Our Blog
Hiking Guagua Pichincha
2024 Update - Before planning this hike, please check current conditions with the GAD in Lloa. Guagua Pichincha is an active volcano and local officials sometimes close the access road and refuge. I hike places like Guagua Pichincha because hiking at high altitude...
The Quirky Jocotoco Antpitta
When the General Manager of Jocotours, Adela Espinosa, told me that I would fall in love with the Jocotoco Antipitta, I wasn't so sure. I love photographing birds. But fall in love with one? Okay, maybe a hummingbird with a neon blue tail, but not a ground-loving,...
Help Ecuador after the Earthquake
A strong magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocked many parts of Ecuador in the early hours on February 22, 2019. The epicenter was located in Palora, Ecuador, a remote village not far from the eastern border of Peru. Felt in many of the larger cities, this earthquake is the...
The Awesome El Angel Reserve
When we heard the El Angel Reserve had an old-growth grove of Polylepis trees, it only made sense to visit as it was a short detour on our way from Tulcan to Quito. We’ve often gone out of our way to see this unusual member of the rose family. Once common in the...
Three Little Known, But Cool, Archeology Sites Near San Agustin, Colombia
We only planned for a three-day stay in San Agustin, Colombia. That much time gave us plenty of opportunities to see the ancient sculptures in the National Archeology Park sites; Alto de los Idoles, Alto de las Piedras, and the main archeology park in San Agustin. To...
Finding a Licensed Guide in Ecuador
The term licensed guide is thrown around a lot in the tourism world. It means very different things in different countries. Here in Ecuador, there are laws that govern what it means to be licensed. Unfortunately, many of these laws are in flux and are often...
The Spiral Petroglyphs of Guizhaguiña, Ecuador
When we decided to visit the small mining town of Zaruma, the last thing on our mind were petroglyphs. But then our hotel offered us a tourism map of the region. The list of archeology sites in half a dozen locations intrigued us! So with the help of the local tourism...
A Great Outdoor Archeology Museum in San Agustin, Colombia
The San Agustin Archaeological ParkWelcome to the largest collection of the San Agustin complex. This outdoor museum is huge, covering more than 190 acres. There are four mesitas (artificial terraces), eight burial mounds, a ceremonial water feature carved into...
On The Road in Southern Ecuador
About three weeks ago, Scott and I picked up a rental car in Cuenca and set out to tour Southern Ecuador, especially those parts most difficult to see without a private vehicle. We chose to travel by car, despite our reservations about driving in Ecuador, in order to...
Copalinga Lodge and Reserve: A Jewel of Southern Ecuador
The Copalinga Lodge and Reserve has been on my bucket list since we first lived in Quito. It's a little-known destination beloved by avid birdwatchers and scientists interested in studying the flora and fauna of the mid-altitude tropical forests of southern Ecuador....