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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ecuador

36 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Ecuador

Updated January 19, 2023

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Ecuador

Banos, Ecuador

Swing at the End of the World

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

Ecuador

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.

San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Intiñan Solar Museum

Home of the "true" equator.

Tulcan, Ecuador

Tulcán Municipal Cemetery

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

Puerto Misahuallí, Ecuador

Sinchi Warmi Amazon Lodge

An exotic jungle hideaway run entirely by indigenous Kichwa women.

San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Middle of the World

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

See All 36 Things To Do in Ecuador

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ecuador

Canoa, Ecuador

Rio Muchacho Organic Farm

If you've ever wondered at which cycle of the moon you’re supposed to spread manure produced by your guinea pigs, this is the place for you.

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Guided Tours of Ecuador

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Magical Galapagos: Wonders of Evolution

Explore Ecuador

Museums And Collections 4

Sacred Spaces 4

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Stories About Ecuador

Podcast: Tulcán Municipal Cemetery

A lush, green paradise for the dead.

by The Podcast Team

January 19, 2023

Every January, This City in Ecuador Fills With Dancing Devils

Diablada de Píllaro is a rebellious but festive answer to a much older tradition begun by Spanish colonizers.

January 13, 2023

The Next Generation of a Rare Frog Captured in a Poetic Portrait

Embryos of one of the world's most unusual amphibians become art in the eyes of a biologist and wildlife photographer.

by Gemma Tarlach

Podcast: Sinchi Warmi Amazon Lodge

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

Marine Life in the Galápagos Gets a New Protected 'Ocean Highway'

More room to roam for the islands' unique fauna.

January 31, 2022

Podcast: Post Office Bay

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

December 13, 2021

Podcast: Cueva de los Tayos

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

November 2, 2021

The Fight to Secure Rights for Rainforests

The Sarayaku people of Ecuador are seeking legal protection for Amazonian plants and animals.

by Emily Laber-Warren

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