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Experience The Dry Desert Near Quito
One of the best places to experience the Andean Dry Desert near Quito, Ecuador is at Parque Jerusalem. Only a short trip from the capital city, it is a must-visit destination for dedicated bird watchers and nature lovers, if only to enjoy the dramatic changes in the...
Mama Negra: A Photo Essay
Mama Negra: A Photo Essay Each year in November, the city of Latacunga, Ecuador celebrates Mama Negra, a figure of national fame. The festival and parade originated in 1742 when local residents turned to the Virgin of Merced to save them from a possible eruption of...
Mama Negra: A Photo Essay: Supporting Characters
Mama Negra: A Photo Essay: The Supporting Cast Each year in November, the city of Latacunga, Ecuador celebrates Mama Negra, a figure of national fame. The festival and parade originated in 1742 when local residents turned to the Virgin of Merced to save them from a...
The Ancient Inhabitants of the Amazon: The Huaorani
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the community of Gareno, home to the Huaorani, a thousand-year-old culture that has survived for hundreds of years in the deep Amazon jungle of Ecuador. The Huaorani Of Ecuador The Huaorani people have survived despite the...
Birdwatching at the Quito Botanical Garden
Birding might not be the first thing you think of when you visit the second largest city in Ecuador. However, at the heart of Quito lies Parque Carolina, a bustling inner city park with a protected and secluded space that is perfect for spotting birds, the Quito...
Alto de los Idolos in Southern Colombia
During our trip through Southern Colombia, we visited a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its large concentration of archeology sites including Parque Alto de los Idolos. We enjoyed our time here so much, we extended our trip in order to see more. This is the third...
Birdwatching and Relaxation at a Mindo Ecolodge
Long time reader Emoeke Ullmann and I are friends on Facebook. When I saw her beautiful posts about a little-known Mindo ecolodge, I asked if she would be willing to write a few words. After all, we have only visited Mindo one time as we tend to gravitate towards the...
Hummingbirds and More at Tambo Condor
On the advice of friends, we decided to stop at Tambo Condor last week. We were on our way to Laguna Mica, the large reservoir in the heart of the Antisana Reserve. I had often wondered about this restaurant with lodging as it lies less than a kilometer away from the...
The Convent Museum of San Diego in Historic Quito
The deceptively simple church and grounds of the San Diego Convent in South Quito is full of surprises. We visited during the long weekend holiday of Día de los Difuntos, November 2. As a part of the Quito Eterno project, this museum provided an in depth tour to...
Our First Look At Ancient Stone Statues in Isnos, Colombia
The smallest of the three sites, Alto de las Piedras gives just a taste of what the San Agustin Archeological Park offers visitors to Colombia.