout Ecuador and its travel community. We can therefore constantly keep our fingers on the pulse of local developments. Trekking in Ecuador is regularly updated on-line.

Ecuador's special appeal to trekkers, day-trippers, and nature lovers can be summed up in one word: accessibility. The country's unique combination of small size, exceptional geographic and biological diversity, and good transportation infrastructure places an outstanding variety of splendid natural experiences within easy reach of the adventurous visitor. Ecuador boasts more than forty-five protected natural areas, including national parks and private reserves, almost all of which offer trekking and day-hiking possibilities.

Many longer treks span several natural regions, from the highlands down toward the Amazon jungle or coastal plain. Ecuador receives many visitors (approximately 500,000 a year), but as yet relatively few people come specifically to trek. Unlike well-known trekking venues such as Nepal, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, trails in Ecuador are never crowded and offer virtually unlimited scope for exploration. Trekking in Ecuador is easily combined with a visit to the country's more traditional destinations: the Galápagos Islands, colourful indigenous markets, Amazon jungle lodges or Pacific coast beaches.