Cloud Forest
Situated in the Andes north of Quito via a van ride on steep mountain highways and then accessible by a long dirt road that reaches high into the misty mountains, the high-altitude Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge is a birder's paradise, particularly notable for its many species of hummingbirds. However, the vegetation in this misty, rainy place is also unforgettable.
Cuyabeno Reserve, Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is one of the great wonders of the world, and the 1.5-million-acre Cuyabeno Reserve, in eastern Ecuador, has some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Travel in this hot, humid region is best accomplished by dugout canoe, although fiberglass canoes have recently come into vogue so as to spare some of the gigantic trees of the forest. Our base was the Tapir Lodge.
Amazon Insects, Spiders and Frogs
Galapagos
The famous "enchanted isles" (so named by early explorers because of fickle, contrary winds) need little introduction. Unlike many Pacific islands, the islands are a desert, with very little water. Yet life thrives here--in memorable ways. With few natural predators, the animals are fearless of humans and one of the challenges is to avoid stepping on iguanas or boobies. We traveled on the 78-foot Samba, with 12 passengers.