BEST NATIONAL PARKS, ECUADOR: SCORES FOR 59 AREAS

All 59 National Parks of Ecuador

This website on protected areas of Ecuador provides the largest number of detailed descriptions on the internet from many non-digitized publications as well as the most detailed maps of protected areas of Ecuador. You will find much more detailed information than from the website of the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador. The PDF documents are linked in red; regular web pages are linked in blue.

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 (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.

Parks and Tribes now offers you to get to know the best National Parks of Ecuador in one or several itineraries. Check them out to see the great options to get to know Ecuador's best national parks and reserves:

Cuyabeno Lodge; the best Cuyabeno Lake program from the best lodge at the best location on an island in the lake itself;
NEW! Napo River / Yasuni tour, the only package that visits all the Napo / Yasuní highlights at an affordable price;
NEW! Lagartocoche lakes the most adventurous tour within Cuyabeno;
NEW! Cuyabeno Loop, the most complete Cuyabeno tour;
NEW! Cuyabeno new daytrip, for those who lack the time or funds to get to know the areas;
Cofan Lodge/Zabalo Southern Cuyabeno package; the southern Cuyabeno tour hosted by the Cofan tribe.

Biodiversity 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 Nature Reserves Map with names of 51 areas.

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

Best Nature Reserves of Ecuador

The Scoring System

To make a selection to which areas you may want to visit, 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 + NATURE RESERVES
	Scenic	Access	Ecological Importance	Overnight Facilities
BIOLOGICAL RESERVES
Cerro Plateado Biological Reserve
El Condor Biological Reserve ***	3	1	3	1
El Quimi Biological Reserve
Limoncocha Biological Reserve	4	5	3	5
ECOLOGICAL RESERVES
Antisana Ecological Reserve	3	2	2	1
Arenilla Ecological Reserve	2	4	1	3
Churute mangrove Ecological Reserve	3	3	4	3
Cofan-Bermejo Ecological Reserve	2	2	2	1
Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve	5	5	4	5
El Angel Ecological Reserve	5	3	5	3
Ilinizas Ecological Reserve	5	5	5	5
Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve	5	2	5	2

FAUNA RESERVES
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve	5	4	5 (vecu?s)	5
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve **** pdf-visitantes	5	5	5	5
Manglares el Salado Fauna Reserve	2	3	2	2
Puntilla de Santa Elena Fauna Reserve
GEOBOTANICAL RESERVE
Pululahua Puyango Petrified Forest	5	5	2	5
MARINE RESERVE
Galapagos Biological Marine Marine Reserve	3	5	5	5
Galera-San Francisco Marine Reserve
NATIONAL PARKS
Cajas National Park pdf-visitantes	5	5	4	5
Cayambe Coca National Park	5	5	5	1
Cotopaxi National Park	5	5	2	5
Galapagos National Park	5	5	5	5
Llanganates National Park	3	1	3	1
Machalilla National Park	3	5	5	5
Podocarpus National Park	3	3	5	1
Sangay National Park	5	2	5	1
Sumaco-Napo-Galeras National Park	3	1	4	1
Yacuri National Park
Yasuni National Park	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	2	4	2	4
El Pambilar Wildlife Refuge
El Zarra Wildlife Refuge
Isla Corazon and Fragatas Island Wildlife Refuge	2	5	3	5
El Morro Mangroves Wildlife Refuge
Rio Esmeraldas Estuary Mangrove Wildlife Refuge
Rio Muisne Estuary Mangrove Wildlife Refuge	2	2	2	2
Pacoche Coastal Marine Wildlife Refuge
Pasachoa Wildlife Refuge
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 NATURE RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR
AREA	NATURE RESERVES 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.
Yasuni National Park	This horse shoe shaped National Park between the Napo, Tiputini and Curaray Rivers is Ecuador's largest protected area on the mainland. Lodges are located along the Napo River, primarily in the bufferzones. 95% of the park is virgin jungle, and in spite of oil exploitation, mostly in primary forest conditions.
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+ vicunas 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	Located in the province of Esmeraldas, these are the tallest remaining Mangroves in all of South America. However, Over the past years, Esmeraldas has become infested with narcos, Esmeraldas is no longer safe to travel there for foreigners.

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 Yasuni 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 - 8 days module, with which you get the most spectacular highlights of nature and culture of South America in one epic journey! Below you will find the full tour of which we also offer shorter options on our National Parks Tour page.

Itinerary 9 days' National Parks Tour

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

Leave in the morning from your hotel to go to Cotacachi-Cayapas Nature Reserve where you take a boat excursion on the deep blue Cuicocha Crater Lake. You will get to see a variety of aquatic birds, like ducks gulls and grebes;

Afterwards you drive to the Peguche Nature Reserve near Otavalo with the beatiful Peguche Waterfall. You get there on a short hike through a woodlet of old eucalyptus trees with many song birds and hummingbirds.

From there you walk in about 10 minutes to the Otavalo arts and crafts market, from where you will be taken to your hotel.

The Cuicocha Crater Lake is Ecuador's most beatiful lake, which is part of Cotacachi National Park.

Peguche Forest Reserve, with its famous waterfall is only 10 minutes from Otavalo's market.

Otavalo arts and crafts market.

Day 2: El Angel Ecological Reserve

In the morning you travel to El Angel Nature Reserve, with beautiful paramos (Andes meadows) near the border with Colombia, famous for its "Frailejones Asters". Hike along Lake Voladero Lake surrounded by huge bromeliads, the Herculas Club. More than 320 bird species of birds call the park home. With some luck you may even see a Condor soaring by and quite a few interesting aquatic bird. In the afternoon drive back to nearby Quito Airport, at 10 minutes from the airport, where you will spend the night.

Lake Voladero in El Angel Nature Reserve.

The Frailejones Asters reach their southern distribution limits in Northern Ecuador.

Day 3: Fly from Quito in the Andes to the harbor city of Manta

You start the day flying from Manta, Ecuador's harbor, from where you travel to Machalilla National Park. There you get to see the rare dry shrub forests that only occur between Colombia and the southern border with Peru. This rare environment is only protected in Machalilla National Park. In the afternoon you visit the Frailes Beach for a swim in Ecuador's only remaining virgin beach. You will Spend the night in Puerto Lopez fishing town.

Los Frailes Beach entrance gives access to the only virgin beach left in Ecuador.

Los Frailes beach,part of Machalilla National Park is a fabulous place where to enjoy the sea in a natural surrounding.

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.

There are great daily excursions to Isla de Plata.

Some 10 marine birds nest on Isla de la Plata, many of which being just as tame as birds in Galapagos National Park, particularly the Blue-footed Boobies.

Oldtown Guayaquil

In the morning, a brief excursion into the park, before driving to Guayaquil, where you arrive late afternoon. Time permitting you may take a stroll along Riverside Boulevard before or after dinner;

Guayaquil's Boulevard along the Guayas River has numerous great plazas, parks and eateries.

The aretist's quarter with cool old streets and shops.

Day 6: Churute Mangroves

The Churute Mangrove Reserve, is home to over 250 bird species, such as Frigate birds, Brown Pelicans, Spoonbills, all sorts of herons, White Ibises, cormorans, etc. ; With some luck you may encounter a dolphin.

In the afternoon your trip takes you to Cuenca; Upon arrival in the late afternoon you may take a stroll through oldtown Cuenca before or after dinner.

Just an hour away from Guayaquil, you will find the Churute Ecological Reserve with mangrove and up forest.

Find howler monkeys that are common in the hills.

Old town Cuenca City.

The famous Cuenca Cathedral.

Day 7: Ingapirca Ruins

The Ingapirca ruins are at an hour and half from Cuenca, and reflect both Inca and Canari characteristics; After visiting Ingapirca in the morning, you arrive at your hotel in Riobamba, late afternoon, where you will spend the night..

Ingapirca, Ecuador's "Machu Picchu".

Ingapirca is just as impressive as the Sacred Valley sites in Peru.

Day 8: Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve

When you visit the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve, you get to watch the Vicunas from very close and with some luck you get to see a Condor soaring by. The mountaineers' shelter is at 4800m and you get almost to the elevation.

Your next night you will be spending near the Cotopaxi volcano.

From the highest point on earth accessible by car you get to enjoy a dramatic landscape of paramos and snow.

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

Day 9: Cotopaxi National Park

On the last day, you will go to the Cotopaxi National Park home to the highest active volcano in the world. your car will take you to the parking lot just below the mountaineers shelter. Afterwards you make a walk along Lake Limpiopungo where you will usually find some interesting water birds. Often Andean Wolfs are here waiting for visitors who give them snacks, even though that is forbidden. At the end of the day you will be dropped off at your hotel in Quito.

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

The Andean Wolf is a rather common sight in Cotopaxi.

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.

2023 COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

PARKS AND TRIBES AMAZON PROGRAMS
WHAT's INCLUDED? HOW GET TO THE AMAZON?
Prices excluded meals

CUYABENO DAY TRIP

DURATION STAY

Prices in US$

1 DAY

$ 99

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers. Discounts for families with children
NAPO RIVER CRUISE

DURATION STAY

Prices per person in US$

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

$ 450

LAGARTOCOCHE EXPEDITION

DURATION STAY

Prices per person in US$

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

$ 450

Departure from Nuevo Rocafuerte at the border with Peru. There is a daily rapid public boat services between Coca and Nuevo Rocafuerte for about $50 (not included).

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

COFAN LODGE PROGRAMS

COFAN LODGE STANDARD PROGRAM

DURATION STAY

Prices per person in US$

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

$ 499

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

CUYABENO LOOP

DURATION STAY

Prices per person 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.

CUYABENO LODGE PROGRAMS

CUYABENO LODGE STANDARD PROGRAM

DURATION

Prices per person in US$

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

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

$ 280

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

$ 350

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

$ 370

Suite (36m², private bathroom, private balcony)

$ 390

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

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

$ 280

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

$ 390

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 per person 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)

$ 420

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 from or to Quito. Group Price for parties of 2 - 7 to the park entrance (minivan) who share the costs.

$ 300

One way Coca to Park entrance per taxi (Japanes size). Minimum 2 maximum 4 A 6 persons minivan is also available.Luggage capacity for carry-ons only.

$ 120 / $150

NATIONAL PARKS TOUR PROGRAM

DURATION STAY

Prices in US$

OPTION A: Complete national Parks Tour (10 days). From

$ 1399

OPTION B: After Machalilla return to Quito (6 days). From

$ 999

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

$ 1099

OPTION D: Start and finish in Guayaquil (5 days). From
$999

OPTION E: Start in Cuenca and Finish in Guayaquil (5 days). From

$ 999

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

GALAPAGOS TOURS

Prices in US$

Galapagos Tours From:
Island Hopping. Prices for 6 days, 5 nights starting at:
Additional day trips available at various costs.

$ 749

Prices excluding flight and park entrance fees. Mínimum 2 persons.

LIMA CUSCO MACHU PICCHU

DURATION STAY

Prices in US$

6 or 7 days (subject to flight itineraries). Prices may vary from:
$ 1099

Flights not included. Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

BEST NATIONAL PARKS, ECUADOR: SCORES FOR 59 AREAS

PARKS & TRIBES Travel Agency in Quito, Ecuador

Street: Las Casas, Side street: Jose Coudrin, 2 blocks above the Occidental Highway

Canton Quito, Prov. Pichincha, Parroquia Belisario Quevedo

Tel: (++593)(02) 2 2324 4086, Cell phone: (++593) (0) 99 283 2187 Whatsapp: (++)1 304 901 0718

Email: info@parks-and-tribes.com

NO SEXI VIDEOS BUT SOLID INFORMATION FROM TRUE EXPERTS

BEST NATIONAL PARKS, ECUADOR: SCORES FOR 59 AREAS

All 59 National Parks of Ecuador

Biodiversity of Ecuador Scoring System

Best Nature Reserves of Ecuador

The Scoring System

ECUADOR NATIONAL PARKS + NATURE RESERVES

BIOLOGICAL RESERVES

ECOLOGICAL RESERVES

FAUNA RESERVES

GEOBOTANICAL RESERVE

MARINE RESERVE

NATIONAL PARKS

NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS

WILDLIFE REFUGES

BEST NATURE RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR

AREA

Galapagos National Park

Ecuador National Parks Tour

ADDITIONAL TOURS

QUITO - LAGOAGRIO

(or visa versa)