From the Andes to the Amazon: A Journey to Ecuador’s Source of Chocolate

 

A nation packed with startling scenery and astounding biodiversity awaits us as we explore the highlights and less-visited towns of the majestic Andes and then travel overland down to the mighty Amazon basin. In historic Quito, we visit the old town, meet with a chocolatier, and a local healer. Spend a day at the famous Otavalo Market, then drive over a 13,000 foot-high Andes pass before descending into the rain forest. Visit an eco-friendly chocolate farm, explore the Amazonian rain forest by canoe. Learn about medicinal plants from a local community and see ancient petroglyphs. After a visit to the world’s highest active volcano, we take a thrilling train ride to an Incan fortress. Discover the historic town of Cuenca,  wander its cobblestone streets and flower market. In Cajas we tour Ecuador’s lake country, a region of intense volcanic activity and glaciation, before concluding our journey. Along the way, we learn about Ecuador’s rich history, culture, and natural history by exploring charming colonial towns, markets, volcanoes, and gems of the Amazon rainforest. As an added treat we also look at Ecuador’s culture through the lens of cocoa and chocolate: from tastings to sociopolitical issues surrounding this coveted bean.