Liana Lodge and Amazoonico, Ecuador: Relaxing and Helping Rescued Wildlife in the Amazon

Liana Lodge, Amazon, Ecuador

There are plenty of good reasons to visit Liana Lodge in the Ecuadorean Amazon. For one, it’s a great example of responsible and sustainable tourism, as it’s run by a Swiss foundation whose objectives include preserving and protecting the rainforest, and implementing sustainable rainforest management in the local Ahuano community. Continue Reading

10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Hiking the Quilotoa Loop

The Quilotoa Loop: an epic, multi-day trek deep in back-road country. Here, you’ll find breath-taking landscapes where the full beauty of mother nature is revealed. Small villages where life goes on as it has for hundreds of years. And a volcanic crater lake which locals swear has no bottom: the Continue Reading

Hiking the Quilotoa Loop: The Secret to Getting from Chugchilán to Quilotoa Faster Without Killing Yourself

Let’s be clear: the Chugchilán to Quilotoa leg of the Quilotoa Loop is by far most difficult. And the previous legs (Sigchos to Isinlivi and Isinlivi to Chugchilán) are already full-day hikes themselves. So, what can you expect? You’ll cover at least 13km (8 miles) It will take you at least Continue Reading

Otavalo’s Hidden Gems (Part 2): Lagunas de Mojanda and Cuicocha

laguna de Cuicocha | Otavalo | Ecuador | hiking

First, apologies for the Spanglish in the title. I guess it should technically say either “(las) Lagunas de Mojanda y Cuicocha” or “Mojanda and Cuicocha Lakes”, but: this blog is in English, so I ruled the former out (maybe one day I’ll write something in Spanish so I won’t have Continue Reading

Cuyabeno Nature Reserve: Yuca Bread, Sunsets and More Monkeys

On the last full day of my 4-day Nicky Amazon Lodge tour, we visited an indigenous community, made cassava bread and enjoyed a beautiful sunset over a lake. (Check out the events of Day 1 and Day 2 if you haven’t already!) New wildlife sightings In the early morning canoe Continue Reading

Nicky Lodge in Cuyabeno Nature Reserve – Jungle Walks and Canoe Rides

My first trip to the Amazon was on a 4-day tour with Nicky Lodge, their standard tour. The itinerary was quite packed, but I left feeling like I’d gotten a real feel for the largest, most diverse tropical rainforest in the world. Early morning canoe excursions Our days started really Continue Reading

Hosteling for the first time ever – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Pim's Parque Itchimbia Quito

I’ll always remember my last few days in Quito (this time round) for my first hostel experiences and bed bug scares. Who would’ve thought that this milestone would be marred by (apparent) bed bugs in a Quito hostel? But here’s what happened prior to that: after an exciting (and tiring) Continue Reading