The Cofán, who call themselves the A’I, are an age old culture whose home is the forest of north-eastern Ecuador. Around 1,000 Cofanes live in the country, as well as in the south of Colombia; they are divided by the San Miguel River. In Ecuador their territory has been greatly reduced over time, particularly since […]
Ecuador has a lot of highlights but a few sites and activities stand out as global bucket list destinations. One of those is the market at Otavalo. This famed indigenous market is probably one of the oldest markets in the Americas because Otavalo was known as a market town long before the Spanish arrived. In […]
This is a reserve for climbers, and the two sharp peaks of the Ilinizas, according to legend once a single volcano split by an ancient eruption, are the main feature. Today these two peaks are a magnet for climbers from around the world. The smaller North peak (5,116 m above sea level) is a suitable […]
When most travelers hear the word “insects”, they usually think of ways to keep bugs from biting and how fast they can swat them. Although that might hold true for mosquitoes and other biting bugs, there are literally thousands of inoffensive insects that look downright incredible. Since many of them live in the biodiverse rainforests […]
Tropic is proud to announce the first community-based tourism initiative in the Galapagos. This island’s 100 residents have never enjoyed tourism’s benefits. The goal is to protect the island’s resources and life style by guiding tourism as a tool while not letting tourism change the island’s character. Using the Huaorani Ecolodge experience we hope to […]
This natural area, located in the northwest of the country, is a place of exotic landscapes, waterfalls and natural lagoons formed in an environment of undisturbed forests. But behind the scenery lies the most interesting element of the Mache-Chindul Reserve, the surprising variety of plants and animals that the visitor can find in this enchanted […]
There are several ecolodges in Amazonia. Some are found in Brazil (especially near Manuas), travellers can experience the Amazonian rainforest in Peru, and more than one jungle lodge is found in eastern Ecuador. However, the irony of Amazonian ecolodges is that most are located in rainforest that has been impacted by people. There aren’t as […]
The Cayapas-Mataje Mangrove Reserve is one of the most luminous in Ecuador. The abundant and brilliant waters of this protected area – part of the biggest and best conserved estuary in the Southern Pacific – and the lush greenery of its landscapes will truly dazzle the visitor. Located in the Province of Esmeraldas (the Green […]
Ecuador is a country of incredible contrasts. Despite being about the same size as the state of Colorado, it boasts quiet ocean shores in the sunny and dry west, dense, humid rainforests in the east, and huge mountains in the middle of the country. Several of Ecuador’s peaks are a good deal higher than the […]
Formed by a complex of canals and virtually untouched emerald-green islands, humid and dry forests and mist-covered hills, the Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve is truly impressive. The Reserve was named a wetland of global importance (RAMSAR) in 1990, and contains three important highlights: El Canclón Lake, the Churute hills and the mangrove forests. The abundant plant […]
