Protected Areas in Ecuador

The Podocarpus-El Condor Biosphere Reserve covers an area of over 1,050,000 ha (2,600,000 acres) in southern Ecuador. This area, including Podocarpus and Yacurí National Parks, is considered one of the world's most important sites for biodiversity.

Podocarpus National Park is located in southeast Ecuador in a megadiverse zone with a high level of endemic species that is a meeting point between four ecological systems: Northern Andes, Southern Andes, Amazonian, and Pacific.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles from the South American continent, the protected areas of the Galápagos Islands include the Galápagos National Park, the Galápagos Marine Reserve, and the Galápagos Biosphere Reserve.

The Sangay volcano is located within Sangay National Park in central Ecuador, which contains one of the world’s most complex ecological environments, including a rare combination of grasslands, rainforests, and other fragile habitats.

Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park is a protected area and Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Ecuador. It is situated in the provinces of Napo, Orellana, and Sucumbíos in two sectors: the Sumaco volcano and its adjacent areas and the Cordillera de Galeras.

The Bosques de Paz Transboundary Biosphere Reserve straddles the border of Ecuador and Peru. It is a natural treasure and showcases the collaborative efforts of these two nations to protect a globally significant ecosystem. The reserve spans four regions in the two countries. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018, following the countries' commitment to strengthening their ties and cooperation after a long-standing border dispute that ended in 1998.

Yacurí National Park is located in Ecuador, bordering the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. The protected area contains a variety of ecosystems, over 46 high-altitude lakes, many endangered species, archaeological ruins, and petroglyphs.

Yasuní National Park and Biosphere Reserve are situated within the Amazonian region of northern Ecuador. Arguably the most biologically diverse spot on earth, it occupies an area within the claimed ancestral territory of the Huaorani indigenous people.