Piedra Blanca ecotourism, San Luis de Pambil

A community-run ecotourism project on the western slopes of the Andes, in the subtropical forest near San Luis de Pambil in Bolívar province. Local families guide visitors on rainforest walks to waterfalls, birdwatching trips, horse rides and cultural visits, and run rafting trips on traditional balsa rafts built in the old indigenous way.

Packages of several nights include food and simple lodging in the community, and the money goes directly to local families who protect the forest. It's a rarely visited part of Ecuador, between the coast and the highlands.