The little city of Banos is situated on the side of volcano Tungurahua and has gorgeous waterfalls like this one, the Pailon del Diablo or Devil's Cauldron. To get up this high the trail first drops about 1000 feet into the valley and then climbs via stairs and ladders until it ends inside the waterfall under a sheltered rock overhang with millions of gallons of water thundering around. It's quite wet and the "trail" turns into a crawl space at certain points but the view is astonishing.
The first time I had these little potato pancakes at a street stand in Otavalo, I thought that llapingachos was the pancake alone. But then later I went to a restaurant and saw Llapingachos under the comida tipica menu. A llapingachos meal is the potato pancake (stuffed with cheese) as well as chorizo sausage, fried eggs and an avocado and tomato salad. If there's anything I love more than potato pancakes (with cheese!), it's potatoes with eggs for any meal. If I lived in Ecuador, I'd eat llapingachos in every form for every meal. Perhaps it's good I just visited...
There are not many places in the world where you can capture three distinct species in a single frame. In the Galapagos you can, from just a few yards away. I especially liked watching (and photographing) the way very distant relatives interacted. Here, newborn sea lion pups chase the tails of marine iguanas while vibrant Sally Lightfoot crabs skitter from the Godzilla-like creatures.
check out the kapawi ecolodge in ecuadorial amazon. remote area on tributary of amazon river. thatched huts on stilts looking into virgin rainforest. I was there not too long ago shooting, and the people were amazing. private huts and great communal area. make sure you have one of the guys take you fishing for pirhana!! -volunteer opportunities too!!
One beautiful morning on our Galapagos Islands Trip, we took a zodiac out with a naturalist and cruised around Kicker Rock. The morning light hitting the rock was stunning and the many birds on the rock and seals were great to see.
A tortillas de maiz con queso is the best little bite of Ecuadorian street food. The dough is a paste of harina and water that the ladies roll into a small ball. They push a pinch of grated queso fresco into the middle and pat the whole thing into a small round about the size of their palm and fry it in bubbling lard until it's crispy and the cheese is melted. They're 3 for 50 cents and so smoking hot you have to wait until the grease soaks through the paper. That's when you know they're cool enough to eat. Ah-maz-ing.
19,374 feet above sea level, standing on top of Cotopaxi one of the planet's largest active volcanoes. Climbing this Ecuadorian monster has been my most physically demanding accomplishment to date.
Ecuador is a local foodie paradise. A variety of lush produce grows year round in small farms surrounding the colonial city of Cuenca. The rich volcanic soil of the Andes mountain nourishes fruits and vegetables that taste like they should, and the equatorian sun makes them available every day of the year.
3 separate schools of hammerheads passed by us as the current drifted us along between two rock walls. We probably saw nearly a 100 sharks in a 30 minute period. I was breathing so heavily I had to come up early because I was running low on oxygen.
While it appears that this blue-footed boobie mother is regurgitating fish for her chick, she's actually just pretending, probably trying to get my group to take pictures and move on. Just because you can get within feet of animals in the Galapagos doesn't mean they'll put on a performance for you. In this case, frigatebirds and other boobies often steal food straight from a parent's beak, so they have to be strategic about feeding.
Suiting up for a drift dive through Gordon Rocks off Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. This is a well known place to spot large schools of hammerheads
If you are looking for a true jungle experience go to Sacha Eco Jungle Lodge in Cocoa Ecuador. The only way to get here is by boat down the Napo river traveling deep into the steamy tropical lowlands. It is a full Jungle experience! The lodge owns 3000 acres of rainforest/jungle, & their guides will take you deep through the swamplands & rivers and lakes. The rooms are simple but the food is great. If deep jungle and back to nature is your thing - go here.
Ecuador is known for its volcanoes, but a hotel that sits right next to one? No one I talked to had heard of it. Not only does El Cráter offer large suites with whitewashed stone interiors, igloo-style domed skylights, and big heavy wooden doors reminiscent of an old (well maybe renovated) monastery, the place is situated right on the edge of what I’m told is the only inhabited crater in the world. Venturing 30 minutes outside Quito for the night was nice enough, but a view of the active Pululahua Volcano from my bed was another story. When the cab pulled into the property, the area was cloaked in the thick fog that’s common to the highlands during evening: no volcano visible. But sure enough, when the sun shone through the wall-length window the next morning, the deep green peak and patchwork caldera beneath it came into focus. Good morning! If that’s not enough volcano for you, the restaurant was built by hand from lava rock and serves crater-themed specialties, such as a tower of ham and cheese atop a grilled steak. A spa is being constructed, which will probably add some volcanic ash to the mix, and hiking trails take you all the way to the pyramid’s lid. But don’t expect any flowing lava or smoke: the volcano hasn’t erupted in 1,500 years. El Cráter, Mirador del Pululahua, Quito, From $70, 593/ (0) 2-2439254, elcrater.com Have you every stayed in or near a crater? If not, what was your most memorable themed lodging?
Tortuga Bay, Isla Santa Cruz is a white sandy beach littered with marine iguanas. We were lucky enough to catch it on a quiet day when the only markings in the sand were from their sharp claws and dinosaur like tails. One of them even walked right over our beach towels. They didn't seem to mind sharing their secluded hide away with us!
For those with a growing love of adventure!! Get out of the city and spend 2 days in Banos - ride horses up the side of a volcano, hike in a cloud up hidden mountain trails, and let the clear air rush through your senses. I never quite understood the thrill of adventure travel until I found myself hanging halfway down a 200 foot waterfall. Trusting the ropes to hold me, I tilted my head back and let the water sting my face. No longer an observer of nature, I was actually part of the waterfall!! Easily, one of the most beautiful experiences of all my travels. Dozens of adventure companies line the main street of Banos' city center - shop around, but most will be able to take you here or to a similar waterfall.
About 80 miles from Quito, this eco lodge in the sky is owned by 12 campesino families, who are regenerating 1800 acres of now-protected forest. Santa Lucia Cloud Forest Reserve offers lodge accommodations as well as beautiful wood-and-glass cabins, stilted out over dense jungle that's once again dripping with life.
Ride along the Riobamba to the Devil's Nose on top of the train. Enjoy the sights as you pass traditional villages and rural life of local people farming and going about their daily business. In many cases, children will run alongside the train, hoping for some sweets to be dropped for them. Riobamba is located at the very start of the train journey that ultimately ends up at the Devil’s Nose, Riobamba is worth spending a couple of hours wandering around. the churches and small museums before embarking on the train journey. Many travelers stay overnight in this town, the night before their train journey which starts early in the morning. A little town Alausi is a peaceful slow paced town the train runs through and a charming place to wander about but go preferably on Sunday when the fair takes place.
Upon stepping onto the island, within the first few steps, I looked to my left to see a giant marine iguana soaking up some rays. He was beautiful! Right after this picture was shot he slowly slid into the water and swam away. Needless to say I spent the rest of the trip chasing these ancient beings all aver the islands. They are magnificent!
View from atop the beautiful national basilica near the historic center of Quito, Ecuador. Getting to this vantage point takes some interesting maneuvering.
A visit to the Galapagos is an experience unlike any other. With the exception of a couple of islands, this place is relatively untouched. Nature comes before the conveniences of modern society. Animals, many of them only found on these islands, live as they have for centuries.
Up close and personal is right, these birds on the famous Galapagos Islands allowed us to connect with them just a few feet away, as the go about their mating rituals we watch in awe as they have no care about us. http://www.worldwideadventurers.com/galapagos-islands/mating-blue-footed-boobies
Ecuador is full of surprises and history everywhere you go but the geographic diversity of it's equatorial location provide for seemingly endless plant life. I really appreciated the warmth and beauty of these flower pots mounted on the wall during an otherwise damp and rainy day. The painterly color scheme and asymmetric design reflect someone's artistic knack for decoration. One of the top five sites to visit in Ecuador is Cotopaxi National Park and one of the most romantic places to stay once you get there is Hacienda San Agustin De Callo. This cozy hacienda has architecture dating back to the 15th Century and is a fascinating mix of Inca Imperial and Spanish Colonial styles. These flower pots are just a tiny snapshot of the boundless and ever changing beauty that Hacienda San Agustin De Callo and the Cotopaxi region have to offer.
On the Island of Santa Cruz I met this great couple & a ton of their friends.
Outside the gates of the presidential palace in Quito stand guards dressed in ceremonial attire. These are actual soldiers who are picked for the honor of standing guard while the president is in the palace.
Some seasoned surfers talk about their chosen pursuit in impassioned, mystical language like it is no less than a spiritual communion with nature. Maybe that’s true for some, but I found it to be nothing of the sort when struggling to learn to surf for the first time in Ecuador. Fortunately, though, it was pure adrenaline getting tossed around in the choppy waves south of Manta, near the town of Santa Rosa. Apparently, this spot has some really great breaks at times, but when I went out with my brother-in-law (one of those seasoned surfers who really wanted me to break into his world), the conditions were turbulent. Luke was disappointed that was my first experience—but I couldn’t wait to get back the next morning.
© 2013 AFAR Media
