Ecuador explorer- where's Roseymonster?

“Roseymonster, where are you?!

I'm going to Ecuador next month for 2+ weeks. Anyone ever been there? I'll be flying into Quito, but mostly traveling into remote villages in the Andes Mtns as a "mission medic." We'll be providing medical care to areas that have no hospital or clinics. It will be very very cool to meet some of the shamans and village "doctors" in the process. As a paramedic, I'll be considered a doctor there - holy crap. LOL
(Seriously, this will be one of those experiences that will stay with me forever)

Main base will be in Tena, with day excursions to other villages from there. I'll have a couple of free days and will probably descend to the Amazonian basin to check out the "biodiversity hotspots."

I would love to hear of anybody's experiences either in the Andes or Amazon....where you went, tours, camping, whatever. I'll have my backpack fully loaded and a hammock tent, so I will be free to wander wherever.

cheers!”

“That sounds awesome AmyG! What a gtreat volunteer opportunity.
I have no advice for you though, lol.
Have a great trip and tell us about it when you return please.”

“:-)”

“Amy, we need to plan next year's FYAO.

Ya know, set a date and start bustin' on one another.

Oh and, have a nice time and let's be careful out there.”

“Can't anyone help the G-ster?”

“hey AmyG, how is ash doing?

I am still trying to stretch my horizions with in the US. Hasn't Bobo spent some time in South America? Where is Bobo?

Hope you have an awesome time there and take lots of pics and give us a trip report. Be safe!”

“thanks for the well wishes...I will definitely take muchas fotografias. ;)

Yes, Bobo has spent a lot of time in Bolivia. We work together, so I've picked his brain a bit...and he's the one who gave me the hammock tent. (what a sweet tart)

After I get back from Sweating MAO, I'll be ready to plan the FYAO for sure! Patience, dearest MarkO...I've been busy finishing up medic school and fighting Lyme's Disease. uggh”

“ENS - Asher dog is great! We just celebrated our one year anniverary together last month. He'll be sad, but staying home for this one (he could get eaten by a jaguar or anaconda or something over there!
=:0”

“Asher Dog's attendance is required at the next FYAO.”

“Absolutely, I never leave home without him...well, other than the flying thing. He prefers to stay on the ground. ;)

I think I'll even let him choose the location for the next FYAO...hmmm

lol”

“Yo.. check out the Commanche Peak thread that Roamaround started.

Peace out.”

“I was there on a climbing trip in 1990. We did Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. Also did Pichincha (Quito raps around its base) as a warmup dayhike; its a trail hike and the summit is over 15000 ft (do it for the altitude bragging rights if you've got time!). We never went down to the Amazon basin, nor out to the Galapagos Islands (VERY expensive to fly out there).

As for the country in general - it was fairly tourist friendly. Pretty easy to get around the major cities in the Andes highlands since everything is along the Pan American Hwy. Also very scenic with its high altitude and frequent rain. Points you can visit are the equator monument (just north of Quito), the Otovalo market (a real tourist trap, but interesting if the weekly "locals" market is running on the same day). Quito itself can be divided into two cities - the richer "new" city and the "old" city. The new city is where all the rich folks, tourists, and diplomats live. The old part of town has all the scenic buildings and has a lot higher crime rate (pickpockets abound, so watch out if you go there). the Govt buildings and the famous 'Bolivar" statue (obligatory in the northen Andes) are in the area between the two. Get a guidebook for more up-to-date detail.

One of the more interesting things I remember was visiting local street markets in smaller towns - look at all the varieties of fruits and vegetables. (this might be real applicable for Tena). Especially notice the huge variety of potatoes. Also see if you can find a fruit calle chermoya (about the side of a softball with a scaley skin). Interesting taste of mixed tropical fruit.

All the peaks mentioned above are done as long dayhikes from mountain huts. However, you do need crampons, ice axe and rope due to the glacier travel. If you wanted to do a climb of one of the major peaks there are no shortages of guide services in Quito.

Things might have changes in the last 15 years, but overall it was a pretty inexpensive and interesting vacation.”

“I have never been to South America, but when AmyG says, "Amazon," I get a chubby.”

“hi bacpac. ;D

Fido- thanks for the great info. I will definitely look into Pichincha, but the others will be out due to elevation. I won't have time to acclimate for Cotopaxi or the like. There are tons of places in the guidebooks I've purchased...hot springs, mtns, rivers and, of course, the jungle.
It is always better to get first-hand feedback though.
;)

I would looooove to see the Galapagos some day too, but that would require more time than I've got, plus los dolares son muchisimo.”

“If you'll be driving out of Tena towards the south to reconnect to the Pan Am hwy, try spending a day at Banos. Great hot springs resort. The hot waters come up from the nearby Sangay and Turichinchia(?) volcanos. We stayed there after climbing Chimborazo and the hot water mineral pools and spas were a blessing!

And if you're driving north back to Quito, you might want to at least stop for a few hours at the Cotopaxi Natl Park (the mtn is inside the park). Its got some great high 'altiplano' scenery, and if the weather is clear you get great views of both Cotopaxi and the more technical twin peaks of Illiniza. Also might want to look around the town of Latacunga. It was wiped out in 1890 when Cotopaxi last erupted, and you can still make out the mud/debris flows coming from the north.

Galapagos - Others have told me its not very impressive unless you are really into wildlife. Most of it lives very close to the islands' shores, and the interior of the islands are very dry and parched (very little wildlife).

Guayaquil - The main coastal seaport and Ecuador's largest city. Skip it; its a dump We got stuck their two days due to aircraft problems and had a hard time finding anything decent to do. Its also very hot and humid.

Oh yeah - HAVE FUN!”

“well, I won't actually be driving anywhere since I won't have wheels...I am banking on a lot of hiking, hitching, bussing and horseback riding. Wherever that takes me, we shall see. LOL

Seriously though, I'll be on my own for the last part of the trip, but I have the English-speaking cousin of a friend's coworker who lives in Quito, who can bail me out in an emergency. I speak enough Spanish to survive, but it is good to have a contact "just in case."

or maybe I'll just meet some hot Latino boy to run off with and you'll never hear from me again. ;D

moohahahahaaaa”

“(Damn, I feel like I'm imitating Columbo!)

If you get a chance to see Cotopaxi (its visible from the Pam Am Hwy on clear days) could you take a picture of it and post here? The glaciated mtns of Ecuador, being located on the equator and in a heavy rainfall/snowfall area, are great examples global warming. It would be interesting to see what they look like these days.

Then again, if you run off with a young Ecuadorian 'hunk', mountain photography will become a distant, secondary priority.”

“Usually she just hooks up with some local statues from what I've seen.”

“Cotopaxi photos are definitely on the list of things to get...I'll do my best for ya.

Addy - hush, you! They told me that guy was like a bronze god in that country...I didn't know they meant literally. (he was a hell of a kisser though)
;p”

“Hmmm. . . AmyG's got a 'thing' for 'bronze gods'? Shouldn't someone call the Ecuadorian embassy and warn them she's coming?

I found the pictures I took in Ecuador and it looks like Mr. Bolivar is safe; he's made of stone and is up on a pedestal far out of everyone's (including AmyG's) reach.”

“You guys can waste your time trying to figure out what AmyG's thing is.

I bathe in the knowledge of knowing what her thing isn’t.”

“As I mentioned previously, its been 15 years since I've been there. The country has gone through some economic upheavals the last few years, but no insurrections. Very interesting place, and a good (if not 'mild')introduction to the northern Andes and indigenous people of the region. Go forth and enjoy, and we'll expect a full, detailed TR when you get back.”

“hmmm...looks like the plan may be slightly altered due to some sort of "instability" in the area where we were originally going to be based. (very vague with details at this time)
We now will probably end up strictly in El Oriente region...in the Amazon Basin. That is very cool, of course, but now I'll have to direct my independent travel into the Andes (gotta have both!)”

“Hmmm...”

“:p”

“What r u doing up so late?”

“Don't make me come back there you two.”

“Oh yeah? Come here and I'll give you a purple nurple!

Its time for all of you East-Coasters to go to bed.
last edited: 7/20/05 10:44:50 PM”

“just finished an ER rotation and it was crazy busy (full moon...awhoooo). Just winding down here...'cuz it's never crazy here.
;p”

“That's it, no ice cream for anyone.”

“Well I think I would be go crazy too if I saw your full moon.

:p
last edited: 7/20/05 10:46:02 PM”

“mmmmm...ice cream.

Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey or Brownie somethin-or-other or Cherry Garcia (in that order!) heheheh

g'nite CO and NY
:)”

“Hope it wasn't the Bobo moon.”

“Goodnight Moon.

Zac! When you coming out???

Have you seen our Webshots lately??? This weekend we are attempting 2 mountains over 13,000'.

Neener Neener :P”

“Oh yeah, I get to change the oil in my car and try and find an exhaust leak. That's almost as good as climbing a couple 13K's.”

“Almost.

That sucks but you could pretend the oil dripping in your eye is cool water dripping off a snowfield.”

“ha, this weekend I am attempting numerous Pennsylvanian peaks that are more than 2,000 feet.”

“ENS.. I remember those days!”

“Adventurist is going to get an a$$ whooping soon. STOP THAT!!

LMAO”

“I can't wait! Why don't you come out here and give it to me?
last edited: 8/02/05 8:33:22 AM”

“I will get there soon enough, no worries. Your a$$ whooping will have collected interest by then, so be prepared! ;)”

“I want pictures. 8D”

“to heck with pictures - I want the DVD”

“whoohooo!!! I am almost packed and ready to go!!

Now I just have to figure out how to keep my digi-cam from breaking in all of the condensation/humidity in the rainforest? Any advice, experience? Anyone?”

“That is going to be difficult Amy. I can say that I have never shot is a place like that with all the humidity. What are you packing it in?

I would wrap it in a towel, then place it in a plastic bag, then in its carring case. The towel will soak up any humidity, the plastic will prevent any large amounts of water/condensation from getting in.

Whenever you get to a dry, inside place, take the camera out and eject the tape and keep it open.”

“Birch dumped babypowder all over his when he was in Panama. I don't recomend it.

Have a wonderful trip AmyG, take lots of pics and please make a TR when you get back!!”

“Did it ever work after that Sass?”

“Have a wonderful and safe trip AmyG!

Watch out for those tropical parasites! In fact, I recommend that you read Parasite Rex on your plane ride! lol

Just kidding, have a truely wonderful time doing great work for people in need. I'm sure you're going to learn so much on this voyage.

Trip report when you come back, okay???”

“Tena Climate

"For a rainforest city, Tena's climate is surprisingly comfortable, it's cooler, due to its elevation, and drier than most people expect. There's rainfall year-round and the heaviest rains come in June, July, and August, but even in this very wet time it doesn't necessarily rain every day or all day when it does rain. The rain is pleasant and warm, like the rain that those of us from the northern hemisphere only get in the sweltering heat of summer, but if you plan to be outside for long periods even warm rain can bring down your body temperature so it's wise to have a slicker."
Tena

You're going to love it.
last edited: 8/04/05 12:58:17 PM”