Hidden Places in Ecuador

Those special, hidden places in Ecuador that only the locals know about are awaiting your discovery.  Secret beaches with endless stretches of white sand, secluded hideaways, jungle retreats rich with rare orchids, birds and butterflies -- Ecuador has it all.  The entire country of Ecuador is a treasure trove of little-known jewels, some seldom visited even by locals.


A great many people have heard of the Galapagos Islands.  But how many know that there is another place in Ecuador known as the poor man’s Galapagos?
  

Kashama:  A Pastel Jungle Hideaway

It’s a fairyland of pastel-colored buildings curving sinuously up the hillsides and cliffs that surround a limpid pool and dramatic waterfall.  You can pamper yourself with a variety of therapeutic and cosmetic treatments, including body and facial massage, reflexology, hydro- and aromatherapy. Click here to read more about Kashama.


Nothing quite prepares your eyes for the sight of the oddly-shaped trees in the dry tropical forests of Parque Nacional Machalilla.  Their hourglass shapes are spiked with formidable thorns and capped with crown-like tops, creating an inland landscape that is both foreign and delightful. 

At higher altitudes there are misty cloud forests with giant gray kapok trees. Throughout the park there co-exists a mixture of plants and animals I don’t usually think of as living in the same habitat.  Few places, even in Ecuador, contain such a variety of unlikely bedfellows. There are parrots and seabirds, howler monkeys, anteaters,  iguanas and deer.  Click here to read about Parque Nacional Machalilla.


While Laguna de Cuicocha is one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador to visit, it is very popular with tourists and Ecuadorians alike.  To encounter another of the hidden places in Ecuador one must venture beyond the entrance to Laguna de Cuicocha and enter the reserve of Intag. 
An area less visited by tourists, this ruggedly beautiful area encompasses only a small part of Ecuador, yet it seems vast because travel is so slow along its rutted and winding roads.  Yet, with a little perseverance, one can seek out and soak in hidden thermal springs.  An especially nice one is located near the town of an hour from the town of Apuela.

Intag is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet, currently threatened by destructive mining practices. 

If you are interested in moving into this incredible region, or helping to preserve the area, we can show you a 3,750 acre farm with nearly 2,500 of virgin forest that is for sale at a very low price. 

Click here to read more about Laguna de Cuicocha and Beyond to Intag.