Guides
Trekking guides & field notes
Practical, first-hand advice from the trail — altitude and acclimatization, the best months to climb, route difficulty and what to pack for a multi-day trek in the Andes.
Cotopaxi Volcano: Height, Facts and Whether It's Still Active
A 5,897 m active stratovolcano an hour south of Quito. Here's Cotopaxi's real height, type, eruption history and whether it's safe to climb — from people who guide it.
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Cotopaxi National Park: A Complete Visitor's Guide
An hour south of Quito, free to enter, and ringed by some of the highest walking in the Andes. Here's how to visit Cotopaxi National Park — honestly, and at altitude.
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The Wall of Tears, Galápagos: Hike, History & Trail Guide
A wall built by prisoners, for no reason but punishment — and the best easy hike on Isabela. Here's the history, the trail, and how to walk or bike it.
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The Sierra Negra Volcano Hike, Galápagos: Trail Guide
One of the largest active calderas on Earth — and the best day hike in the Galápagos. Distance, difficulty, Volcán Chico, and the honest trail brief.
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Galápagos Without a Cruise: Land-Based vs Cruise (Honest Guide)
You don't need a cruise to see the Galápagos. An honest, structured land-based vs cruise comparison — cost, wildlife, hiking and which islands you actually reach.
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Cerro Tijeretas, Galápagos: A San Cristóbal Hike Guide
A short self-guided walk from town to a frigatebird-filled hill, a turquoise snorkel cove, and the spot where Darwin first set foot in the Galápagos.
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The Best Time to Climb Cotopaxi (and Ecuador's Volcanoes)
Ecuador sits on the equator, so there's no summer or winter — just wet and dry. Here's the month-by-month timing for the best summit odds on Cotopaxi and beyond.
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The Best Hikes in the Galápagos Islands (Trail Specs & Guide Rules)
Every Galápagos round-up gives you a list. This one gives you the trail data — distance, difficulty, time and guide rules — so you can actually plan a land-based hiking trip.
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Altitude & Acclimatization for Climbing in Ecuador
The single biggest factor in summiting Cotopaxi or Chimborazo isn't fitness — it's how well you acclimatize. Here's how to get it right.
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The Best Hikes & Treks in Ecuador
From the Quilotoa Loop to the roof of Chimborazo, these are the multi-day hikes and treks in Ecuador actually worth your time — and how hard each one is.
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Trekking in Ecuador: The Complete Guide
Glaciated volcanoes, crater-lake treks and island trails — all within a day of Quito. Here's how trekking in Ecuador actually works.
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