Our Blog
What Nemonte Nenquimo Taught Me About Storytelling
Nemonte Nenquimo’s powerful message of Indigenous resistance resonates strongly in We Will Be Jaguars, a book co-written with her husband, Mitch Anderson. This is especially true in the final chapters, where we learn about the creation of the Ceibo Alliance, an...
What Nemonte Nenquimo Taught Me About Storytelling
Nemonte Nenquimo’s powerful message of Indigenous resistance resonates strongly in We Will Be Jaguars, a book co-written with her husband, Mitch Anderson. This is especially true in the final chapters, where we learn about the creation of the Ceibo Alliance, an...
Our Favorite Car Camping Gear
After a long winter here in the Pacific Northwest, we're finally thinking about Spring, which means camping! Last year, we broke our long camping drought with a nice 10-day car trip with overnights in Oregon, Nevada, and Utah on the way to Telluride, Colorado to visit...
From Ecuador to Canada, Let’s Help Laura Fly!
On my last visit to the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve in Ecuador, I had the great fortune of birding with a local guide named Laura Gualco. It’s not often we find young women leading birding tours in Ecuador. We were fortunate on this day because Laura isn’t your average...
Alausí Welcomes Back the Nariz del Diablo Tourist Train
With the grand re-opening of the Nariz del Diablo, the famous train ride that starts in Alausi, Ecuador, set to take place in November, we wanted to republish this article by guest author, Amy Atland. But before you read about her family's experience on the train,...
How to Apply for the Tourist Visa Extension
Applying for your tourist visa extension in Ecuador need not be complicated. Since we went through this process in 2019, the Ecuadorian government has updated a lot of information, including adding an online system (updated March 20, 2025) for those who can read...
Do You Really Need an RFID-Blocking Wallet or Passport Holder?
There are over 20,000 RFID-blocking wallets and similar products on Amazon. Do you really need one to protect your credit card or passport? In this article, I cover the basics of RFID tags, review the risks of someone skimming data from your credit card or U.S....
Cuenca’s Cacao Museum: An Interactive Chocolate Experience
Cuenca’s Museo del Cacao still flies under the radar. With so many incredible attractions in the city—like the Incan ruins at the Pumapungo Museum and the stunning landscapes of nearby El Cajas National Park—it’s easy to see why. Even so, I don’t think the museum’s...
Randy Borman: A Bridge Between Worlds
Randall (Randy) Bruce Borman defied conventional definitions of belonging. To an outsider, he looked like an average American white man. To the Cofán, he was one of their own. To me, he was a friend and mentor. I only wish I had met him earlier in my life. Randy...
In Search of the Andean Spectacled Bear
The Andean spectacled bear is one of South America’s most elusive creatures, a ghost of the cloud forest that few are lucky enough to see in the wild. As the only bear species native to South America, it holds a special place in Andean ecosystems and the cultural...