My Latest Ecuador Adventure

I recently returned from a wonderful family adventure, our first, to Ecuador. My husband, Scott and our two kids, Ella (7) and Wynn (4) ventured out on November 9th to this foreign feeling land in South America to experience a different culture, landscape, visit with friends who recently moved there, and perhaps remove us from our daily routine - albeit for only a short time. Our great adventure started off in Cuenca, a small city in the south part of the country, nestled in the Andes at about 8500 feet. Cuenca is a fascinating city, a mix of authentic Inca culture with colonial architecture dating back hundreds of years. It was also an interesting and sometimes disturbing mix of relative wealth and unbelievable poverty. Since the climate remains fairly temperate in this area, the land produces an amazing array of fruits and vegetables. Twice a week, people sell their produce at outdoor markets in town.


The El Cajas National Park, was a highlight and beautiful part of our trip. These mountains combine cloud forests with rocky landscapes, scattered with lakes (more than 200 of them) that dot the landscape. We enjoyed a number of beautiful hikes among the peaks and along the Inca trail. Of course I noticed the signage and interpretation and was happy to see (and abide by) the local land managers recommendations (see picture below) loosely translated as “stay on the trail”.  Someday, I would like to see the Leave No Trace program officially expand to Ecuador and other South American countries. But for now I’m content to be a responsible ecotourist and enjoy the breath-taking environment these places offer.