How To Have A True Motorcycle Adventure In Ecuador

Do you ever get that itch to finally satisfy a motorcycle riding dream that you’ve been rolling around in your mind for some time? Perhaps it is a vision of being “out there” in the elements, of adventure in a myriad of distant and different landscapes—among massive, snowcapped peaks, active volcanoes, expansive desert, or tropical jungles. If so, then Ecuador may be precisely the two-wheeled destination of your imagination. The beauty is that in Ecuador, you can find yourself in all of those landscapes and more, within relatively little time.

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Ecuador has good roads. As the smallest country in South America, just slightly larger than the state of Colorado, and packed with incredible landscape diversity—there is a lot to see. Great roads and a small area mean that getting around the country is easy, and you can see a lot in a single day of riding. Ecuador is peaceful and safe to explore. The people are warm-hearted, friendly, and kind. They’ve seen how tourism can positively impact their communities and economy and therefore generally appreciate it.

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You’ll find traveling through Ecuador extremely welcoming, and rich with abundant natural resources. No, not the minerals and oil you might be thinking of, as those are well exploited already, but the nation’s preserved natural treasures. The true gems of this country are the incredibly lush coastlines, impressive Andes mountain range, misty cloud forests, stunning volcanoes, and the unparalleled Amazon jungle.

Maybe you’re overlanding and have made your way to Ecuador on your own steed, but if not, you’re going to need a motorcycle. With a fleet of 53 bikes and more than a decade of service, Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental is the best option in the country. It has around-the-clock support whether you’re just renting and heading out on your own or taking one of the guided tours. Each bike is equipped with a GPS tracker so the company always knows where you (and your bike) are. It also sends you out with a working cellphone in case you need to call headquarters.

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Make only loose plans. Rather than focusing on exactly where you’re going and what you’ll be seeing and doing, identity your travel values. Do you wish to immerse yourself in new cultures? Go to the small towns and do as the locals do. Are you most excited about trying new foods? Make it a point to visit the town markets and request whatever you see others eating. Do you desire to just get lost? Don’t look at a map until you’re trying to find your way out of wherever you ended up. Explore the wild areas where animals roam free? Seek out protected areas, national parks, nature reserves, and conservation projects.

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One thing to keep in mind is that you are voting with your dollar (the currency in Ecuador is the US dollar, strangely). Your money will be supporting and perpetuating whatever industry you choose.

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Touristy areas are famous for a reason and are certainly worth visiting. You don’t have to skip these altogether if you want to explore lesser-traveled places, with fewer visitors. Just make sure you’re not setting out with a jam-packed schedule of must-see tourist sights that is going to stress you out and keep you from experiencing the magic around you. Adventure happens in the unexpected, and that’s never going to be possible if you haven’t left room for it to occur.

Head to the wilderness. Nowhere else in the world can you find so much diversity in climate, landscape, and life in such a small area as in Ecuador. You can easily visit a different national park or reserve each day, taking gorgeous back roads to arrive. When you pay a small admission fee, your visit to these places helps further conservation, protecting the land and its inhabitants for generations to come. In many situations, such as in the high elevated areas of the Andes like the Antisana Ecological Reserve, where you are likely to see Andean condors, you’re helping protect water sources for everyone in the region.

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These protected lands are just out of reach of development and civilization, and therefore the surrounding countryside, with farming societies, quaint pueblos, and charming roads, makes the journey to these places just as wonderful as arriving.

If you really want to get “out there,” seek out the private reserves, such as those run by the Jocotoco Foundation. To date, the foundation has established a network of 14 reserves, which together protect around 23,500 hectares (58,070 acres). The chances of seeing wildlife in these reserves are high, as the reserves act as a refuge, a sanctuary for all of the flora and fauna that live there.

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Within Ecuador are more than 1,600 species of birds, many of which live in Jocotoco’s reserves, residing alongside monkeys, tapir, puma, jaguar, Andean foxes, raccoon-like coatis, reptiles, and dazzling amphibians.

Often these reserves have lodging, so the wild sounds of nature can serenade you to sleep. If not, look for nearby “eco-lodges,” environmentally sustainable guest houses, or homestays to support local communities who also want to see the natural world around them conserved for their families.

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Journeying into the wild is a win-win for those looking for adventure, wildlife, and rugged, beautiful landscapes while positively benefiting the protection of the planet.

When’s the last time you had a conversation about entomophagy!? Bug eating can become your reality in the Ecuadorian Amazon, should you desire. Locals love eating chontacuros, the palm grubs often sold raw or on barbecue skewers at small street stalls and used in many indigenous dishes. These worms, actually the larvae of black beetles, are such beloved food items that they are intentionally farmed in the trunks of felled palm trees.

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If you’re not ready to eat squirming larvae (even if they’re crispy from the fire?), there are plenty of other food items to get excited about. The great thing about adventurous eating in Ecuador is that often local delicacies are brought right to your bike! It is common for people to sell local foods on the speed bumps in the road, somewhere they know you’ll be slowing down anyway. Such is the way in the small town of Puerto Nuevo, where you’ll see people standing atop the speed bumps offering baskets of freshly baked pan de yucca, an airy, delicious bread made from yucca flour and cheese. It’s a good idea to keep some coins handy for situations such as this.

Generally when people think of South American ruins, they think of Peru’s famous (and now over-touristed) Machu Picchu. However, Ecuador has its fair share of fascinating structures—fortresses and temples, remnants of past civilizations.

In addition to curious citadels, the Incas also built an extensive system of stone roads through the Andes mountain range, known as “Qhapaq Ñan” or “Royal Roads.” These roads were the backbone in unifying the Inca Empire. These roads are of such good quality that they were awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and are still traveled upon as common routes today.

These ancient Royal Roads were made to connect various ceremonial centers and in riding them on your own two wheels, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the Inca. The stone paths lead you through a myriad of landscapes, above 4,420 meters (14,500 feet) nearing snowcapped volcanic peaks of the Andes, through tropical mountains, hummingbird-filled rainforests, riverine canyons, agricultural valleys, and surreal deserts.

These roads are an adventure in themselves.

Regardless of your Spanish skills, communicate with the people around you, as connection spans beyond words. You’d be surprised how much you can express and share without speaking the same language. Sometimes some of the best travel experiences arise from those hilarious (and perhaps awkward) moments where there is no language.

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Even if you arrange for a guided motorcycle tour of the country, there are adventures to be had in acclimating yourself to different cultures. Don’t be a fly on the wall; seek to exchange kindness with strangers whenever you see the opportunity.

Make your travels meaningful and have a positive impact within the communities you visit. Simply use a small amount of space in your luggage to pack supplies needed by community projects, such as educational resources, art supplies, games or toys, storybooks, musical instruments, etc. Pack for a Purpose is a nonprofit organization working in tandem with the tourism industry to identify specific needs of communities, providing the opportunity for motorcyclists to generously contribute to the people residing in the destinations they visit.

Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental is a registered partner of Pack for a Purpose. You can head to this link to see exactly what items are needed in various villages throughout Ecuador and how to participate.