Ecuador, a paradise awaits us

The selfie turned out great. He and she, with their resplendent smiles and that look warmed by the glow of love. In the background, a blue sky against which a flock of pelicans pass by swiftly and flawlessly. And on the horizon, that Manabi sun, which when it touches the sea, turns into a scoop of orange ice cream, melting slowly.

The next day, the young couple returns to Mach alilla, after a sea-to-table breakfast at their little hotel in Puerto Lopez, and lunch with chilled wine in Puerto Cayo, both seaside towns near this beautiful National Park.

Located in the midst of a dry forest, this white sand beach traversed by scampering red crabs is nestled in a small cove flanked by dills, It can reached by a short hike, and by following a few simple rules, like no littering and hours of access, Once there, you need nothing more: its calm, transparent waters bring to mind the Caribbean, with the parade of crabs, fish, starfish and snails in plain sight. You are surely walking on the most beautiful and immaculate beach in Ecuador.

San Agustin and the campfire

The firewood crackles and throws off sparks. The fire dances, ephemeral and twisting. The wind blows and moves on; faintly whistling, remote, nostalgic. In San Agustin de Callo, evening falls at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano, which rises up majestically with its dazzling snow-covered peak. It is a unique and unrepeatable day: the sun king stays in his sky long enough to paint the impressive snowy face with reddish and pink shades. Life is beautiful!

The next morning, the young travelers arise early to face the challenge of a bicycle ride among the paths of the plain. Wearing thermal clothing, ski masks and gloves, they excitedly pedal on, and as they approach the immense volcano, growing larger and larger, they feel small but gratified: there are plenty of reasons to be proud of being from here, the middle of the world; touched by our sun, accompanied by our skies.

The Amazon: another world, the exuberant rebirth

A colorful and ever-changing world, exuberant and generous. The Ecuadorian Amazon is an immense green canvassed, crossed by wide brown rivers, unpredictable descents and mysterious swamps. The kids decided to enter this world with the eagerness of tourists: eyes wide open to follow the birds in flight, to watch the monkeys, count the colors of the stunning toucan, get up close to the secret world of the insects.

With the patience of entomologists, they seek out the unparalleled beauty of dozens of insects, camouflaged among the wild colors of the jungle, the riverbanks, the bark and flowers of the trees. In the afternoon, seduced by the mere name and legend of the anaconda, they board the small boat, equipped with a small outboard motor, paddles and oars.

The youth have only scratched the surface of the beauty of a vibrant, nostalgic, colorful Ecuador, which reinvents itself every day. Like warriors, our landscapes are like the jungle itself: passing away every night, reborn with the break of day. And still it waits for us.