The Ecuadorian highlands offer many excellent trekking routes, where you will enjoy the most beautiful sceneries of the Andes: snow-capped volcanoes,  deep canyons, impressive rock formations and emerald colored crater lakes.
Several of our hiking trips take you across protected natural areas, that are home to a variety of mammals like deer, rabbits, llamas and vicuñas, and birds like hummingbirds and the endangered Andean Condor.  The vegetation is very diverse, with lichens, mosses, bromelias, cushion plants and very small, bright flowers.  Other trekking routes will take you to remote indigenous communities and ancient Inca ruins.

The programs we offer are all altitude trekking (with altitudes ranging between 3000 m. / 9.843 ft. and 4500 m. / 14.764 ft.). A good physical condition and a basic acclimatization are required. It is recommended to spend first a couple of days in Quito, Riobamba or at similar altitude (2800 m. / 9.187 ft.) before starting a trek. By the way, our trekking programs are a good opportunity to improve your acclimatization before climbing any of Ecuador’s major peaks.

On each trek the average hiking time per day is 4 - 6 hours, but please be aware that the hiking pace can vary a lot from person to person. You will spend the nights either in refuges or make a camp. For the camping trekkings we provide comfortable 4-season Eureka tents, plus dinner tents and toilet-tents. All the camping equipment plus your personal trekking equipment will be carried by horses or mules. You need to carry only a daypack with your camera, raingear, and water / thermos bottle, so that you can enjoy to the fullest the beautiful sceneries. 

TESTIMONIALS

"I promised that I would write to you after the Inca trail to tell you how it went. The answer was that it was excellent. Towards the end, we had some cold, wet, challenging weather which made things hard work, but everything that your company did for us was good. Our guide was friendly and cheerful, and dealt well with the children. He really encouraged them. The food was good and plentiful: the family rated the breakfasts as the best breakfasts in Ecuador. The equipment was good. In particular the sleeping bags were warm. Everyone enjoyed the fluffy sleeping bag liners."

  "The Altar Trek was stunning, thanks to the good weather and your organization. Our guide was very friendly and relaxed, he explained us about the flora & fauna. All the equipment that we forgot to bring was available at Julio Verne Travel – and in good shape!"

"Just a quick e-mail to say a huge thank you.  We had a wonderful time on the Inca trek and were extremely impressed with the service you provided.
Luis is an outstanding guide: very knowledgable, friendly and a great host. We felt very well looked after. The equipment was great – the thermos flasks and sleeping bag liners were very much appreciated. The food was delicious! I would be happy to pay for any of the meals in a restaurant. I’ll certainly be recommending Julio Verne to anyone I meet!"