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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ecuador

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

Updated July 14, 2026
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Museums 12
Nature 5
Geology 5
Sacred Spaces 4
Art 4
Animals 4
Geological Oddities 3
Islands 3

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Stories About Ecuador

GPS-tagging whimbrels on Chiloé Island in southern Chile.

Wings of Survival

A world-first race with nature
by Timm Döbert, Community Contributor
No thanks.

AO Mailbag: Which Places Just Aren’t Worth Visiting?

We look for wonder everywhere we go. But today, let’s talk about the trips that aren’t worth it.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
Guagrilla at the still.

The Women Harvesters Fueling the Rise of an Ecuadorian Spirit

Every bottle of miske starts with their ancestral tradition of collecting agave in the highlands.
by Mark Johanson, Atlas Obscura
Turns out there’s been a whole other species slithering quietly by.

It’s Official: There’s Another ‘World’s Largest Snake’

Even actor Will Smith saw it slither through the Amazon.
by Olivia Young, Atlas Obscura

This 'Satan' Spider Turned Out to Be a Real Teddy Bear

In Ecuador, Satanas the tarantula—named for his feisty attitude—became both teacher and friend to researchers.
by Ashley Stimpson, Atlas Obscura
Of the 151 species they studied, all of them, including this tree frog, Dendropsophus rhodopeplus (shown under blue light), displayed some level of fluorescence.

Biologists Threw a Fluorescent Frog Rave in the Amazon, for Science

Turns out many of the frogs glow, maybe to communicate.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
Macy skydiving in (above) Ohio.

Adventure Is Accessible When You Think Outside the Box

Meet the Wisconsin woman wheeling around the world.
by Gemma Tarlach, Atlas Obscura
Army ants, which travel in massive units, play a critical role in ecosystem health.

How a Lone Researcher Faced Down Millions of Army Ants on the March in Ecuador

Renowned entomologist Frank Nischk remembers when the determined insects tried to invade a field station.
by Frank Nischk, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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