Ecuador Eco Volunteer

Archive pour la catégorie ‘The Andes’

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Bioluminescent cockroaches!

These cockroaches found only in Ecuador produce their own light in what is thought to be an attempt to mimic highly toxic beetles and deter predators. On the left in the cockroach under visible light, and on the right under a fluorescent lightbulb. Bioluminescence is very rare in land-based animals and the genus of these cockroaches is one of only three groups of insects that produce their own light in this way (fireflies are one of the other groups).
The only known specimen of these insects was collected in 1939, and it has only recently been described. A volcano eruption at the site in 2010 means further specimens are sadly unlikely to be discovered.

Thanks to The Scientist for sending this one our way.

http://tinyurl.com/bs8gs4a

Image credit: Vršanský et al., Naturwissenschaften (2012)

Finn came down to Ecuador to volunteer with us last year and liked it so much he came again this year with two of his friends.

Ecuador is one of the biggest exporters of the Cocao bean to make Coco and Chocolate in the world. The plant which comes from South America was even used as a common currency throughout this region before the Spanish invasion.

What might surprise you when you get to Ecuador is why a country that makes 130,000 tonnes of Cocao a year has such crappy chocolate for sale in all the stores. Its because very little of the Cocao produced is for the local market which monstrous unethical corporations like Nestle have consumed.

http://www.ecuadorecovolunteer.org/inspiring-ted-talk-reforesting-the-rainforest/

major exporter of Cocao Dark Chocolate is something you must try as you get the chance. Arriba is a select cocoa variety grown only in Ecuador that emits fragrant, floral nuances. When dark chocolate is prepared from these beans, the flavor is clear and pure with nutty undertones.

Salinas de Guaranda is a famous little town in the Ecuadorian Andes that is about two and an half hours by bus from Riobamba. What makes the town so popular amongst both Ecuadorian and foreign tourists is its cheese and chocolate factories as well as the great variety in hand-knitted llama and alapca wool clothing.

So whats so good about the cheese and chocolate? Well if you have been in Ecuador and South America for a while you will know that the omnipresent fresh, white, and tasteless cheese they have over here leaves a lot to be desired compared to our aged cheeses back home.

A swiss guy came to Salinas over half a century ago and taught the people there how to make real cheese and swiss chocolate. The cheese comes in a variety of flavors and you can even get ones filled with oregano and and chilli.

Although not too frequented by tourists the bus ride from Guayaquil into Babahoyo is most scenic and you will often see agricultural workers hard at work tilling the fields.
There is a frequent bus service to Salinas de Guaranda with Transportes Cándido Rada leaving from Plaza Roja in Guaranda. Or, take a bus from Cuatro Esquinas, located on the road to Ambato (10 km north of Guaranda). From there, take a truck to Salinas (20 km). A taxi costs around US$15. To go back to Guaranda take any bus from Salinas’ main plaza (all of them go to Guaranda).

Father Antonio Polo initiated the FUNORSAL Foundation (Fundacion de Organizaciones de Salinas) to set up and manage cooperatives to transform raw materials to finished goods. See the Headquarters building (SEDE FUNORSAL) among the pictures below. For example, cocoa to chocolat candy, wool to yarn and textiles, meat to sausage, mushrooms to soups and packages, and milk into fancy and natural cheeses. To do this, workers are selected and trained (often in foreign countries), machinery is procured (often previously used), and extensive marketing is conducted. Much of the production is sold in Europe and North America and the basic producers get to share in the wealth created from their work.

There is a frequent bus service to Salinas de Guaranda with Transportes Cándido Rada leaving from Plaza Roja in Guaranda. Or, take a bus from Cuatro Esquinas, located on the road to Ambato (10 km north of Guaranda). From there, take a truck to Salinas (20 km). A taxi costs around US$15. To go back to Guaranda take any bus from Salinas’ main plaza (all of them go to Guaranda).

Ecuador is one of the best countries in the Andes mountain range if you like trekking and hiking. Many of the best treks in Ecuador require guides, donkeys and private transport but there are some great day hikes and independent treks you can do on your own

A great day trek for experienced and inexperienced trekkers alike is one to the cave, waterfalls, and abandoned hotsprings around the active Volcano Tungurahua . Here are the directions to get there with photos below:

- From the « Terminal Orient » in Riobamba catch the bus to Palitachwa (pronounced Palitawa)

- Get off at Palitachwa and follow the road down past the village and continue past the houses destroyed by the Volcano Tungurahua on the edge of a cliff above the River Patso

- The road will continue for about 45 minutes past farmland as you get closer and closer to Volcano Tungurahua until you reach a bridge

- Once you cross the bridge you will be at an abandoned hotsprings facilities which you can enter and explore.

- From here there are two routes that you can take one to the beautiful view of several stunning waterfalls and the other to a cave inside the Volcano Tungurahua.

- The path to both these routes starts above the abandoned hot-springs, you will see a dirt track that goes to the left and the right but for both routes you want to go to the left and climb as the path to the right only leads to the river.

- Once you take the path to the right which climbs up the hill it will split in two again; to go to the waterfalls head to the right away from Tungurahua which follows the river and to see the cave head to the left..

- The right path to the waterfalls will climb for about two hours with multiple switchbacks and past a few remote indigenous farm-houses and plantations of Eucalyptus trees (the locals are super friendly so dont forget to say « hola! ») soon the path will curve North to the left which is where you will see many beautiful and very large waterfalls.

- The left path to the cave weaves and turns on the side of the mountain. Some parts of the trail were destroyed the last time the volcano erupted so you will need to do some path finding but there are old signs that point to another hotsprings higher up that have been destroyed.

- Once you get the hotsprings that have been destroyed, you will know because of the mangled cement and rocks, keep heading further up the source of the river and climb over the rocks. Then you will be inside the Corazon de Tungurahua (The Heart of Tungurahua) the giant cave with a beautiful waterfall above it.

I dont need to say that if the volcano is spewing lava this day trek is not the best idea. Ask the locals about the safety of the volcano, if its merely « fumando / smoking » the worst thing that will happen is a bit of ash will be in your lungs but when the volcano is very active this day trek can be dangerous.

Now youve had a taste of trekking in Ecuador and want to get off the beaten track then check out Ecuadors Best Treks

You wont regret it.

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