Every thing is posible in a country crossed by two hemspheres, that leaves you breathles and at the same time it fills up your body with oxygen, where orquids grow amongst hundreds of bird warbles that are only possible to watch at the worlds belly button, in Ecuador you will find landscapes that not even the best painters in the world have imagine for their masterpiece, where you can find mangroves, tropical dry forests, tropical humid forests, as well as Pacific cloud cover, Andean moorland, Andean montane forests, Amazon cloud cover, Amazon rain forest, Active snow-capped volcanoes, inhabited and lagoon craters, fertile rivers and valleys, a marine archipelago, crossed by the equatorial line and with Antarctic territory, all this in Ecuador. It shelters in its entrails a mega diversity of flora and fauna with unique species on the planet. Despite its relatively small size, Ecuador is jam-packed with magnificent sights, each endowed with a varied history and mountain landscapes.Are you ready to enter a green paradise?
The country is located among the 17 megadiverse countries on the planet with just 283,561 km2
Ecuador one of the leading Green Destinations
Ecuador has been reconized for six years in a row as absolute winner as Leading green destination in the world at the twenty fifth world travel awards edition, competing, with countries as Brazil, Belice, Costa Rica, Kenia, Fiji, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Seycheles and Norway. Acording to Graham Cooke, founder and president of the world travel award “Ecuador has has a great progress in the last years as a powerful country in tourism that we must start looking at in south America”.
The World Travel Awards International ceremony is considered the most important in the world in terms of recognition of tourism, since it recognizes world-class finalists in different areas, such as quality of destinations, gastronomy, products and services, among other
This recognition allows Ecuador to continue positioning itself in the world as a green tourist destination that remains at the forefront in the care of nature and that has more than a thousand reasons to be a Tourist Power and a world-class destination
Ecuador a Megadiverse Country
Ecuador has an area of 283,561 km2 of which 19.14% are “protected areas”, whose conservation is guaranteed in article 405 of the Constitution. Our country has 63 Protected Areas, among them:
13 National Parks such as Cotopaxi, Yasuní, Sangay Cajas, Poducarpus.
4 Biological Reserves such as Limoncocha, El Cóndor.
9 Ecological Reserves such as Antisana, Cotacachi Cayapas, Manglares Churute.
1 Geobotanical Reserve, The Pululahua.
5 Fauna Production Reserves, such as the Chimborazo Reserve, Cuyabeno.
10 Wildlife Refuges such as Pasochoa, Isla Corazón and Fragata.
5 Marine Reserves, such as Galapagos and Galera San Francisco
6 National Recreation Areas such as El Boliche, Santay Island, among others.
2 Ecological Conservation Area
- Siete Iglesias Conservation Ecological Area
- La Bonita-Cofanes-Chingual Conservation Ecological Area
7 Decentralized Autonomous Protected Area- Community- Private
- Decentralized Autonomous Protected Area Cordillera Oriental del Carchi
- Yacuambi Decentralized Autonomous Protected Area
- Mazán Decentralized Autonomous Protected Area
- Tambillo Community Protected Area
- Marcos Pérez de Castilla Community Protected Area
- Bellavista private protected area
- Ichubamba Yasepan Protected Area
4 Water Protection Areas (APH)
- Water Protection Area of the upper micro-basin of the Garrapata River
- Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Area
- Chalpatán- La Esperanza Water Protection Area
- Mojanda Water Protection Area
At just 1.6%, the Ecuadorian Amazon, which added to Central America represents 85% of the world’s tropical forests, has the most biodiverse tropical humid forest on the planet For Example the Yasuní National Park located in the Ecuadorian Rain Forest. In one hectare of this tropical rainforest there are more than 650 species of trees, more than all of Canada and the United States combined.
Ecuador also has more than 137 species of palms than all of Africa and the highest concentration of palms in South America.
The Galapagos Islands belong to Ecuador
Without a doubt, the Galapagos Islands, located a thousand kilometers from the Continent, is the best example of ecotourism in the world, which is why since 1978 it has held the title of Natural Heritage of Humanity, issued by Unesco. Galapagos is the natural laboratory of the origin and evolution of species, inspiration of the scientist Charles Darwin, whose theory changed how we look at the world.
But the interest in this natural gem continues, now the Galapagos Islands are part of the National Geographic project “Pristine Seas” which is carried out this month, to publicize the quality of the marine reserves that exist in Ecuador.
In addition, Jack Hanna, well-known American television host and director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio, along with his film crew also arrived in Ecuador on November 4 to film 6 episodes of the spring-summer and fall season. 2016 of the American television show “Into the Wild.”
“We are very happy to return to film in Ecuador, as we will not only visit the Amazon, but also the forests and the incredible Galapagos Islands,” said Jack upon arriving in the country. “Our viewers will be delighted to see all our encounters and experiences with animals, and they will also be able to follow our adventure on social media. We hope to share the Ecuadorian natural beauty and fauna with everyone, ”he added.
Ecuador an Orchids Paradise
Another factor that ratifies Ecuador’s vocation as the World’s Leading Green Destination is that since December 5, 2013, Ecuador is the Country of Orchids (Executive Decree 172). Our country is the absolute world champion, as it exceeds 4,032 species and at least half a thousand to be determined.
Within its territory it has 4 of the 5 subfamilies of orchids that exist in the world: 20 tribes, 30 sub-tribes and 273 genera. In addition, it is the custodian of 4,032 species of native orchids described and at least 500 more species in the process of determination. Ecuador has 1,714 endemic orchid species, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world; here are the smallest orchids in the world, those that belong to the genus Platistelle and their flowers are between 2 and 3 millimeters in size. Ecuador has more than 18,000 species of vascular plants (flowering plants), which represents 10% of the world’s wild flora.
Euador has an endless list of green destinations but we can say this are the most visited:
Baños de Agua Santa
A place for everyone, looking for either or, adventure sports or relaxing hikes to waterfalls as well as riding a horse or cycling. Are you ready for a Banos Tour?
Mindo cloud forest
A cozy small town nestled in a unique ecosystem, that is part of the Andean Chocó, with activities like, chocolate tour, coffee tour, tubing, zipline, clable car, waterfall trails, bird watching and a tranquil ambience to relax and walk around. Would you like to visit mindo cloud forest on a day tour?
Cotopaxi National Park
The closest National Park from the city of Quito, a Paramo (cold) Ecosystem with a dwarft forest, lovely and unique Andean landscapes and animals, part of this national park is the Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest volcano in Ecuador and the Highest active Volcano. Check out the Cotopaxi volcano tours from Quito.
Quilotoa crater Lake
A turquoise water crater lake, where its caldera is filled with water, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes and the Quilotoa Community. Lot of hikes around known as the Quilotoa Loop. Tours to Quilotoa crater lake from Quito
Papallacta Hot Springs
Is also a green destination, located close to Quito, surrounded by mountains lakes and canyons, rivers, forests, birds, hot springs and spas the best place to relax and pamper yourself. Check out Papallacta day trip from Quito
