I left the country during a global pandemic. Why? Personal sanity. Is it irresponsible to travel internationally right now? If you read my last two posts, you know I don’t think so. I’ve already said I will comply with the rules set forth by the CDC and the government of the country / state I’m visiting because A) I believe in science and B) I do not want to shelter in place again. This isn’t to debate the rules of the pandemic or what people should / should not be doing. Instead, I’m here to talk about Ecuador. So, moving on!
For me, Ecuador equals the Galapagos Islands. I’ve always had the Galapagos on my travel radar, but I never had the mainland “on the list.” I mean, the equator is there, but what else?
Highly recommend a visit to the Intinan Museum for the real equator. There are 9 monuments in the “Middle of the World” that have the equator, but this one is the real deal.
For starters, the Andes mountains, which span the entire West coast of the continent and mean tons of volcanos. One of the largest, most active volcanos, Cotopaxi, is surrounded by a national park where you can hike to the summit (if you have the time). We did not have the time, so we opted for mountain biking around the base of the volcano. Since it was a rainy, freezing, foggy day, we saw the volcano exactly zero times.
Evidently, Cotopaxi is right behind us. Photo captured right after I fell and busted my knee.
Good news for us, the next stop was Banos (not to be confused with the Spanish word “bano”), which also houses a very active volcano, Tungurahua. It was a perfectly clear day while in Banos, and we made it to the famous “End of the World” swing. Banos compares to your standard backpacker town (think Chiang Mai or Pai) with tons and tons of outdoor activities: rafting, kayaking, hiking, zip lining, trekking, waterfalls, swings, etc. The locals will stay there for a week completing activities, and I wish we would’ve had more time. Instead, we made our way to the Amazon rainforest. That’s right; the “lungs of the Earth” touch almost every South American country and are not solely in Brazil. News to me!
“End of the World” swing.
Devil’s Cauldron waterfall.
When I think about the Amazon, I think about the movie “Arachnophobia.” This movie has given me nightmares my entire life and is the basis of one of my two biggest fears: SPIDERS. I am petrified of spiders in all shapes and sizes. Whenever I see a spider, my arms breakout in goosebumps, and I have physical palpitations of dread that consume my soul. Why exactly did I plan to go into the Amazon, which is the home of tarantulas?
What I didn’t think about was anacondas. If you want some real adventure, book a kayaking or canoeing “cruise” down one of the many Ecuadorian rivers that feeds the Amazon River, so you can hunt anacondas. Rebecca Adventure Travel can set-up a deep Amazon exploration trip if you think you’re that adventurous. Had I known about these kind of trips prior to arriving, I’m still not sure I would’ve done it… again, TARANTULAS.
Suchipakari Jungle Lodge.
Fortunately, we just saw monkeys - even though I’m convinced tarantulas were starring at me through the jungle.
What’s it really like to leave the country during a pandemic? RISKY. There’s a chance the country you’re visiting could go into lockdown while you’re there. Or, America could close it’s borders again, and you could be stuck. Or, all your plans could get canceled because there’s a COVID outbreak somewhere.
Travel right now isn’t for everyone. But if you’re one of those who needs it like you need oxygen, travel can be done during a pandemic.
Immigration checks your PCR test upon arrival and stamps it.
America really is phoning it in with our half-ass attempt at masks, hygiene, and social distancing.
Why Ecuador? Their COVID entry requirements are a 10-day PCR test (for now), which is very feasible compared to some counties with 48-72 hour test requirements. It’s also a direct flight from Atlanta with shorter flying time than going to California. Adventure travel makes up most of their mainland tourism, which has a lower risk of being canceled since their national parks are open.
They’re also very strict on mask mandates and sanitizing requirements. Masks are required in cars where they have police checkpoints checking usage, as well as, outdoors - like the jungle. I felt safer from COVID in Ecuador (a third world country) than I do here in America.