Northern Ecuador

16-30 September 2010

From Papallacta Pass it was down the east slope to Guango Lodge, at about 8870 ft	Up the steps at Guango...	...to our hallway...	...and our cozy room!
On the trail at Guango	More trail views...	Ditto	Good viewing from the bridge looking for torrent ducks - we did get good looks at turquoise jays here
Waterfall!  (Hey I stood out on a rock to get this photo while Robert held on...)	Bruce at the river at Guango	From Guango it was on down to Cabañas San Isidro, at ~6560 ft	View from our porch at San Isidro
Liza on the porch of our cabaña	In the comedor (dining room)	Robert birding from the porch	Beautiful valley view from the meeting room at San Isidro
On the road outside San Isidro	Robert and Liza on day trip to Guacamayos Ridge, part of the Antisana Reserve	"Did you photograph the sign?" Robert asked.  Yes.	From Guacamayos we drove down to the Narupa reserve of Jocotoco, ~ 3500 ft
Bridge at the end of the gravel trail at Narupa	Leaving Narupa we drove on down to Tena, on the upper edge of the lowlands, to visit a parque amazónico and get some birds we otherwise wouldn't see	Unfortunately the bridge to the island park was out!  So we ferried across in canoes	Wobbly canoes (to us), I might add
The parque had a tower that only wobbled a little bit, giving us nice views into the canopy	Robert on the tower	Together on the tower!	Self-guided trail, yes, we get it
There was a zoo in the park...but the animals seemed a little neglected :-( including this primate who was picking up leaf-cutter ants from the trail	Coati at the park zoo	Next day with a larger group (second tour group had arrived the previous night) we headed up to the Antisana Reserve - this is volcano Sumaco	Creepy clown trashcan lids at a gas station
Antisana - with glacier!  Near the equator!	Ron Beck (who was with the second tour group) with Robert on the bus	On the road at Antisana	...ditto
Inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe	Antisana views...	...	End of the road - Laguna Micacocha - at about 13,000 ft