Glimpse of Beautiful Ecuador


In Cotopaxi National Park
--> Since arriving at the end of September, I had been almost exclusively on the farm in Ibarra, in northern Ecuador. Although I have loved being on the farm, dedicating my efforts and time to the activities of this peaceful milieu, I was happy to be able to explore some fantastic parts of Ecuador. My boyfriend, Alex, joined me for a nine-day adventure around central and eastern Ecuador. We traveled to Cotopaxi National Park, where the second highest peak in Ecuador is located, to Tena and La Selva Vida (the rainforest) and to Baños, a breath-taking area of waterfalls and green-gilded mountains.

I found this snow-capped peak quite mesmerizing, as it appeared from and disappeared behind the clouds.
Cotopaxi National Park is about one and a half hours from Quito, the capital, so it was our first stop. We stayed at a fabulous hostel in the middle of nowhere at 11,000 feet, where all our meals were provided. Even though we did not summit the volcano, the views of the volcano were exquisite, especially at night when the glow from the full moon cast an ethereal hue over the snow-capped peak. We biked and hiked around and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the eco-lodge, complete with dry toilets!

The rainforest was replete with tall trees and diverse plant species
From Cotopaxi, we traveled five hours by bus to Tena, an uninspiring town that is the jump-off point for La Selva Vida, the upper Amazon rainforest. I had never before seen such dense rainforest with immense biodiversity of plants and trees. Alex and I went on a two-day tour of the rainforest, which included hiking into the thick of the jungle, making chocolate from cacao beans, swimming in the Arujuno River, eating beetle larvae, visiting a jungle animal rescue station and motor-canoeing down the Arujuno and Napo rivers. Our guide was very personable and the experience quite memorable.

On the Arujuno River in the Selva Vida (rainforest)
El Diablo waterfall
Leaving the jungle, our final stop was Baños, a touristy city but well worth the visit. Fortunately, November is the low season, so there were not as many tourists as I had expected. Our hostel was located centrally and the manager was very helpful in directing us around the city. The main highlight was biking 36 miles from Baños to Puyo, through a corridor of waterfalls, the largest and most impressive being La Cascada del Diablo. I would recommend this town to anyone visiting Ecuador.
Share the Road, biking outside of Banos on our way to Puyo
After saying goodbye to Alex in Quito, I returned to the farm in Ibarra. I have three weeks remaining, and I have no doubt that it is going to pass quickly. My mom is coming at the end of my internship, so I will have one more chance to glimpse the beauty of this country. In the next three weeks, my goals are to work hard and to learn as much as I can in that period of time. Considering that there is always so much to do on the farm, I am sure that my hands and labor will be put to good use.

A view from the San Francisco bridge in Banos

A vegetarian delight: guinea pig, our final Ecuadorean meal together

Comments

Meg Marez said…
Sounds like such an awesome experience! So happy for you.
November 25, 2013 at 7:54 PM
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