33 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Ecuador - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Ecuador

Swing at the End of the World

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

Laguna Quilotoa

A turquoise lake within a volcanic crater.

GUAPÁN, Ecuador

Ingapirca

Ecuador's largest Incan ruins show evidence of sophisticated irrigation and diplomacy among the ancient builders.

Puerto Ayora, Ecuador

The Cracks - Las Grietas

These mammoth-yet-narrow crevasses in the Earth are perfect for taking an otherworldly swim.

Intiñan Solar Museum

Home of the "true" equator.

San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Middle of the World

An elaborate shrine dedicated to the four corners of the world unfortunately misses its mark.

Ambato Canton, Ecuador

Chimborazo

Massive volcano in the Andes is the farthest point from earth's center.

Tulcan, Ecuador

Tulcán Municipal Cemetery

This Ecuadorian cemetery is home to a jaw-dropping topiary wonderland.

See All 33 Things to Do in Ecuador See All 33 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Ecuador

Peanut Butter Fruit

Its pulp tastes just like the creamy spread.

Ice Cream Bean

The South American bean that looks like cotton candy and tastes like ice cream.

Banana Passionfruit

This tangy fruit flavors everything from ice cream to cocktails.

Blackberry Jam Fruit

Inside a hard, yellow shell lies a sweet, black spread.

See all 18 things to eat in Ecuador See all 18 things to eat in Ecuador

Atlas Obscura Trips

Expedition Galápagos

Community Forums / South America / Ecuador

Top Discussions in the Ecuador Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Cueva de los Tayos	1 March 26, 2019	1311	March 26, 2019
Basílica del Voto Nacional	2 February 6, 2019	957	February 6, 2019
Momia de Guano	1 March 27, 2019	478	March 27, 2019
Garcia Moreno Prison Museum	2 December 18, 2018	889	December 18, 2018
El Panecillo	1 April 3, 2019	520	April 3, 2019

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Stories
About Ecuador

Humboldt's <em>Tableau Physique</em> was a landmark for biogeography.

An Explorer's Famed Infographic May Have a Big, Fatal Flaw

Alexander von Humboldt might have been using the wrong mountain.

by Jonathan Carey

Snorkeling among the Galápagos' wildlife.

A Day in the Life of a Galápagos Guide

Luis Yanez walks us through a day of tortoise traffic and blue-footed boobies.

Sponsored by Chase Sapphire

Meet the blue-throated hillstar.

The Existential Ennui of Discovering an Endangered Species

Newly found and already almost lost.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

September 27, 2018

A western basilisk lizard—one of nearly 500* types of Ecuadorian reptiles that have gotten the lightbox photo treatment from Tropical Herping.

Glamour Shots of Reptiles, Brought to You by Science

"All right Mr. Herpetologist, I'm ready for my close-up."

This desert-like landscape is covered with yellow flowers for only a few days a year.

The Forest That Blooms Brilliantly for Just a Few Days a Year

In southern Ecuador, flowering guayacán trees paint the landscape yellow—but not for long.

by Sarah Foster

February 22, 2018

A hammerhead shark nursery in the Galápagos Islands.

Found: A Hammerhead Shark Nursery

Another natural wonder in the Galápagos Islands.

by Vittoria Traverso

January 30, 2018

Meet the newly identified Waorani dog-faced bat.

Found: Two New Species of Dog-Faced Bats

No, they won't make good pets.

by Vittoria Traverso

January 18, 2018

Domed Galápagos tortoises have rounded shells that seem to help them right themselves.

How a Flipped-Over Giant Tortoise Gets Its Feet Back on the Ground

And why some find it harder than others.

by Natasha Frost

December 1, 2017