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Indigenous Peoples of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Visiting tourism projects in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve that are owned and operated by Indigenous communities should not be complicated. Yet many lodges and agencies claim their tours benefit indigenous residents of the area. It isn't always so simple. Before...
What to Expect at the Cacería del Zorro
The day of the annual Cacería del Zorro horse race is guaranteed to be action-packed from morning until night. The excitement begins with a parade down city streets, continues on to the race track at Yahuarcocha, a high altitude lake nestled into the base of the...
Hiking Rucu Pichincha
Hiking the Rucu Pichincha Volcano is a glorious way to explore the Andean wilderness only a short distance outside of Quito. In fact, if you've read my earlier post about riding the Teleferico, you already know that this activity is one of the most popular in the city...
Flowering Forests of Gold Arrive With the New Year
The first rains have fallen in the Zapotillo Canton of the Loja Province in Southern Ecuador. That means the brilliant yellow flowering trees called Guayacanes will soon be blooming in full force. If you want to visit, there are a few things you should know before...
Let’s Talk Money in Ecuador
Planning a trip and trying to figure out the best way to pay travel agencies in advance? Already traveling and need cash because the small town where you landed does not have an ATM that works with your card? Not sure what currency works best? Is it true that...
Everything You Need To Know About Hornado
Hornado is an amazing dish found in market stalls and festivals throughout the Ecuadorian Andes. If you love roast pork and potatoes, it's worth going out of your way to taste the different variations found from north to south. This article will tell you about a few...
Everything You Need To Know About Mama Negra
So you want to visit Latacunga to see the Mama Negra parade? But you can't find any information. You've come to the right place. Last year, we attended the November festivities with local friends and learned a ton about the do's and don't of the day. Read on to learn...
What to Expect Along Ecuador’s Hummingbird Route
When I was growing up, my father was very fond of taking the road less traveled. It would drive my mother crazy. I think I inherited the gene for back highways and dirt roads. That's how we've come to know the Hummingbird Route (Paseo del Quinde), better known to...
South American Travel 101: Protests
South American protests are famous throughout the world. It isn't hard to pull up pictures on the internet of burning tires and blocked highways in countries like Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, and even our beloved Ecuador. It is easy to believe that protest is a way...
Quito: The Next Best Place to Eat in South America
Ecuador’s capital has always been a wonderful place for comida típica — comforting locro de papas, humitas, and helados de paila. I grew up eating these foods and more at beloved, local institutions like La Ronda, Heladeria Pomasqui, and Mercado Iñaquito. A Culinary...