Hiking and Cycling the Ecuadorian Andes

Cristina Romero of Enchanted Expeditions tells us why she loves hiking and biking through the Andes highlands of Ecuador:

Ecuador is a small and diverse country with a high degree of multiculturalism where many interesting places can be visited on a day´s trip from Quito.

I have personally taken advantage of the easy access and the relatively short distances in the Ecuador Highlands to explore places like Quilotoa Crater Lake, Cotopaxi Volcano National Park, Mindo cloud forest, Bellavista mountain forest, Cayambe-Coca National Park, and the Cochasquí Ruins.

Just before the lockdown, I trekked to Condor Machay Waterfall with my three-year-old son and a friend. The hike usually takes around two hours but can imagine how long it took to walk the trail with a toddler! Finally reaching this beautiful waterfall, I was proud of our great adventure.

On another occasion, we rode our bikes from the town of Tabacundo to the Mojanda Lagoons. It’s a lovely place to camp. And even though it was chilly at night (because of the high altitude), the weather was great the next morning — intense blue sky and warm morning sun.

Mindo with its lush vegetation was another unparalleled adventure, one of the most incredible experiences in my whole life. Biking with a group of friends (by the way, I was the only woman) we rode downhill from Lloa to Palmiras and then across the Rio Blanco, its current so strong we had to carry our bikes to the other side. As the air cooled in the late afternoon, we found a local market that served delicious menestra (a typical Ecuadorian bean stew).

Those are just a few of the hiking and biking adventures that are possible on day trips from Quito — adventures easily arranged with help from Enchanted Expeditions.

Ph. credit: (c) Jonagreen | Dreamstime.com