The Amazon is 7 million km2. It contains 20% of the water supply on the planet. Eight countries make up the Amazon: Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela. Although Ecuador contains only 7% of the Amazon, this portion nevertheless represents 51% of it’s the ecuadorian territory. This exquisite ecosystem is intimately linked with the main economic activit of Ecuador: the exploitation of oil. According to the records of the Ministry of Environment, there are 33 ecological reserves in Ecuador. Each faces different types of exploitation and risk factors, such as hunting, fishing, fires and pollution. Within these potentially harmful scenarios, the indigenous communities try to survive.

Loja Province is over 2,000 meters over the see level and has a perfect climate. Its capital, also called Loja, is one of the oldest cities in the country and renowned as the “cradle of the arts, literature and music” of Ecuador. In this area, there are a variety of accommodations, but only one has been a finalist in the prices of London World Travel (Best Hotel and Spa Resort). Just 2 km from the parish of Vilcabamba (“Sacred Valley” in pre-Quechua language), watching the majestic Andes, lies the heavenly hotel-spa Madre Tierra.

The night bus from Quito to Coca leaves at 9:30 pm at the terminal of “Transportes Esmeraldas”on February 12th. The night bus back to Quito from Coca leaves at 8:30 pm or 9:30 pm on February 16th. (Recommendation: Please buy your tickets at least 3 days before the trip! If you prefer, we can buy the ticket for you!)

Our friends over at the ERI (Ecuadorian River Institute) are putting together once again a great event, The Napo River Festival. The festival will take place from January 16th through January 18th 2009 in Misahualli, …

UPANO: Morona Santiago Province, Sucua is the nearest town. Clase IV, IV+
The Upano is a dream come true. The river of the Sacred Waterfalls so deep in the Amazon jungle that its sheer solitude makes …

Last month I spent 20 days in the Yasuni Reearch Station, collaborating with a phD candidate in his field work for his thesis about lianas. It has always been very interesting to meet …

We are delighted to share with you a lovely itinerary that would certainly quench your thirst for adventure. This is a tour that we developed for one of our clients and we liked it so …

As the year 2007 came to an end, Bryan Rubin and some of his friends took part on a Barefoot Expeditions Adventure. Bryan kindly provided an account of his adventure experience with Barefoot as well …