Stories from Ecuador

My heart is heavy and full as I reflect on my Fulbright experience in Ecuador. I cannot express my deep love for this country enough: her...

I ran my fingers along the rough root which stood firmly at chest level before snaking underground. I closed my eyes and felt the soft...

Nestled into the slopes of Volcan Imbabura is a town called Cotocachi, named after the taller rising volcano across the valley. Within...

Perched atop a mountain in the northwestern, high altitude cloud forest is a community of about 200 people called Yunguilla. It appears...

Sunday morning I woke to the distinct forest sounds of Fundación EcoMinga’s Cerro Candelaria Reserve. Three Fulbright friends dozed...

Inhale. Exhale. My breathing coincides with the cadence of the waves rolling into shore along the tranquil town of Las Tunas. My feet...

I arrived in Ecuador two and half months ago for my Fulbright scholarship. I’ve spent most of this time organizing my research and...

It was only appropriate that I woke to heavy rain splattering on the window and pavement on my last day in El Placer. I had settled into...

“This is some kind of adventure, Cata!” I grinned back at Sami standing waist deep in a pool of glass-clear water at the base of a...

I could not stop smiling as I followed Samira along the trail up to EcoMinga’s Cerro Candelaria reserve. The morning was beautiful, one...

*Before starting, here are a few key details if you did not follow my previous adventures. I go by Catalina, my middle name, in Ecuador...