Traditional sports are widely practiced
The ecua-volley. It is a volleyball adapted by the Ecuadorians themselves, by transforming the rules. It differs from volleyball in the number of players (3 in each team), the ball (a plastic soccer ball) and the style of play (receiving and passing are done with the palm of the hands). The Parque la Carolina in Quito gathers hundreds of players every weekend.
La pelota nacional. The rules of this popular game in the northern Andes are directly inspired by those of Basque pelota. Two teams of five players play against each other in a three-set game. The goal of the game is to bounce the ball twice in the opponent's court without it being recovered by the other team. The ball is hit with large wooden rackets of about 1 m with rubber teeth.
Football, the most popular sport
As in the rest of the continent, football is a passionate sport. The Condors' first appearances at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups were particularly memorable for the country. The second time around, the Ecuadorians reached the Round of 16 before falling to David Beckham's England. At national level, the country's number one and most successful team is Barcelona de Guayaquil, who play in a 60,000-seat stadium, El Monumental. The team's main rivals are Emelec of Guayaquil, and their arch-rivals Nacional of Quito, who hail from the Sierra and the capital.
Assaulting nature and the summits
The country is ideal for trekking: you can travel through the Andean paramo for several days without seeing a soul, but also climb volcanoes with incandescent craters and mountains with snow-capped peaks, which sometimes reach up to 6,000 m. The Andean summits alone justify a trip to Ecuador. Trekking, hiking or climbing of all levels are possible. Experienced amateurs can trek for a week to ten days (nights in a refuge or camp depending on the altitude) in the Sierra, where Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world (5,897 m) and Chimborazo, another volcano and the country's highest point (6,268 m), reign supreme. Experienced mountaineers will tackle the Illinizas, for example, while novices attracted by the high peaks can try to climb Cotopaxi, even if only to the refuge based at 4,800 m, or even reach the second refuge of Chimborazo (5,000 m). For those who have time, the Sangay volcano, which dominates the national park of the same name, can be climbed in a week, with guides from the local communities; a good way to promote community tourism (nights in the refuges of indigenous communities). Specialized agencies in Quito also offer programs adapted to all levels - from beginners to professionals - from one to several days of walking.
Also on horseback, superb rides
You will be able to practice horseback riding which is an excellent way to discover certain regions that are not very accessible, such as the mountain regions (especially around Cotopaxi). You can hike on the mountainside to discover splendid isolated haciendas or to climb the steep slopes of volcanoes and enjoy inaccessible landscapes.
Long live the thrills!
From most of the towns located at the gateway to the Amazon - Baños, Puyo, Tena, Misahualli - you will be able to indulge in sports or playful activities, but always fun: rafting, canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, bungee jumping, canopy (zip line), mountain biking... For those who love thrills, there is a half-day canyoning experience, i.e. abseiling down waterfalls, especially in Baños. And if that's not enough for you, there's also puenting, or bungee jumping; thrills guaranteed! The competition is tough between agencies that all offer the same activities, so a word of advice: compare the prices, the services and make sure the agency is serious before going on the big adventure, by making sure the guides are qualified and that the equipment is up to standard.
Rafting. Adventurers from all over the world come to discover the countless possibilities offered by the rivers between the steep banks of the Costa or in the middle of wild vegetation in the Sierra. For the Costa, the most interesting are the Toachi river, near Santo Domingo, between Alluriqu'n and Valle Hermoso. Further south, the most beautiful is the Pyango. In the Sierra, the Paute river is the most indicated. In the Amazon, many rivers offer descents of varying difficulty. You can take the Quijos river and the Anzu and Bobonaza rivers, in the Pastaza province. Everywhere, clubs rent equipment and offer guides.
A fisherman's paradise
It is possible to fish in deep water as well as on the beach or in the river. The best sites on the Costa are Atacames, Bahía de Caráquez, Pedernales, Jambelí or Puerto Bolívar. In the Sierra, the calmest lakes with lots of fish are preferred, such as Mojanda, Papallacta, San Pablo, Mica or Colta. The trout is the most sought after.
Finally, the Amazon is a fisherman's paradise. The Napo, Aguarico, Tiputini or Jivino rivers are teeming with catfish, piranhas and other electric eels, and lakes such as Limoncocha, Yuturi or Pañacocha are not to be missed.Excellent surf spots
The Ecuadorian Costa has been a great success for a few years now. Experienced surfers - or beginners - all pass through Montañita, where the party is in full swing in the evening, but also through Canoa, which is still a little less well known. Accommodation often offers surfing lessons and equipment rental shops have opened.
Diving in the Galapagos
The Galapagos is a true primitive sanctuary. Wildlife enthusiasts, botanists, ornithologists and biologists will love it. Hundreds of species of multicolored fish live here, not to mention sea turtles, whales, tuna, dolphins, poison rays, marlin, barracuda, groupers, orcas and other sharks. However, the diving conditions are quite difficult: the water is icy and there is a lot of current.
