Paute is a small canton (county) in Azuay province – just outside of the city of Cuenca. It is just a short drive to Paute. On our recent visit to Hacienda Uzhupud we spoke with Charlie Castro – head of entertainment. In this video, Charlie explains some of the highlights of Paute and the surrounding…
One of the most amazing flowers I’ve ever seen is the monkey-faced orchid. The first time I ever saw this orchid was at the orchidarium in Cuenca Ecuador. It’s hard to believe how much it actually looks like a little monkey face. Talk about a flower with personality! Monkey-Faced Orchids in Cuenca Ecuador These orchids grow in…
In this post, you’ll learn about Ecuador’s Andean bear. It is also known as a spectacled bear (for obvious reasons). Let’s jump into the 17 facts! In Cuenca Ecuador, there are not many wild animals or critters. It’s a city high in the Andes mountains. There are tarantulas, birds and some small bugs but nothing…
A little while ago, I discovered a very interesting fruit called guaba. It is very common at markets and can be seen on trees in the outskirts of Cuenca. Because of it’s slight vanilla flavor, guaba is also known as the: ice cream bean. What The “Ice Cream Bean” Looks Like It is green on…
Have you heard about encebollado? This is a very popular soup in Ecuador – especially on the coast. In this post, you’ll learn about different types of encebollado and just what we think about it. Encebollado: Fish (Tuna) Soup in Ecuador While living abroad one of the most common questions we are asked by locals…
Ingapirca is the largest site of Inca ruins in Ecuador. There have been other sites found, but none as large as Ingapirca. Obviously, this makes it a top tourist destination. Ingapirca: Ecuador’s Largest Incan Ruins We have been living in Ecuador for 4 years, and finally visited Ingapirca earlier this year. Because it is so close to…
Are you concerned about parasites and amoebas? When we first moved, we were too. And since then we’ve been sick many times. But don’t worry – it wasn’t as bad as it sounds. We have used a number of different concoctions – including some super strong anti-parasite meds. They were brutally strong; we were exhausted…
A few months ago I discovered a new dessert in Cuenca: Higos con queso. Despite having lived here for four years, I tried this sweet dessert for the first time just a few months ago. Since then, I’ve had it many times. The recipe is pretty simple. In this post, you’ll learn about higos in Ecuador –…
So Dena has her Ecuadorian drivers license. And she didn’t have to take a week long course, like I did to get my Ecuadorian license (detailed in the second half of this post). Guide to Getting an Ecuadorian Drivers License More than a year ago, we heard about a new program by the ANT (Agencia…
Ecuador has hundreds of beautiful hikes. Hiking in Ecuador draws thousands of adventurers every year. In this post, you’ll learn about hiking in the Andes of Ecuador – including the Cajas National Park, and a mountain with a spectacular view of Cuenca. And hiking in the Galapagos Islands. Hiking Cajas National Park, Cuenca Ecuador We…