This trip was organized and lead by the Natural History Institute in Prescott, Arizona. This was their virgin tour and it was a complete success from our viewpoint!
This trip to Ecuador was dedicated to our dear friend Paul
Doescher who passed away in August 2017 from cholangio-carcinoma, a
type of bile duct cancer. I met Paul and his wife Sue in 1980 when we were all graduate students
at Oregon State University; Paul and I in the Department of Rangeland
Resources, Sue in the Department of Family Development. Paul and I became fast friends because we were not livestock
lovers; we were lovers of the lands that they had generally overgrazed
in the past, and still do to this day in many areas of the West. Sue
and I bonded immediately because our birthdays were so close that we
called ourselves Identical Twins of Different Mothers (think
about it). I could go on and on an on... but you can click on the link
below Paul's photo and get an idea of why this trip was dedicated to
him!
Dr. Cristina Eisenberger, a friend of Paul's, had a connection at the
Natural History Institute, Dr. Tom Fleishner, who had been her Masters
Advisor while she studied at Prescott College.
Cristina invited Paul's wife and daughter, Sue and Kara who were the
primary guests of
the trip. Cristina also invited Jim and I, as well as our friend
Peggy. I invited my sister Mavis and her wife Joanne, and my friend
Betsy. Betsy invited her friend
Our itinerary was as follows:
|
Jan 6
|
Leave for Ecuador; arrive
Quito late evening
|
|
Jan 7
|
Tour Quito, orientation dinner
|
|
Jan 8
|
Daytrip to Bella Vista Cloud Forest Lodge northwest of Quito
|
|
Jan 9
|
Fly to Galápagos Islands; board yacht, tour Isla Santa Cruz mangrove, cruise to Isla Genovesa
|
|
Jan 10
|
Isla Genovesa
(hike Prince Philip Steps and snorkel Darwin Bay), cruise to Isla Santiago
|
|
Jan 11
|
Islas
Santiago (morning hike and snorkel) and Rábida (afternoon hike and snorkel);
cruise to Isla Isabela
|
|
Jan 12
|
Isla Isabela,
Sierra Negra
|
|
Jan 13
|
Isla Isabela,
|
|
Jan 14
|
Isla Isabela,
|
|
Jan 15
|
Return to
Quito; optional city tours
|
|
Jan 16
|
Fly to Coca;
boat trip on Rio Napo Sani Lodge; activities in rainforest
|
|
Jan 17
|
Activities
near Sani Lodge and Parque Nacional Yasuní
|
|
Jan 18
|
Activities
near Sani Lodge Parque Nacional Yasuní
|
|
Jan 19
|
Activities
near Sani Lodge Parque Nacional Yasuní
|
|
Jan 20
|
Morning in
rainforest; return by car over the Andes to Quito
|
|
Jan 21
|
Departure
|
