Our Blog
Where to See Hummingbirds in Ecuador
Birdwatchers from around the world come to Ecuador in hopes of seeing as many as 132 species of hummingbirds! That's almost half of all hummingbird species in the entire world. This diversity makes this smallest of Andean nation one of the best places in the world to...
Hiking To The Devil’s Cauldron: Rio Verde, Ecuador
On our big trip through Ecuador last year, we wanted to make a return visit to the waterfall capital of Ecuador, Baños. Our first time through, we visited with our two teenage sons. By far, the most impressive destination of the trip was the awe-inspiring Pailon del...
Raqchi: Ancient and Traditional
Puddled dirt streets, patchy orange-tiled roofed, adobe brick homes on one side, views of fields dotted with llamas on the other, lead me to an alley. Halfway up, at double wooden doors, Lydia welcomes us to Raqchi and her home, our accommodation for the night. Our...
The Handwoven Makana of Azuay, Ecuador
The makana is a traditional shawl worn by the indigenous women of the Azuay Province. For generations, families have passed down age-old patterns and techniques for dying spun wool. Some of the most traditional shawls are large, with huge, knotted borders designed to...
Why Use Interact Quizzes? Easy Integrations Top Our List
I've looked at adding a travel quiz or two to our website many times in recent years. After all, many of my friends share quiz results that tell me how smart they are, where they grew up, or where they should spend their retirement years. Even my dear old Dad loves to...
The Amazing Kichwa Lodge in Cuyabeno, Ecuador
The Kichwa Lodge is located in the heart of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador. Our lodge is ideally situated to experience the best of the Cuyabeno: wildlife like colorful birds of the Amazon Basin, several species of monkeys, elusive jaguars, strange and...
Cuenca’s Aboriginal Cultures Museum
As you may have noticed from our blog, we really like to explore the ancient cultures and traditions of South America. We’re also suckers for a good museum. In Cuenca, we hit the jackpot! Incredibly, there are days-worth of great opportunities to see ruins and explore...
The Best of Arequipa, Peru
Arequipa, known as the White City due to buildings constructed of white volcanic sillar rock, was founded in 1540 in a valley surrounded by three volcanoes. Despite being Peru’s second-largest city, with a population of 840,000, Arequipa's historic center feels like a...
The First Cry for Freedom: A Story of Ecuadorian Independence
On August 10, 1809, a group of Criollo citizens of the Audencia Real de Quito, announced the local rebellion to overthrow Spanish-colonial rule. In Ecuador, the day is known as El Primer Grito de La Independencia, the First Cry for Freedom. Led by Juan Pío Montúfar...
Welcome to Not Your Average American!
Have you ever traveled overseas? There is a general rule of thumb recommended for most Americans: Don't act American. American Stereotypes You know the stereotypes - we Americans are brash, we're loud, we wear blue jeans and white tennis shoes, we wear baseball caps...