Tag: travel stories

An Insiders view on Amazon, Ecuador

By Charles Cumella 


Ecuador is an amazing place, full of natural and man-made wonders. Ecuador has some of the most unique landscapes in the world, including the Highland region (Sierra), the Coastal region (Costa), and the Galapagos. But there’s no way to forget the Amazon region (Amazonia), and its enormous amount of fauna and flora. There are a few national parks and protected areas in Ecuador’s Amazon region, including the Cuyabeno Wildlife reserve, the Yasuni National Park, and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. There are 2 species of animals discovered every day in the Ecuadorian Amazon, this demonstrates that Ecuador is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world!

What makes Amazon in Ecuador a good travel destination?  

The Amazon is an amazing travel destination because of all of the flora and fauna that can be found there, the passengers will be amazed of everything they can see; from 10-foot snakes to dolphins in the middle of a river.

Tell us something that every traveller should know when travelling to the Amazon?

Every  person that travels to the Ecuadorian Amazon should know that they are in for a huge surprise with everything they’ll see, and that they’ll have one of the most relaxing and impacting trips of their lives.

Any essentials that one needs to carry when they travelling to Amazon?

Insect repellent, sun block, sunglasses, light clothing and water resistant ponchos are all indispensable things to have with you in the Amazon. Also indispensable, is the desire to learn about the ecosystem and communities that call this place home.

Which are the most surreal places to visit when in Amazon?

The Cuyabeno is one of the most surreal places to visit in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It has the highest amount of flora and fauna in the Ecuadorian Amazon, having 12.000 species of plants, and 320 species of animals. It’s a wildlife lover’s dream!

Can you tell us a little about the life of the locals?

The local communities that call the Ecuadorian Amazon home are very diverse, some like the Siona community in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, are very used to visitors and even welcome tourists to partake in their daily lives. Others, like the Taromenani tribe located in the Yasuni National Park, do not welcome visitors and are very violent. The communities are very different and very comfortable living out of our “normal” society.

What are the local delicacies/drinks which one must try and where Amazon?                                

The Ecuadorian Amazon has many strange local delicacies, one of the most polarizing ones is the Chontacuro grubs, these are large insect larvae that live in trees, these are then grilled and served. The “chicha de jora” is a drink you will most likely find in the Amazon, it is a fermented corn flour drink that the locals drink like fruit juice, but once it is sufficiently fermented, it becomes an alcoholic beverage.
Yucca is a type of root vegetable used as a base in almost every local food and is grown everywhere in the area.

What are things which one must buy when in Amazon?

The best things to buy in the Amazon are souvenirs, supporting the local communities, such as things made with Tagua, a special seed used for manufacturing jewelry and others.

Which are the most romantic places to visit in Amazon?

Cuyabeno is the most romantic place in the Amazon, it has white and black water lakes which is an amazing place to enjoy a beautiful sunset with your loved one.

What are the local festivals which one must visit when in Amazon?

In Archidona, there is the festival of Chonta, which is a tradition in order to celebrate the region’s success over the invading Spanish forces. This is held during April.

The things guidebooks will not tell anyone about Amazon?

Sadly, there is a lot of oil exploitation in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. This is something that may not be in many guidebooks but it is also a necessary insight into local life in the area.

According to you what is the best thing about Amazon?

For me, the best thing in the Amazon is the huge amount of wildlife and the rest and relaxation you can have while there. It’s an unforgettable experience.

Check out our latest package on the Amazon.

Have a whale of a time!

By Srinivas Krishnan

How about going to a remote spot in the Canadian Arctic? A place so remote that you need to take a private chartered flight from Yellowknife in the Northwestern Territories, fly for 1,500 km, then walk about one kilometre across the Tundra, and follow it up with a short raft ride across the Cunningham river.


A journey that will have you mesmerized by four-and-half hours of stunning aerial views and wondering at the majesty of nature unfold ground-level. Your eventual destination? The spectacularly located Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge on Somerset Island in Nunavut.
It’s so remote that you can watch the unique Beluga Whales frolic without inhibition in the water. It’s remote enough to spot that shy giant called the Musk Ox which seems to actually enjoy living in this brutal environment. Also remote enough to watch the antics of the mischievous Arctic Fox, fondly called “clowns of the Tundra” as if they are performing for you.


Again, remote enough to observe all the birds and animals that thrive in this harsh, frigid temperatures: Peregrine Falcons, Arctic Terns, Eider Ducks, Plovers, Snow Geese, Jaegers, Sandpipers, Snow Buntings, Loons, Rough-legged Hawks, and of course, Ring Seals, Bearded Seals and the magnificent Polar Bear.
But not so remote that you sacrifice creature comforts! The Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge is a unique destination that mixes camping luxury with the arctic wilderness, adrenaline-inducing adventures with moments of great calm and quiet introspection, sumptuous gourmet food and drink in the midst of a hostile environment and the warmth of terrific knowledge and hospitality at 805 km north of the Arctic Circle!

This is a different kind of experience than what you perhaps are used to, because when it comes to polar experiences, every day is different and every day offers a new adventure – and you get 24 hours of daylight to make the most of your time there… So many things to do, so many things to see, that you’ll wonder how 10 days just went past.
What makes this remote part of Planet Earth rather special and unique is that the Cunningham River estuary is a Beluga Whale migration site. These wonderful white whales are rather endearing because they communicate with each other using sounds like clicks, moos, whistles and clangs. Not just that, they tend to mimic sounds they hear. You know what that implies, right? It includes the sounds of human speech! Because of the variety of sounds they produce, Belugas are famously known as “canaries of the sea.”

There’s no better spot on the Planet to watch these majestic, friendly and intelligent creatures in action. The proximity of the Lodge to the Beluga Whale migration site as well as their density makes it so. You can see them and even hear them while standing on the river banks and using the hydrophones supplied by the guides, you can even eavesdrop into their conversations.

During your stay here, you will have the opportunity to understand more about the flora and fauna of this land from experts who spend entire lifetimes researching about the natural history, geography and the intersection of man and nature in this part of the world.

For example, on the ATV ride to Cape Anne, you will visit some ancient Thule sites, the Thule people were Bowhead Whale hunters and are ancestors to today’s Inuits. On this ride, while you will be gobsmacked not just looking at the scenic Arctic vistas and the monstrous icebergs, but also the ancient campsites and prehistoric whale bones.

And on a trip to the Somerset Island canyons, which were formed because of shifting fault lines, you will wander wonderstruck looking at the steep walls and the millions of fossils of prehistoric plants and animals scattered around the ground. You’ll get the opportunity to intimately observe the nesting sites of the local birds, watch Arctic Fox cubs at play, witness the mighty Musk Oxen pass by and a unique gull rookery.

During this time, you will enjoy driving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) around the landscape, go paddling in kayaks around the Cunningham Inlet, experience the immense capability of the legendary Mercedes-Benz Unimog four-wheel drive truck, go rafting on the crystal-clear water of the gentle rapids as well as hike in the stunning landscape to reach spots that are mind-blowing. You’ll have a whale of a time, that’s a promise!

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