Having so much untamed wilderness within easy striking distance of major population centres, Ecuador is among the world's prime destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. Traditionally it's been a target for climbers, boasting ten volcanoes over 5000m, including the world's highest active volcano (Cotopaxi) and the point furthest from the centre of the Earth (the summit of Chimborazo). In recent years, Ecuador has been making a name for itself in international rafting and kayaking circles too, with a broad range of exciting runs packed into a small area, but opportunities also exist for mountain biking, surfing, diving, fishing and horse riding. Amongst less strenuous activities, bird-watching is one of the biggest draws, with Ecuador's extraordinary biodiversity supporting more than 1550 species of bird, or about eighteen percent of the world's total