Join the team with Life’s 2 Short Fitness for a bucketlist adventure in Ecuador! We are planning a 9-day trip traversing from Andes to Amazon on foot including a volcano summit, swimming in waterfalls, hot springs, cultural immersion, yoga + mindful meditation sessions.
ABOUT THE TRIP:
Hiking in Ecuador is more than just moving through nature — it’s moving through worlds. In a single journey, you can run across ancient Andean trails, descend into lush cloud forests, pass through volcanic valleys, and follow rivers that flow toward the Amazon. Few places offer such dramatic contrasts in such short distances.
Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth and a land of transformation. Hiking here becomes a way to reconnect: with nature, with yourself, and with a slower, deeper rhythm of life.
But what truly makes this journey different is everything that happens between each hike: sharing stories with indigenous communities, learning from permaculture farmers, tasting ancestral recipes, receiving healing plant rituals, and exploring markets where each product tells a story.
This is an immersive experience that combines adventure, culture, and nature.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This activity requires a good level of physical fitness (level 4 out of 6) but don't worry we've got you covered. Trip fees include a custom training plan plus the option to join a long training weekend of coached/guided hiking on high altitude terrain in Colorado to ensure you are summit strong!
If you’re looking to push your limits or enjoy a slower pace, you’ll be supported every step of the way. You can run, hike, walk, or take a day off. What matters most is the experience, not the speed.
Our local guides are athletes with deep knowledge of Ecuador’s mountains, ecosystems, and local cultures. They’re not just here to lead — they’re here to adapt the journey to your pace, goals, and comfort.
Distances typically range from 10 to 15 km per day. While the routes are not technical, Ecuador’s elevation, terrain, and climate can be challenging — and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.
INCLUDED IN TRIP:
Training plan
Long training weekend in Colorado (3 days of guided/coached high altitude hiking)
Zoom call with our local guide/coach Kriste Peoples and our counterparts in Ecuador to cover trip details and a Q & A
Meals (except for one free evening in Baños)
8 nights of accommodations (double occupancy) at mountain lodges, hostels, and
hotels — prioritizing locally-owned and community-based businesses
All scheduled activities as described in the tour itinerary
Private ground transportation throughout the tour
Experienced tour leaders and local cultural guides
Does not include:
International flights
Visa fee
Personal gear rentals (we will provide you with a gear checklist)
Mountaineering insurance (your insurances needs to cover high-altitude trekking up to 6000 m / 20,000 ft)
Tips for the crew
Travel insurance
Extra snacks or personal food items
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Optional activities such as massages, spa visits, or thermal pools
Accommodations before or after the tour in Quito
ITINERARY
FEES:
We are only taking small groups on these adventures to maximize time with guides and help to create a feeling of camaraderie with your fellow attendees (and after the trip new lifelong friends!).
Trip costs are: $3050
L2S members save $50
Payment plans are available!
After the deposit we can break up the fees into monthly payments through August 2026 please contact Lauren to set this up at: lifes2shortfitness@gmail.com
WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS TRIP?
This journey isn’t only about distance covered or mountains climbed—it’s about the people we meet and the places we help protect along the way.
In Mindo, we begin the tour by donating trekking shoes and clothing to local children and youth who are just discovering the joy of movement. It’s a small gesture, but one that can open big paths.
In the heart of the Amazon, during our visit with the Sápara community, we plant native trees in the forest as an act of reciprocity and care—giving back to the land that gives us so much.
In San José de Mashpi, we support a local conservation initiative simply by being there. By visiting a permaculture farm and a reforested cacao project, we help strengthen community-based environmental efforts in the Chocó Andino, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
We believe every step counts—not just on the trail, but in how we engage with the world around us.
ABOUT YOUR LOCAL L2S TRAINING GUIDE:
KRISTE PEOPLES
Kriste Peoples is a Denver-based outdoor enthusiast and guide, runner, writer, and mindfulness meditation teacher. As a UESCA-certified trail running coach for L2S (and head coach of our beginner course), she shares her passion for outdoor engagement, fitness, and inspiring new narratives of adventure. As a leader in Colorado’s BIPOC outdoor community, Kriste offers talks that address increasing the representation of people of color in nature. She has facilitated workshops, participated in panels, and delivered online trainings at conferences that include NOLs Risk Management, PGM One, Outdoor Retailer, REI, Summit Sisters, and more.
Kriste serves on the board of Running Start nonprofit, an organization dedicated to helping women overcome obstacles to fitness and is a proud member of the American Trial Running Association board. As a founding member and Program Manager of the Women’s Wilderness Trailblazers program, she creates nature-based events that cultivate a greater sense of agency, community, and engagement in the outdoors among women of color. Kriste has coached for Black Girls Run and led outings for organizations that include CitiWild and Outdoor Afro. When she’s not out adventuring along the trails of Colorado’s Front Range, Kriste is likely planning her next adventure over carbs in a local eatery. Her work has been published in Trail Runner Magazine, Outdoor Research, Altra Running’s Run Better blog, Outside Magazine, Elevations Outdoors, and others. She has been a featured guest on podcasts and virtual events that include Self Magazine’s Checking In, Run This World by Nicole DeBoom, The Shift Network’s Resilience Summit, The Nature Summit, Running for Real with Tina Muir, and others. Kriste is a proud Altra athlete and Ultimate Direction ambassador.
TRIP DISCLAIMER
A high level of fitness and prior hiking experience is required to join this adventure. Several days we will be above 13,000ft with our volcano summit over 15,000ft elevation!
If you are unsure if this trip is right for you, please consult with a doctor before booking.
TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED: Due to the trek’s high elevations, our operator requires travel insurance covering high-altitude treks to be purchased before departure. L2S recommends World Nomad’s Standard Policy which covers treks up to 19,685 feet (6,000 meters): worldnomads.com.
