Trekking in Ecuador [Paperback]

Robert Kunstaetter (Author), Daisy Kunstaetter (Author), Ben Box (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Trekking In... | Publication Date: May 2002

The definitive travel guide to exploring the unique diversity and splendor of EcuadorEcuador is one of the leading Latin American destinationsDetails 30 amazing trekking adventures for all levels of hikersIncludes the history of Ecuador, its people, geography, where to stay and moreTrekking in Ecuador is The Mountaineers Books newest addition to our international trekking series. (Other books include Trekking in Bolivia, Trekking In Nepal, Trekking in Russia and Central Asia, Trekking in Tibet and Trekking Peaks of Nepal.)Ecuador, appropriately named, literally means "equator, " the invisible line that divides the Earth horizontally in two hemispheres (North and South). As one of South America's smallest countries, what it may lack in size, it makes up for with an incredible variety of trekking destinations (and other outdoor activities such as climbing and paddling), birds and wildlife. 30 trekking destinations from the coastal plains to the central highlands and eastern jungle offer something for everyone.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Trekking is our passion. Between 2000 and 2002 we explored 30 new trekking routes to write "Trekking in Ecuador", the most up-to-date hiking guide for this country. It remains an unforgettable experience and taught us that, however well we might know Ecuador, there would always be more to discover here.

We are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), in Wyoming, USA. We live in Ecuador and know the country intimately, its places, people, strengths and weaknesses. In addition to our personal knowledge, we have developed an extensive network of contacts throughout Ecuador and its travel community. We can therefore constantly keep our fingers on the pulse of local developments and regularly update "Trekking in Ecuador" on-line.

From the Inside Flap

"Robert and Daisy Kunstaetter have helped countless travellers realize ambitions of going beyond the beaten track. They give the trekker the confidence to be completely self-sufficient if he or she so desires - or to choose a group led by experienced guides... In other words, this book is blunder-proof."
- Ben Box, editor, the "South American Handbook"

"Trekking in Ecuador" is well-researched. ...it really made me want to break in a new pair of hiking boots and get back out on the wonderful trails of Ecuador."
- Jean Brown, partner, Safari Tours, and founding member, South American Explorers Club, Quito, Ecuador

"...I am indebted to the best expedition planners in Ecuador, Robert and Daisy Kunstaetter..."
- Mark Honigsbaum, journalist and author of "The Fever Trail"

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 1st edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898868246
• ISBN-13: 978-0898868241
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passed the boot test with flying colours., January 30, 2004

By 

Kate Haxton (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trekking in Ecuador (Paperback)

I recently spent a month trekking in Ecuador with this guidebook and I would recommend it to anybody interested in hiking in this beautiful country. There is something for everyone with short dayhikes near travelling hubs, week long treks through remote mountains, hikes that end in hotsprings and hikes that take you in search of the elusive Ecuadorian wild orchid. This guidebook contains all the information you need to set out on your own and the hikes I did were unforgetable. I waited untill Quito to buy a guidebook so I could compare all the books available and I can say now that this is, by far, the best hiking guide for the country. I will be back in Ecuador to walk some more of the beautiful trails described in Trekking in Ecuador.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authors' Review, February 18, 2003

By 

Robert and Daisy Kunstaetter (Ecaudor) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trekking in Ecuador (Paperback)

Trekking is our passion. Between 2000 and 2002 we explored 30 new trekking routes to write "Trekking in Ecuador", the most up-to-date hiking guide for this country. It remains an unforgettable experience and taught us that, however well we might know Ecuador, there would always be more to discover here.

We are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), in Wyoming, USA. We live in Ecuador and know the country
intimately, its places, people, strengths and weaknesses. In addition to our personal knowledge, we have developed an extensive network of contacts throughout Ecuador and its travel community. We can therefore constantly keep our fingers on the pulse of local developments. "Trekking in Ecuador" is regularly updated on-line.

Ecuador's special appeal to trekkers, day-trippers, and nature lovers can be summed up in one word: accessibility. The country's unique combination of small size, exceptional geographic and biological diversity, and good transportation infrastructure places an outstanding variety of splendid natural experiences within easy reach of the adventurous visitor. Ecuador boasts more than forty-five protected natural areas, including national parks and private reserves, almost all of which offer trekking and day-hiking possibilities.

Many longer treks span several natural regions, from the highlands down toward the Amazon jungle or coastal plain. Ecuador
receives many visitors (approximately 500,000 a year), but as yet relatively few people come specifically to trek. Unlike well-known trekking venues such as Nepal, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, trails in Ecuador are never crowded and offer virtually unlimited scope for exploration. Trekking in Ecuador is easily combined with a visit to the country's more traditional destinations: the Galápagos Islands, colorful indigenous markets, Amazon jungle lodges or Pacific coast beaches.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great start for trekking Ecuador, February 28, 2005

By 

Harold Maddock (Cleveland, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trekking in Ecuador (Paperback)

I have been to Ecuador a number of times, but I didn't know what I was missing until I purchased "Trekking in Ecuador". Contained in this book is all of the information you need to plan a great trekking advanture to Ecuador. The treks are easy to follow and offer some of the greatest scenery in the world. Ecuador stole my heart on my very first visit, and with this book I was able to see even deeper into her soul.