Too much tourism can affect a country in some negative ways. Travel can cause pollution, travel can push people off their desirable land in favor of large, foreign-owned resorts, and travel can bring unwanted change to a country’s culture. Islands in the Caribbean Sea along big cruise ship routes can attest to this phenomenon. While tourism brings employment and money, it’s not all necessarily good news.

#AllYouNeedIsEcuador

This past Sunday, Ecuador became the first foreign country to buy ad-time during the Super Bowl. You may not have seen it. The commercial was shown on a regional basis limited to major cities, and even then, it cost the government of Ecuador a reported $3.8 million. For a country that spent a total of $5 million on media in 2013 however, this commercial represents the core of Ecuador's goal: Get Americans to travel to Ecuador.

Every country has must-see destinations or essential experiences. These five unforgettable experiences deserve to be listed right beside those, the only difference is that you'll probably be the only one of your friends who have gone there.

1. Hiking the Inca Trail is the only way to get to Machu Picchu.

Thousands of travelers hike Machu Picchu's Inca Trail tours every day, and only a fraction of these visitors got there via hiking the Inca Trail. After hiking the trail for four days through sparsely populated mountains, many Inca Trail hikers are surprised to find a small but bustling modern town at the base of the mountain, complete with a crowded train station. The Peruvian train system is extensive, and has been shuttling travelers to the base of Machu Picchu mountain from the Sacred Valley for years.