Our Blog
Finding Hope in “Esto también es Ecuador”
"Esto Tambien Es Ecuador" is the latest hashtag being used by Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism to help refocus attention on the beauty and richness of this smallest of Andean Nations. It means, "This Too Is Ecuador" and is an attempt to refocus international attention...
Cantuña – The Man Who Tricked The Devil
In the historic center of Quito, you'll notice many stores and restaurants named for Cantuña, a man famous in Quiteño history. But his history is complex, with stories and legends changing depending on the person telling the tale. According to our local guide,...
Guaguas de Pan: An Ecuadorian Tradition
One of the joys of being in Quito for the month of October is seeing the many varieties of Guaguas de Pan in bakeries and restaurants. For those who have not been introduced to the ubiquitous babies (guaguas in Quichua) made of bread, these modern versions are a twist...
Lots of Rocks, In a Hard Place: San Agustin, Colombia
The town of San Agustin is located in the southwest of Colombia at the end of a difficult trip via bus from Popayán. Why did we put our lives in the hands of a bus driver who didn’t know how to use his brakes on single lane dirt roads? I put the blame on a New York...
The Iconic Star of Chimborazo Hummingbird
Ever since my first visit to the Chimborazo Lodge on the slopes of the highest mountain in Ecuador, I have wanted to see a male Star of Chimborazo hummingbird (Oreotrochilus chimborazo), a member of the Ecuadorian Hillstar family. This particular bird is an anomaly in...
A Unique Museum in a Colonial Church in Historic Bogota
As we walked the cobblestone street next to the Presidential Palace in historic Bogotá, Colombia, a large stone edifice attracted our attention, the Museo de Santa Clara. Its huge wooden doors hinted at what might be inside, some kind of colonial museum. We asked at...
Best Little Restaurant in Historic Bogota
Before we even arrived in Bogota, friends told us to enjoy a scrumptious bowl of soup at a restaurant just off the main plaza in the historic center of the city. They claimed it would be the best we had ever tasted. I am now passing this same recommendation on to you....
The Best Gold Museum in South America
I've walked into a lot of museums in South America, from Argentina to Peru, Ecuador to Bolivia, and none have bowled me over like the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, Colombia. It's one thing to hear from friends that it is a must visit. It's another to wish that you had more...
Our Big Day, San Agustín, Colombia 2018
I am a fairly new user to eBird. I joined in order to see if it could be a useful tool to lodges and hotels that do not normally cater to a birdwatching crowd. Imagine my surprise to find out that I just plain like entering my birds into a life list. That's how I...
Museum of Religious Art in Popayán
She approached me in Quito Room. Her request was polite and her manner told me that she preferred not to say anything at all. But the cleaning lady had clearly been sent on a mission to ask that I stop taking pictures. I was a little confused because when we had...