Ecuador

Ecuador was one of the wildest countries I have ever visited, in the most beautiful sense of the word. Perhaps because there I had my first experience in the Amazon rainforest: entire days immersed in endless nature, among towering trees and hidden animals that only the local guides, who grew up in the jungle, know how to spot.
I still remember our guide who, at night, was able to spot a caiman by the glint of its eyes from meters away, or when he found an anaconda on a branch and pulled it out with the boat paddle like spaghetti to show it to us up close… pure wonder (and a bit of shivers!).

Mount Corazón

But Ecuador is not just the Amazon: volcanoes are one of its many highlights. I spent a few days in the Cotopaxi region, which stands at 5,897 m. The owner of the hostel where I was staying suggested I start by climbing Mount Corazón (whose peak reaches 4,790 m), a hike she had been doing since childhood with her grandparents. However, I couldn't make it to the top: the strong wind, the cold, and some dangerous sections without safety ropes, where I needed to cling to the rock with my hands on a path too narrow to walk safely, made me stop short. An intense experience that taught me how people here are accustomed to terrains that are actually challenging.

Cotopaxi

The next day, despite everything, I set out for Cotopaxi, accompanied by a guide who calmly informed us that there was an orange alert for eruption risk (since the volcano was already erupting ash and various dusts): "if the sirens sound, we have about 2 hours to evacuate"... I was agitated, he was calm. An incredible lesson on how to coexist with nature.

The big cities

Ecuador, however, is not just nature and carefree living: in large cities like Quito, one must pay attention to safety. I myself stayed in a hostel protected by gated barriers, and a few days after my departure, an armed robbery occurred there. An episode that makes one think, but it should not deter from visiting the country: just move with caution.

The islands

In the Galápagos Islands, however, it's a completely different story. Safe, peaceful, magical: a true paradise where humans and animals coexist in harmony. You might find yourself giving up a bench to a curious sea lion, or seeing giant tortoises on road signs instead of cows. With marine iguanas warming themselves on the rocks and hammerhead sharks swimming alongside you, it feels like living in a documentary.

Juanchito al Rescate

The island of Santa Cruz will always remain in my heart: I spent a month there in a shelter for abandoned dogs. Seeing them give love and trust despite everything they had been through was a life lesson greater than any journey.

Ecuador for me means this: wild, authentic, surprising. A country that challenges you but at the same time gives you immense emotions.

👉 Would you like to experience mainland Ecuador or perhaps go on a cruise among the Galapagos Islands? Contact me: I will help you organize the trip of your dreams. ✨

CONTACT ME FOLLOW JUANCHITO ON INSTA