20 BEST NATIONAL PARKS ECUADOR [TOURS 2022]

System of National Parks and Reserves of Ecuador

When studying the Amazon of Ecuador in the 1980s, world famous botanist, Dr. Gentry, discovered the greatest number of plant species per hectare in the world, which made Ecuador the country with the highest biodiversity in the world.

In fact, a United Nations team - including the Parks and Tribes board members Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil, aca the "Parks Man Daan and Dr. Flavio Coello - selected 39 Ecuador national parks and reserves (see here the original report: United Nations Study by the FAO). As there was no information on ecosystem and hardly any information on species distribution, we used criteria such as distribution of virgin forests and elevation levels, hoping to compose a representative protected areas system. Dr. Gentry's research and studies of many other biologists since then, confirmed that we did it right. In the course of the years, the protected areas system grew to include even more ecosystems and species, now protecting 59 areas covering almost 20% of the territory of Ecuador.

Spread across the country, these areas are found in totally different climate zones and elevations, protecting breathtaking landscapes, fascinating wildlife, cloud forests in the Andes, rainforests in the Amazon, and at the coast, mangroves and cactus-clad dry forests.

The National Parks System of Ecuador has 59 protected areas of different categories. Check our scoring table for beauty, access & wildlife.

National Parks of Ecuador Scoring System

While Ecuador has various different types of management categories, in reality, all these areas are equally important, and we consider them all national parks. Some national parks - which among other things are for the enjoyment of the people - are difficult to get into, while some of the reserves are so accessible and beautiful, that they should really be a national park. With so many parks and reserves to chose from, what really matters to you is which ones are the best. Below you can see the map with all the areas. For more information click here for:

Printable pdf list of most national parks and protected areas of Ecuador;
Introduction to the Protected Areas System 2007 by the Ecuador National Parks Service (Spanish only);
Introduction to the Protected Areas System 2017 by the Ecuador National Parks Service (Spanish only);
Forestry, protected areas and fauna law of Ecuador (Spanish only);
Protected areas tourism regulation by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism (Spanish only)
National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation 2015 - 2030 (Spanish only).

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW UPDATED 2021 NATIONAL PARKS MAP [CLICK FOR HIGH RESOLUTION]

2017 Ecuador National Parks and Protected Areas Map with names of 51 areas.

2021 Ecuador National Parks and Protected Areas map with 59 areas.

Best National Parks of Ecuador

The Scoring System

To make a selection to which areas you may want to visite, we gave a scoring to the areas, so that you may have an idea what could be important areas for you to visit. The scoring is from 1 - 5; the latter being very good, while comparing between these areas in Ecuador, in order to distinguish among them.

While most areas are scenic, some stand out for dramatic landscapes that are not found as abundantly in the other areas. All areas with snow-caped mountains have scored high. Tropical low-land areas score high if there are lakes from where birds and other wildlife can be watched. Access scores a 5 if there is very convenient road-access to good trails or well-organized access over water that can be easily contracted. Ecological importance is based on worldwide rarity of the ecosystem and/or species diversity. Overnight facilities score high if in or very nearby the port of access of an area lodging is available, within an hour's ride.

After the scoring system, we present a tour which allows you to visit a representative selection of the many areas in the protected areas system.

ECUADOR NATIONAL PARKS SCORING TABLE
	Scenic	Access	Ecological Importance	Overnight Facilities
BIOLOGICAL RESERVES
Cerro Plateado Biological Reserve
El Condor Biological Reserve pdf ***	3	1	3	1
El Quimi Biological Reserve pdf
Limon Cocha Biological Reserve pdf	4	5	3	5
ECOLOGICAL RESERVES
Antisana Ecological Reserve pdf	3	2	2	1
Arenilla Ecological Reserve pdf	2	4	1	3
Churute mangrove Ecological Reserve pdf	3	3	4	3
Cofan-Bermejo Ecological Reserve pdf	2	2	2	1
Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve pdf	5	5	4	5
El Angel Ecological Reserve pdf	5	3	5	3
Ilinizas Ecological Reserve pdf	5	5	5	5
Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve pdf	5	2	5	2

FAUNA RESERVES
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve pdf	5	4	5 (vecu�as)	5
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve **** pdf pdf-visitantes	5	5	5	5
Manglares el Salado Fauna Reserve pdf	2	3	2	2
Puntilla de Santa Elena Fauna Reserve
GEOBOTANICAL RESERVE
Pululahua pdf	5	5	2	5
MARINE RESERVE
Galapagos Biological Marine Marine Reserve pdf	3	5	5	5
Galera-San Francisco Marine Reserve
NATIONAL PARKS
Cajas National Park pdf pdf-visitantes	5	5	4	5
Cayambe Coca National Park pdf	5	5	5	1
Cotopaxi National Park pdf	5	5	2	5
Galapagos National Park pdf	5	5	5	5
Llanganates National Park pdf	3	1	3	1
Machalilla National Park pdf	3	5	5	5
Podocarpus National Park pdf	3	3	5	1
Sangay National Park pdf	5	2	5	1
Sumaco-Napo-Galeras National Park pdf	3	1	4	1
Yacuri National Park
Yasuni National Park pdf	4	3	5	5
NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS
Isla Santay National Recreation Area
Los Samanes National Recreation Area
Quimsacocha National Recreation Area
El Boliche National Recreation Area pdf	3	5	3	4
Playas de Villamil National Recreation Area
Lago National Recreation Area pdf	2	5	1	3
WILDLIFE REFUGES
La Chiquita Wildlife Refuge pdf	2	4	2	4
El Pambilar Wildlife Refuge
El Zarra Wildlife Refuge pdf
Isla Corazon and Fragatas Island Wildlife Refuge pdf	2	5	3	5
El Morro Mangroves Wildlife Refuge
Rio Esmeraldas Estuary Mangrove Wildlife Refuge
Rio Muisne Estuary Mangrove Wildlife Refuge pdf	2	2	2	2
Pacoche Coastal Marine Wildlife Refuge
Pasachoa Wildlife Refuge pdf
Santa Clara Island Wildlife Refuge	2	2	2	2
* We have a pdf with the entire list of protected areas of Ecuador. We have an introduction to the protected areas system of Ecuador in Spanish. * We have detailed pdf reports in Spanish on a variety of areas that you can download from the respective links. **** The area names with links take you to the corresponding web pages.

BEST NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR
AREA	NATIONAL PARK HIGHLIGHTS
Galapagos National Park	Rather obvious
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	The only low-land Amazon area with lakes and micro channels from where one can observe wildlife and watch birds as well as Amazon Jungle Animals and Amazon Rainforest Plants on Ecuador Amazon Expeditions to Cuyabeno National Park.
Podocarpus National Park	Interesting forest with the only South America coniferous trees.
Las Cajas National Park	Very scenic high land paramo landscape with many beautiful lakes.
Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve	Besides being the furthest point from the center of the earth, the area has 6000+ vicu�as that can always be seen from the road side. Car access to 4,800masl.
Cotopaxi National Park	Beautiful scenic volcano top.
Pululahua	Charming volcano close to Quito. Great for a morning visit when chances of decent weather are best.
Sangay National Park	With three volcanoes and beautiful lakes, this area can be extremely beautiful, but the skies are rarely clear and the chances of spending all your stay in the fog and drizzling rain are extremely high. Only for very hardy outdoors people.
Cotacachi - Cayapas Ecological Reserve	Cotacachi Cayapas reserve includes Cuicocha, Ecuador's most scenic crater lake. 20 minutes away from the Otavalo Indian Market.
Machalilla National Park	This area has a very rare transition forest from wet conditions in the North and the Peruvian coastal desert in the south. The landscape has suffered from human intervention, but there are still very valuable pockets of deciduous forests and bottle shaped trees. Los Frailes is the only virgin beach left in the country and offer plenty of over-night facilities.
Cayapas Mataje Ecological Reserve	These are the best Mangroves in Ecuador. The area is little visited and it takes a bit of an effort to reach San Lorenzo and find a boat to take you around.

Ecuador National Parks Tour

Many of the areas are only hours away from Ecuador's main cities, and yet.......... very few of those jewels of nature are ever visited. World traveler of 80+ countries and renowned national parks adviser of the World Bank and United Nations, Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil, developed the �ECUADOR NATIONAL PARKS TOUR� which takes you to 8 protected areas in 9 days. Having been part of the United Nations team that selected the majority of the protected areas of Ecuador between 1974 and 1976, nobody knows the ecology and protected areas system of Ecuador better than Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil, aca the "Parks Man Daan".

In fact, the National Parks Tour takes you to all cultural highlights of the country - Otavalo, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Ingapirca - while at the same taking you on a journey of discovery of a fabulous representation of all major ecosystems of the Andes and the Coast.

As tours to the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon are amply offered to the public, we decided not to include those destinations, thus facilitating a modular approach allowing visitors to compose their overall Ecuador visit by combining one's modules of choice. A visit to the Amazon has now become within reach of many visitors. Particularly, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve has now become one of the world's highest valued Amazon parks for

its incredible biodiversity;
its convenient access and;
its reasonable pricing.

We also left out a visit to the highest and most beautiful capital of the Americas, Quito, as there is enough opportunity to see it between modules. So, when combining all three modules, one gets a selection of most ecosystems of the entire continent of South America as well as all cultural mayor highlights of Ecuador!

Our National Parks tours have been designed to complement existing national parks programs to Galapagos and/or Amazon national parks, like Cuyabeno and Yasun�. They can start from different places, particularly Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. While the full program lasts as many as 9 days, it is possible to make a limited selection of parks. For instance, a 6 days' module "Andes and Coast" from Quito. 5-6 days' modules are available from Cuenca and Guayaquil. According to your wishes, these modules can be be combined with your Galapagos and/or Amazon program(s). IF you buy our national parks module together with a Galapagos and/or Cuyabeno module from us, we can give you significant discounts.

For those who want to complete their Ecuador visit with a guided tour to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, we even offer a 5 � 7 days module, with which you get the most spectacular highlights of nature and culture of South America in one epic journey! We first present the full tour, while at the end of the page you get several modular options on how to break it up into shorter modules.

Itinerary 9 days' National Parks Tour

Day 1: Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and Peguche Waterfall community reserve

Pick up from hotel in Quito to travel to Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve to visit the Cuicocha Caldera with the incredibly blue Cuicocha Crater Lake. Mammalian wildlife is not commonly seen, but several species of ducks and grebes are usually found on the lake;
Visit the Peguche Forest Reserve of Otavalo with the famous Peguche Waterfall. A trail through an old grove eucalyptus forest usually gives sightings of song birds and several species of hummingbirds;
Visit the Otavalo Indian market;
Spend the night in Ibarra.

Located in Cotacachi-Cayapas National Reserve, the Cuicocha Caldera is the most scenic crater lake in Ecuador.

At only 5 minutes from Otavalo, the Peguche Forest Reserve is a great place to spend lunch and the waterfall is absolutely wonderful.

Otavalo Indian Crafts market.

Day 2: El Angel Ecological Reserve

Depart for the El Angel Ecological Reserve, a paramo (Andes meadow) reserve in Northern Ecuador, where the famous �Frailejones Asters� almost reach their Southernmost limit. Visit the Voladero Lake where you will also see some of the most spectacular and ancient bromeliads of the Andes, the Herculas Club. Some 320 species of birds are known to the park, including the Andean Condor, a variety of hummingbirds, as well as several species of ducks and grebes, etc.;
Return to Quito, Airport, in the village Tababela at 10 minutes from the airport;
Spend the night at Tababela.

Lake Voladero in El Paramo del Angel Ecological Reserve.

The famous Frailejones Aster.

Day 3: Fly from the Andes to the the coastal city of Manta

Pick up from the hotel to fly to the city of Manta;
Drive from Manta to Machalilla National Park;
Excursion into the interior of Machalilla National Park to get to know the extremely rare Tropical Pacific dry forest, which only occurs in a narrow stretch of land between the wet tropical coastal forest near the border with Colombia and the desert starting in the south of Ecuador near the Peruvian border. Machalilla National Park is the only main park in the world protecting this type of forest.
Afternoon excursion at Les Frailes Beach and swim;
Spend the night at Puerto L�pez.

Entrance to Machalilla National Park at Los Frailes Beach.

Surrounded by natural dry forest, the most natural beach of Ecuador, Los Frailes, which is part of Machalilla National Park.

Day 4: Machalilla National Park with Isla de la Plata

Visit Isla de la Plata, part of Machalilla National Park, where one � depending on the season � can see Red-, Nazca- or blue-footed booby nesting colonies and with some luck a colony of Frigate birds. While ecologically not really correct, one can observe how touroperators have joined together to feed wild green turtles in the harbor of the island, allowing visitors to see the turtles right under their boat in the cristal clear sea water. Sea Lions frolic in the deep blue waters surrounding the island, while different species of whales migrate along any time during the months of June � September (sightings are not guaranteed);
After return time off for a late afternoon swim at the beach in Puerto Lopez;
Spend another night in Puerto Lopez.

Getting to Isla de Plata, the "mini Galapagos".

About 10 oceanic birds breed on Isla de la Plata, and many are just as tame as on the Galapagos Islands, like this Blue-footed Booby.

Day 5: Visit Guayaquil

In the morning, a brief excursion into the park, before driving to Guayaquil;
Ride from Puerto L�pez to Guayaquil;
In the afternoon (and/or evening), visit the famous Malecon (=Boulevard) of Guayaquil;
Spend the night in Guayaquil.

The Guayaquil Malec�n or Riverside Boulevard is 1,5 km of fantastic plazas, parks, galleries and restaurants.

The Las Pe�as neighborhood borders the boulevard with lovely old streets with artists' ateliers.

Day 6: Churute Ecological Reserve

Drive to South America's southernmost important mangrove in Churute Ecological Reserve, where more than 250 species of birds have been recorded, including Frigate birds, Brown Pelicans, Spoonbills, a multitude of different herons, White Ibises, etc. ;
Other fauna elements include different crabs as well as dolphins;
Travel to Cuenca;
Time permitting, stroll the colonial streets of Cuenca at night after dinner;
Spend the night in your hotel in Cuenca.

Not very far from Guayaquil, Churute Ecological Reserve combines great mangrove with lowland hill forest.

On excursion in the hill forest, where howler monkeys are almost always seen.

The Cuenca City Hall gallery.

The Inmaculada Concepci�n Cathedral.

Day 7: Ingapirca World Heritage Site

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Ingapirca, a mixed Inca and Canari [ a contemporary culture to the Incas and subjected to them] style fortress, which was the northern-most main defense fortress of the Inca Empire;
In the afternoon, travel to Riobamba;
Spend the night in Riobamba.

Ingapirca, the northernmost Inca fortress.

The Incapirca ruins are at par with the ruins in the Sacred Valley in Peru.

Day 8: Chimborazo Fauna Reserve

Get to know the Vicu�as of Chimborazo Fauna Reserve. As anywhere high up in the mountains, one may stumble upon an Andean Condor and other birds of pray;
Visit the Refugio - 4800m masl - for a brief high elevation walk and exploration of the high paramo of the highest mountain in the world measured from the center of the earth. The vegetation is very sparse at this elevation. Be careful, you are extremely high up and the oxygen level is very low;
Spend the night in a hotel near Cotopaxi National Park.

Get to the highest point on earth where you can get by car and enjoy the roughest landscape. Either enjoy outside or from the shelter while enjoying a hot drink.

The Chimborazo Volcano also is the highest point on earth to see vicu�as, as they roam past 5000 m into the snow.

Day 9: Cotopaxi National Park

Visit Cotopaxi National Park - the world's highest active volcano - to rise to the �refugio� parking lot;
Visit Limpiopungo Lake;
Look for Andean Wolfs;
Return to Quito.

The last destination of the National Parks Tour is Cotopaxi National Park.

The Andean Wolf is a rather common sight in Cotopaxi.

MODULES

We developed several shorter modules, that still give you an impression of the Andes and coastal habitats. These modules, vary depending on your place of departure being Quito, Guayaquil or Cuenca.

OPTION A: FULL NATIONAL PARKS TOUR (9-days tour)

OPTION B: QUITO MACHALILLA - QUITO (6 - 7-days tour)

After Machalilla, either return to Quito (6 days) or travel to a hotel near Chimborazo Ecological Reserve

Day 7: Visit Chimborazo Ecological Reserve

See the vicu�as along the highway passing by the reserve; Ascent to the mountain house of the volcano. Drive over the new western highway to Quito to admire the alpaca's that usually can be seen along that route;
Arrive in Quito to be dropped off at hotel (last hotel not included).

OPTION C: START AND FINISH IN GUAYAQUIL (5-days tour)

While starting in Guayaquil, Option C visits:

Machalilla for 2 nights;
Returns to Guayaquil;
Visit the Malecon or Historic Park;
Visit the Churute Mangroves;
Spend the night in Cuenca;
Visit Cajas National Park;
Return to Guayaquil in your hotel (last not included).

OPTION D: START IN CUENCA AND FINISH IN GUAYAQUIL (5-days tour)

This particular module reverses Module C.

Click here for a printable pdf of the national parks tours modules.

ADDITIONAL TOURS

GALAPAGOS TOURS

We have a variety of packages varying from Island-hopping out of a hotel in Santa Cruz for as little as $520 to luxury yachts

CUYABENO LODGE

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is by far the best Amazon Park of South America to see wildlife, while the the first lodge in the reserve, Cuyabeno Lodge is the best located, on a seasonal island in Cuyabeno Lake.

CUYABENO LOOP

Organized by the Cofan Indian community, the Cuyabeno Loop takes you on a 5 days journey through the western half of Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, being one of the top 100 things to do in Ecuador. Click here for a printable pdf of the Cuyabeno modules.

LAGARTO COCHA EXPEDITION

Organized by the Cofan Indian community, the Lagarto Cocha Expedtion takes you on a 7 days journey through the entire Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, being one of the top 100 things to do in Ecuador. Click here for a printable pdf of the Cuyabeno modules.

PERU LIMA - CUSCO

Many visitors like to combine their natural experience with a week's extension to see the cultural highlights of Lima and Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru. Click here for a printable pdf of the Peru Module.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

National Parks Tours

All hotels and lodges;

Transportation: All ground transportation on the National Parks tours;

In-country flights where included in the national parks tour program, but NOT to/fro Galapagos or Lagoagrio;

An English speaking naturalist guide. A German or French speaking guide may also be available, but can't be guaranteed.

All entry fees.

NOT INCLUDED:

Meals and beverages.

Amazon Tours

Lodging;

Excursions with professional nature guides;

All Amazon programs include all meals, and fruit juices served with the meals. Our restaurants serve a mix of international cuisine and occasionally, the Cofan Lodge offers a sample meal of traditional Cofan dishes.

Meals include coffee, tea and bottled water;

Transportation between Lagoagrio and the access rivers.

NOT INCLUDED:

Bottled and alcoholic beverages need to be paid.

COMBI-DISCOUNTS

Depending on the program you selected, we always try to give you a discount on combined modules. Groups above 4 passengers will receive discounts, depending on group size.

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR?

Our programs are rather customized and we try to accommodate the travel needs of our customers. To avoid misunderstandings, we don't offer a prepaid travel option. Just send an email to or contact us through our contact data below.

From Abroad:

Sending money from abroad is rather costly and we try to minimize money going to bank transfers. Once your schedule has been worked out, we kindly request you to make a reservation guarantee transfer of only $100 by Western Union or Moneygram. The balance you pay in CASH in Quito upon arrival (we don't take credit cards!) This way you don't lose a lot of money sending money. The $100 is NOT recoverable upon cancelation.

Why we don't accept credit cards in Ecuador either? The credit card services charge 7%! We would have to charge you for that, making your trip more expensive. We do everything to make your trip as cost effective as possible.

Already in Ecuador?

You can pay in our office mentioned below. We apply a cancelation fee of $100.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

For this question we link to our special vacation packing list.

2021 COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

CUYABENO DAY TRIP

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

1 DAY

$ 99

Discounts for families with children

NAPO RIVER CRUISE

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

Standard room
$ 399

COFAN LODGE PROGRAMS

COFAN LODGE STANDARD PROGRAM

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Standard room
$ 499

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

CUYABENO LOOP

DURATION STAY

Prices in US$

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Standard room at the Cuyabeno Lodge part (nights 3 &4) $ 799

Standard room in the Cofan Lodge (nights 1 & 2) and Deluxe room at the Cuyabeno Lodge (nights 3 & 4) $ 899

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

LAGARTO COCHA EXPEDITION

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS

$ 1099

Including Extension Cuyabeno Lake from where returning to Lagoagrio.
$ 1349

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

CUYABENO LODGE PROGRAMS

CUYABENO LODGE STANDARD PROGRAM

DURATION
Prices in US$

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Shared budget room (Dormitory shared among 4 people, shared bathrooms) $ 270

Standard room (17 m², private bathroom, shared balcony) $ 410

Standard room Plus (�20 m², private bathroom, shared balcony) $ 430

Deluxe room (25m², private bathroom, private balcony in the tower) $ 480

Suite (36m², private bathroom, private balcony) $510

CUYABENO ADVENTURE

DURATION
Prices in US$

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Shared budget room (Dormitory shared among 4 people, shared bathrooms) $ 340

Standard room (17 m², private bathroom, shared balcony) $ 510

Standard room Plus (�20 m², private bathroom, shared balcony) $ 535

Deluxe room (25m², private bathroom, private balcony in the tower) $ 595

Suite (36m², private bathroom, private balcony) $635

Single occupancy surcharge (for the entire trip) $100

Individual bookings are WELCOME

QUITO - LAGOAGRIO

(or visa versa)

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION

Prices in US$

One way per party price
$ 300

Group Price for parties of 2 - 7 (minivan) who share the costs.

NATIONAL PARKS TOUR PROGRAM

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

OPTION A: Complete national Parks Tour (10 days) $1999

OPTION B: After Machalilla return to Quito (6 days) $1349

OPTION C: After Machalilla return to Quito (6 days) via Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve (7 days) $1399

OPTION D: Start and finish in Guayaquil (5 days) $1149

OPTION E: Start in Cuenca and Finish in Guayaquil (5 days) $1149

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

GALAPAGOS TOURS

GALAPAGOS TOURS
For island hopping starting at (Read details)

$520

Individual bookings are WELCOME

LIMA CUSCO MACHU PICCHU

DURATION STAY
Prices in US$

6 or 7 days (subject to flight itineraries)

LIMA - CUSCO MODULE (Read details)
$1199

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

NATIONAL PARKS TOUR ECUADOR

PARKS & TRIBES and the COFAN LODGE have their sales office inside:

Hotel Balmoral, Address: Calle Moreno Bellido E6-57 & Avenida Amazonas, Quito

Telephone: (++593)(02) 2 50 5310, Cell phone: (++593) (0) 96 29 35 271

Email: info@parks-and-tribes.com

Skype: ecotravelworldwide

Parks Man Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil is author of this website and founder of Parks and Tribes. He dedicated his life to the conservation of nature. https://www.facebook.com/DrDaanVreugdenhil, https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdaanvreugdenhil/. He was part of the team that selected the first 39 protected areas of Ecuador, including. Yasun� and Cuyabeno, the latter of which he he later recommended to be expanded from originally 150,000ha to 600,000ha, together with then Cuyabeno director Prof. Dr. Flavio Coello and Parks and Tribes partner. Daan is also the founding father of the Cuyabeno Lodge and co-manager of the Cofan Lodge. This website and its programs have been created by the renowned conservation biologist "Parks Man" Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil

This website and its programs have been created by the renowned conservation biologist "Parks Man" Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil

20 BEST NATIONAL PARKS ECUADOR [TOURS 2022]

System of National Parks and Reserves of Ecuador

National Parks of Ecuador Scoring System

Best National Parks of Ecuador

The Scoring System

ECUADOR NATIONAL PARKS SCORING TABLE

BIOLOGICAL RESERVES

ECOLOGICAL RESERVES

FAUNA RESERVES

GEOBOTANICAL RESERVE

MARINE RESERVE

NATIONAL PARKS

NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS

WILDLIFE REFUGES

BEST NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR

AREA

Galapagos National Park

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Podocarpus National Park

Las Cajas National Park

Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve

Cotopaxi National Park

Pululahua

Sangay National Park

Cotacachi - Cayapas

Ecological Reserve

Machalilla National Park

Cayapas Mataje Ecological Reserve

Ecuador National Parks Tour

Itinerary 9 days' National Parks Tour

Day 1: Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and Peguche Waterfall community reserve

Day 2: El Angel Ecological Reserve

Day 3: Fly from the Andes to the the coastal city of Manta

Day 4: Machalilla National Park with Isla de la Plata

Day 5: Visit Guayaquil

Day 6: Churute Ecological Reserve

Day 7: Ingapirca World Heritage Site

Day 8: Chimborazo Fauna Reserve

Day 9: Cotopaxi National Park

MODULES

Day 7: Visit Chimborazo Ecological Reserve

OPTION C: START AND FINISH IN GUAYAQUIL (5-days tour)

OPTION D: START IN CUENCA AND FINISH IN GUAYAQUIL (5-days tour)

ADDITIONAL TOURS

GALAPAGOS TOURS

CUYABENO LODGE

CUYABENO LOOP

LAGARTO COCHA EXPEDITION

PERU LIMA - CUSCO

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

National Parks Tours

Amazon Tours

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR?

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

2021 COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

COFAN LODGE PROGRAMS

QUITO - LAGOAGRIO

(or visa versa)

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION