Ecuador 2014: Cotopaxi

Ecuador 2014: Cotopaxi

Hiking up Cotopaxi was fun! It's the second highest peak in Ecuador and is an active volcano. It was my first time above 16,000 ft. above sea level. Our guide set a good pace for us as we walked (slowly) up to the glacier line. Pacing is key. If you go out too fast you push your body into anaerobic (easy to do with the thin air). 

Donkeys coming back down Cotopaxi after bringing up construction supplies 

Handstands at base camp

Enroute to the glacier line

Glaciar line

Ecuador 2014: Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve

Maquipucuna Eco Lodge

Ecuador 2014: Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve

Last October, I tacked on some personal time to a work trip. The first stop was to Maquipucuna [ma-kee-poo-koo-na] Cloud Forest Reserve. For more info go here: http://www.maqui.org. This was pretty amazing 2 days at the Ecolodge, where we did a bunch of hiking, bird watching (toucans, wild turkeys, etc.), and tried to find the Andes brown bear.

The EcoLodge

I almost ran into this little bugger on a short hike

So much green!

Leaf cutter ants

Butterfly

We tried to find the Andes brown bear....all we found was this fresh bear poop

Pistols in the forest

All ready to go bird / bear watching

It down poured on us. This is nature's umbrella

The freshest passion fruit one can eat. Our guide knocked it off the tree with a branch. So good!