Ecuador: Travel With Purpose, Return With Perspective

Quito

Land in Quito and let the city slow you down—at 9,400 feet, your body will ask for it anyway. Check into Casa Gangotena, a beautifully restored colonial mansion. A few of my favorite things in Quito are the tourist musts of visiting Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, and the obligatory picture of standing with one foot in each hemisphere and sitting in the splendor of Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús. Best time is late morning, when the sunlight streams through stained glass windows. Heavenly.

SachaJi Wellness Retreat

SachaJi sits high in the Andes—a small, boutique 10-room sanctuary with lush gardens, a volcano out the window, and llamas wandering the property. There is something about this place and this landscape that feels mythical. The local curandera handed me a sprig of rosemary for my water within ten minutes of arriving—for hydration and headaches, she said. I have no idea if it was scientifically sound. I felt better by dinner. Days are spent learning plant medicine, volunteering with children from the neighboring village—modest in means, remarkably rich in warmth and cultural pride—and tending gardens that supply nearly everything on your plate. Grounding in the most literal sense.

Mashpi Lodge

From the Andes, the cloud forest feels like another planet. Mashpi Lodge sits inside a private 3,000-acre reserve in the Choco Bioregion—one of Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Pedal the Sky Bike into the mist and watch hummingbirds hover at eye level. Drift above the river gorge on the Dragonfly Canopy Gondola. Note: If scared of heights, this may not be for you! Plant a native sapling with the conservation team and GPS-tag it yourself. I also discovered I am a birdwatcher now—something I did not see coming! The highlight is not any single thing. It is the accumulation of all of it.

Volunteering with the local medicine woman

Sacha Lodge

Fly to Coca, board a motorized canoe on the Napo River, and float two and a half hours into the jungle. Sacha Lodge appeared out of nowhere—thatched buildings, wooden lanterns lining the dock, zero cell service. It looked exactly like Gilligan’s Island, and I mean that with the highest compliment. I’ll admit it took me a day or two to stop reaching for my phone. Then the rainforest sounds took over and I stopped caring entirely. Long guided walks deep into the jungle, monkeys overhead, sloths if you are lucky. Climb the 135-foot canopy tower before dawn and watch macaws fly beneath you as the Amazon unfolds to every horizon—green, infinite, and humbling in a way that stays with you. Come willing to be changed. Until we meet again, Ecuador. Gracias.

Pack smart

Pack in layers and pack light. The cloud forest turns cool by evening, but the Amazon is hot, humid, and I mean humid! Long sleeves aren’t optional in the jungle—they’re your first line of defense from the bugs. Wear everything waterproof, especially your shoes and socks. Wear pants with pockets as a lot of times, you have to be careful what you are touching on guided hikes, so keeping my hands in my pockets stopped me from naturally reaching out. Before you get on the motorized canoe, make sure you have plenty of water. There are no “rest stops” along the way to get off, so be prepared.

When to go

I have visited in both February and September. The rhythm shifts with the season. December through May brings high water to the Amazon—the flooded forest becomes paddleable, wildlife drifts close to the surface. June through November opens up the skies at Mashpi, and birdwatching reaches its peak.

For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our Ecuador page.