Our Blog
Alausí Welcomes Back the Nariz del Diablo Tourist Train
With the grand re-opening of the Nariz del Diablo, the famous train ride that starts in Alausi, Ecuador, set to take place in November, we wanted to republish this article by guest author, Amy Atland. But before you read about her family's experience on the train,...
Arriving at the Huaorani Lodge
Arriving at the jungle lodge in the territory of the Huaorani is an experience in itself. It's necessary to travel with three modes of transportation, land based car or bus from Quito to Shell, air travel in a small prop airplane from Shell to a small community in the...
Visiting Apaika and Our Huaorani Hosts
While visiting the Huaorani Lodge in Pastaza, we were invited to spend an afternoon in Apaika, a small village where the Huaorani still practice a traditional way of life. Upon our arrival, we immediately noticed two children playing in the river by a makeshift dock,...
Book Review: Rough Guide, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands
I’ve traveled and sought out new places my entire adult life and like to think I’ve got the trip prep process down pretty good. One thing I’ve learned is the importance of a good guide book (just counted and we have 19 of them for places on four continents) to get the...
Useful Bird Guides For Your Trip To Ecuador
Looking for the perfect bird identification book for your next trip to Ecuador? Depending on your level of interest, I recommend different birds guides for you to consider. Most of these books are available for purchase in the United States. However, if you would...
A Guide to Local Festivals in Ecuador
Local festivals in Ecuador are the heart and soul of many communities. They are found in the highest Andean towns and the smallest jungle enclaves, in tiny fishing villages and large cities like Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil. Many are well advertised and openly invite...
Dark Caverns, Rushing Cascades, and more at Las Cascadas Yanayacu
Hiking Las Cascadas Yanayacu became a transformational experience that I hadn't planned for. Those are the best kind I knew I had made a mistake with my first step into the river. My hiking boots immediately cried "We're not waterproof!" Wet socks would be my hiking...
The Wild Cuyabeno in Pictures – An Immersive Photo Essay
The Cuyabeno: A Photo Essay Let me introduce the Cuyabeno in pictures. In four short days, we were able to merely scratch the surface of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, an incredibly diverse habitat with nine different ecosystems. To read the captions, hover your mouse...
Are You a United-Statesian?
Like most citizens of the United States, I call myself American all the time. It wasn't until I moved to Argentina that I learned how egocentric this single word can sound to Central and South Americans, especially when speaking...
El Pahuma: A Wild Orchid Reserve Near Quito
The 2.5 hour drive from Quito to Mindo, Ecuador follows a long and windy road with very few places to pull off and stop. However, one small pullout provides more than a bathroom break. El Pahuma is an orchid reserve near Quito and lies in the heart of the UNESCO...