Our Blog
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
Gateway to the Colca Canyon: Chivay
Gateway to the Colca Canyon, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon and home to the giant Andean Condor, Chivay is a town of around 5000 inhabitants on the bank of the Colca River. It looks little affected by tourism. Arriving in Chivay, Peru What strikes me first as we...
Refreshing Natural Spa Experience at Agua Blanca
If you find yourself lucky enough to be touring coastal Ecuador near the town of Puerto Lopez, please take the time to visit the natural spa and sulfur spring of the ancestral community of Agua Blanca! Even if you don't want to visit the small museum or hike the local...
Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
The very first birding lodge we ever visited in Ecuador recently made the news in Quito. The Ministry of Environment recognized Richard Parsons and his beloved Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve and Lodge as being the very first private project to protect endangered...
What You Need To Know About Mindo, Ecuador
Travelers and tourists venture to Mindo for birds and butterflies, zip-lining, chocolate tours, and hiking in the dense Andean cloud forest. While we've only stayed a couple of nights in Mindo, we definitely see its appeal, especially for families with children or...
A Nangaritza River Cruise
In my article about visiting the Labyrinth of a Thousand Illusions, I wrote that our trip on the Nangaritza River was worthy of its own post. Well, here it is. It’s not Tom and Huck’s trip down the Mississippi River, but it was interesting. Not Your Average Nangaritza...
Can You Ace This Hummingbird Quiz?
Are you an avid hummingbird lover who can't get enough of Ecuador's diverse selection of hummers? Let's test your knowledge with this hummingbird quiz! Share This Hummingbird Quiz Looking for the link to share this...
Chobshi: Ancestral Home of the Cañari
Ecuador has an incredible wealth of archeology sites that few people visit. We found one of the most intriguing a short distance outside of Cuenca in the small town of Chobshi. Little is known about the people who lived in this region before the arrival of the Inca....
Ecuadorian Horchata
We had already tried several versions of horchata before I realized that this drink is unique to Southern Ecuador, especially in the Loja Province. I learned about it when visiting the small Saraguro market with my friend, Luz. It was mid-morning and we were after a...
In Search of the Perfect Guitar
A chance encounter with a guitar lover and fellow tourist in Cuenca led us to discover the Route of the Guitars, a little-known tourism route along the backroads of San Bartolome, Ecuador. While stringed instruments, including traditional guitars, requintos,...