Because I’ve always wanted to…
October greetings to you all,
As summer fades, my thoughts turn to those places further afield where the elements tend to be a bit more consistent. Ecuador & the Galapagos offers just that; pretty much the same agreeable weather year-round in a compact but enormously diverse country. Steve travelled around recently to explore some special places in this gentle yet stunning part of South America.
Laterally yours,
Ecuador
Quito
Otavalo Highlands: Hacienda Piman
Located high up in the Andes, Hacienda Piman is a gorgeous 17th century building with a palpable sense of history. The 17 rooms are littered with antiques and are spread between the original house and a series of newer cottages with expansive windows, high ceilings and large balconies. The organic garden provides many of the ingredients lovingly made into home-cooked meals. Relax in the bar or garden terrace to take in stunning views of the surrounding mountains. These are a perfect playground for hiking and mountain biking, while gentler pursuits include visits to the colourful market at Otavalo or the El Angel Ecological Reserve. Taking the train from lbarra to the Afro-Ecuadorian community of Salinas is quite an experience.
Click here to view the website
The Amazon: Napo Wildlife Centre
For those who want to penetrate the deepest heart of the Amazonian rainforest Napo Wildlife Centre is ideal. Napo is the only lodge in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park, rich with extraordinary wildlife and vibrant local culture.
Click here to view the website
The Cloudforest: Mashpi Lodge
Galapagos
Up Periscope
On the back of lawyer Geoff Steward’s sabbatical trip in 2016, he wrote a humorous account of his sojourn through the US & Costa Rica with wonderful anecdotes about the people he encountered.
In Search of Nice Americans
Has just been published and is well worth the light-hearted read for any travel enthusiast:
