Hiking, Hydro and Hot Springs

Greetings from the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest. Over the last 2 days we’ve been exploring this remarkable region with a couple of short hikes to waterfalls, a refreshing afternoon at the Papallacta Hot Springs, and a guided visit of the 50 MW Quijos-Papallacta dam project.

Here are some pictures to tell the story: Michael lending a hand to Anneliese on a stream crossing.

Vamos a la cascada

The group at the dam project site

Michael and Murray posing in front of a waterfall

Long-billed hummingbird

Isabel hiking in the cloud forest

No, Murray didn’t drop his keys in the river. He’s actually trying to move a boulder to make it easier for the rest of the group to cross the stream while keeping their feet dry

Justin getting up close and personal with a hummingbird

At the Papallacta Hot Springs (minus Quinton who was taking a break to watch the first half of the World Cup)

Isabel and Stella with llama in the background

Raul, the dam project supervisor, explaining some of the project fundamentals to the group

Hiking in the cloud forest

A waterfall in the jungle

Church in Baeza

Connor finding inspiration

Classic Quijos Valley scenery

Sometimes the trail passes through a cow pasture…