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Bradt Guide Ecuador Climbing & Hiking
Ref: BRA027
Ecuador's mountains and volcanoes have drawn climbers and hikers for decades. This travel guide caters for those in search of extreme adventure, providing routes up Ecuador's most challenging rock-faces, as well as more leisurely walks through highland villages. Essential facts for travellers on transport, where to stay, where to buy equipment and supplies, and how to travel safely and healthily.
Book Reviews
'The definitive guide book for some years to come'
Climbing
'Loads to get your teeth into'
Adventure Travel Magazine
'From the high-altitude snow-capped volcanoes - via the ancient Inca trails - to the Amazonian lowland jungles, the book is jam-packed with intrepid treks and climbs for all levels.
Apart from giving you essential information, it offers health tips, a potted history of local mountaineering and a comprehensive reading list. What is most important though is the thorough firt-hand research of all the recommended treks and climbs by Mark Thurber, an experienced South American tour leader.'
Indendent on Sunday
About this Destination
Geographically, Ecuador is one of the most varied countries in the world, despite its small size (256,370km2, about the size of the United Kingdom). The Andean range is at its narrowest here and divides the country into three distinct regions: to the east of the Central Sierra lies the tropical rainforest of the upper Amazon basin (known as the Oriente) and to the west are the more accessible but equally hot and humid coastal lowlands. It is barely 200km from the western lowlands to the eastern jungle, yet within this narrow area are found peaks of up to 6,310m forming two major cordilleras, or mountain ranges. These two cordilleras run north–south and are 40 to 60km apart. Between them lies the fertile Central Valley, which is about 400km long and contains Quito and most of Ecuador’s major cities, as well as almost half of the country’s inhabitants. It is this Central Valley that was called ‘The Avenue of the Volcanoes’ by the famous German explorer and scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, who visited Ecuador in 1802
Author's Note, by Rob Rachowiecki and Mark Thurber
Though one of the smallest countries in South America, Ecuador offers an incredible diversity of scenery, wildlife and people. The mountaineer and adventurous traveller have a choice of the ice-clad Andes, tropical rainforest, mountain trails leading to Inca ruins, and quiet beaches; all these attractions lie within a day’s journey of Quito, the capital city. This accessibility makes Ecuador an attractive destination for climbers and hikers of all abilities, and avoids the long approaches and expedition planning often necessary in other high mountain ranges.
Mountaineers find Ecuador well suited as a high-altitude training ground. There are many technically straightforward ascents of 5,000m peaks. Climbers can gain technical experience in the lower ranges of Europe and North America and then learn about how the body functions at high altitudes in the Ecuadorian Andes. A combination of these abilities will produce climbers ready to challenge some of the world’s most difficult high peaks.
Superb mountain scenery, however, is only one of Ecuador’s attractions. It also has some of the best beaches in South America, colourful indigenous markets, and plenty of wildlife, especially birds. Come and see for yourself.
Rob Rachowiecki lives in Tuscon, Arizona, where he works as a writer in between leading tours to South America.
Mark Thurber is an American geologist working in Ecuador as a tour leader and environmental consultant.
£13.95
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