Adventure Tourism an option to get out of the routine

Adventure Tourism, an option to get out of the routine. Ecuador's Biodiversity allows you to explore and carry out exciting activities, such as:

• Horseback Riding
• Canyoning
• Canopy
• Bridge jump
• Climbing
• Kayak
• Dive

These are some of the adventure activities that make up a list of 21 modalities of this type that are authorized in the country.

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Its practice is regulated with the Adventure Tourism Operation Regulations, which was created and approved by the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) in 2014, and updated in May 2020. These regulations provide specifications so that destinations that offer these services do so under strict “quality and safety standards.” .

For this reason, it should be noted that this Portfolio does not accredit adventure destinations as such. What this entity, other ministries - such as the Government on occasions - and the local authorities of each destination are in charge of is carrying out controls through continuous tours and visits to verify compliance with the regulations.

Across the country, 2,287 establishments are registered that can offer this type of modalities. “Adventure activities can be provided throughout the country, depending on their modality. The essential requirement is that the service provider has the respective tourism registry and is duly qualified and trained in the activity they offer."

Main Destinations

The main destinations where these activities are carried out are

• Mindo (Pichincha)
• Cuenca (Azuay)
• Cotopaxi National Park
• Chimborazo
• Napo
• Santa Elena
• Baños de Agua Santa (Tungurahua) and
• Pastaza.

In Mindo, for example, there is tarabita with different levels of intensity and hiking on trails, canyoning, tubing (in rivers), canopy, among others.

Napo is known for having different spaces for hiking, rafting, cycle tourism and cave exploration in Cuyuja (Baeza).

Pastaza will have regulations that regulate adventure modalities due to a unfortunate incident, the Tourism Directorate of the Municipality of Pastaza has an ordinance that regulates adventure activities. This legal tool allows the creation of a Safety Committee that inspects the equipment and infrastructure where canyoning, bungee jumping, canopy and swings are practiced.

The inspection will be carried out by the firefighters, Army, Ministry of Tourism and other institutions. Six tourism agencies that operate in the canton base their assurances on the Mintur regulations.

“We support the regulations that are about to be approved in Pastaza, so that people who improvise and cause accidents will be stopped.”

Carlos Fuentes, president of the Pastaza Tourist Guides Association

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Baños de Agua Santa (Tungurahua), another favorite destination for risk and adrenaline, has regulations. Its authorities form a safety committee made up of technicians, operators, National Police and firefighters who will verify that the establishments comply with the rules. The review of biosafety protocols currently required by all operators will also be included.

Adventure Tourism an option to get out of the routine.

The committee will review the facilities where canopy, tarabitas, rafting, bungee jumping, canyoning and others are practiced.

Cristian Varela, director of Tourism of the Municipality of Baños.

In addition, the status of the equipment and whether it has international approval certification will be eliminated. The administrators of Puntzán Canopy, for example, indicating that they have already passed a recent inspection without problems.

In a space of 10 hectares, a circuit of six lines of transportation was created. canopy and they merged it with the walk. Visitors can jump and perform three types of pirouettes.

The beautiful landscapes, the biodiversity, the immensely rich traditions and culture of our country are a great incentive to practice adventure sports, go out and enjoy a moment in nature, breathe fresh air and forget about the stress of everyday life and the tensions that this global crisis has caused.

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