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Driving In Italy? It’s a lot like driving in Ecuador!
If you plan on visiting Italy anytime soon, this course by Tripiamo is great for new and experienced drivers looking to get a feel for city and country driving.
Laguna Paikawe: Wildlife Near Tena
The Laguna Paikawe is a tiny paradise. A simple canoe, a 1000-meter loop around a unpopulated island, and tons of wildlife. And my experience took place in the middle of a hot afternoon. I can only imagine how many birds could be seen in the early morning or the late...
Pure Cane Sugar in Pacto
Ecuadorians believe that eating pure cane sugar is healthy. Especially if that cane sugar comes fresh from the field and is only lightly processed. They call it panela and will go out of their way to buy their favorite brands. Pacto is a small farming community just a...
Rumicucho: The Caranqui-Incan Fortress That Lies On The Equator
Thousands of tourists come to Quito and make a stop at the world-famous Mitad del Mundo. But very few even know that a more ancient monument was built along the Equator and that they can stand atop this ceremonial site. Its name is Rumicucho. In the language of the...
South American Wildlife Photographer: Humberto Castillo J.
Ecuador is the muse of many a wildlife photographer. Each successful shot of the never-ending list of species or stunning panoramas feeds an addiction. For photographer, Humberto Castillo Jaramillo, the addiction was so great after his first visit to the sub-tropical...
Pastaza Province
A lot of the territory in the Pastaza Province is hard to see. After all, when there are no roads and the only way to travel is by airplane or by boat, access is limited. Our knowledge of Pastaza is limited to a single trip where we drove to the small community of...
Butterflies and Blooms at Buttermilk Bend
Coming home to California is always a good time but it is especially wonderful this spring. Rainfall has been heavy in the Sierra Foothills and the trails at South Yuba State Park are just beginning to bloom! One of my favorite trails is the wildflower hike at...
Ecuadorian Backroads: Sigchos
I love driving Ecuadorian backroads. Even when it means we tend to get a little lost or turned around. That's how we discovered Sigchos. We thought we would just be driving through on our way to the Quilotoa Crater. But what we looked like the main road...
A Clamorous Carnival in Guamote!
In 2016, I went to one of the most exciting parades in Ecuador, Carnival in Guamote. It takes place the Monday before Fat Tuesday. Hundreds of people come from the surrounding mountain communities to either take part in the parade or to watch it. It's a celebration of...
Explore Loja Natural
T he Loja Province deserves so much time and attention that I wish we could live locally for a year or two. I arrived in the province with the idea that I would see the capital city, Loja, add a few sights on the outskirts of town, and be content to come home....