For two days, a local Ecuadorian family hosted our private tour of the cloud forest and surrounding rural cities. We went to the Equator, ziplined through the canopy, visited a butterfly farm, saw an artisinal chocolate-making production, hiked through calf-deep mud to a waterfall, milked a cow and spent the night in a cabin without electricity. But even better than the slew of thrilling activities was getting to know a local couple and their adorable youngest daughter.

The cloud forest of Las Tolas, Ecaudor.

Typically, cloud forests are so high in the mountains that you are constantly enveloped in a thin mist. The altitude varies from 500 meters to 4000 meters above sea level. The temperate climate from low cloud cover just above the canopy also makes a good home for a unique set of birds and plantlife.

Clouds!

The lodge where Nora and I spent the night on the tour is just a few miles from the town limits of Las Tolas, where a handful of families live. The lodge is completely secluded in the mountains, with its few cabins interspersed throughout the landscape. For an extra rustic experience, the cabins are without electricity and hot water. Since it was only for a night, I skipped the cold shower but enjoyed writing by candlelight as rain poured on the tin roof, lulling me asleep.  I woke up to roosters´calls at sunrise.

The family who lives and cares for the lodge prepared the best Ecuadorian food I´ve had in the country. Potato and rice soups with avocado preceded plates of meat and fried potatoes or bananas. For breakfast, it was homemade bread and cheese empanadas served with eggs and real hot chocolate and freshly-squeezed pineapple juice.

Natalie, 4.

“Amigas!”

Nora on the porch of our cabin.

On Day 2, Clever, who lives at the lodge, took Nora and I for a hike to a nearby waterfall. With it being full swing into rainy season, I was grateful for the rubber boots they lent us for the rather muddy path. At times, I was more than nervous as the ground slid out and I walked through calf-deep mud.

Along the way, Clever pointed out several plant and insect species. I chewed gum from a chicle plant, touched the blood of the sangre del dragón tree and saw 9-inch slugs and other creepy-crawlers. The forest is also home to dozens of hummingbirds.

The waterfall was a pretty stop, then we hiked back up to the lodge. (For once, uphill was much easier due to the mud).

In our rain boots.

The bleeding tree. Its blood is used for face creams.

Flowers in the forest.

Ahhh! Yeah, I should probably not hold a machete.

The waterfall.

Me and Nora.

As cliché as it is, the cloud forest tour was an unforgettable experience that I think will really define my time in Ecuador. It was great to get out of the city and see what else this beautiful country has to offer. The two days of roughin´ it is a great prelude to what this week brings: Four days in the Amazon Rainforest. Stay tuned…I´m sure this city girl will have some stories to tell.

-JDF