Adventure and Cultural Travel with a Sustainable Twist
Our Cañari guide leaned forward and spoke earnestly. “Did you know,” he asked, “that what we know as Carnaval today was originally an indigenous festival to give thanks to Pachamama [Mother Earth]? The Spanish imported their traditions to make us forget our own.” Here at Kushiwaira, at least, Cañari culture is still very much Continue Reading
The next time you’re in Ecuador, check out the cheese in the supermarkets. You’re likely to come across the Salinerito brand – locally-sourced and produced right here in Ecuador, in the remote Andean village of Salinas de Guaranda. A brief history Salinas de Guaranda stands at an altitude of 3,550m (11,600ft) Continue Reading
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
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
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
If you hike the Quilotoa Loop counterclockwise, like we did, you’ll go from Isinlivi to Chugchilan. And from Chugchilan to Isinlivi if you do it clockwise, naturally. So after getting thoroughly lost two days before and enjoying a low-key day-trip the day after that, we finally hit the road again. Continue Reading
Most hikers on the Quilotoa Loop spend one night at each village on the way. But the great thing about the Loop is that it’s self-guided, so you’re free to linger as long as you want. If you have the time, there are plenty of things to do in Isinlivi. Continue Reading
We had been walking for 45 minutes and had absolutely no idea where we were. Our plan had been to follow the signs from Sigchos to Isinlivi, but those signs were extremely few and far between. At every junction, we had a debate about which way to go. But in Continue Reading
Many travellers I met in Ecuador and Colombia gave northern Ecuador a miss. And I get it – you’re on a budget, time is tight, you gotta prioritise. Or maybe you’re just thinking about visiting Otavalo on a day-trip from Quito. Actually, there is plenty to keep you occupied – Continue Reading
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