Lake Llaviucu lies at the lowest edge of Cajas National Park––at a mere 10,000 feet!––and is ringed by a lovely, well-maintained trail, perfect for easy hiking. The trail traverses marshy grassland, mature montane cloud forest, and some secondary forest––and is the abode of spectacular mountain … Continue readingBirding Lake Llaviucu, Ecuador
It’s hard to stay away from a country as intriguing and diverse as Ecuador––and the birding is fabulous! Since I was last there, Quito has built a fine new international airport, quite a distance from the city. (The old airport was basically in town.) Here’s … Continue readingEcuador, again!
A new highway running northwest of Quito carries us to the Mindo region, where long forested ridges drop toward the distant coast. We are entering Pacific-slope cloudforest––verdant, lush, cool, draped with orchids, sheltering brilliant hummingbirds and giant earthworms. Cloudforest atop the ridge at Bellavista (Photos … Continue readingA Ridgetop in Ecuador
Apologies, friends! Life has interfered with my getting back to this blog in a timely fashion. Ecuador is a small jewel of a country, lying astride the Andes. Its volcanoes tower to more than 20,000 feet, and many slopes are still verdant with forest. Can … Continue readingA Five-Antpitta Day!
Well, yes, the rumor floating around is true: my suitcase didn’t go with us to Ecuador. And do you know what? It wasn’t a problem! Amazing what we can get along without, in a pinch! Alan lent me an over-sized field shirt, and my Birkenstock … Continue readingTraveling Lightly