In October 2006, we traveled to South America for the first time. We chose Ecuador as our destination because it presented us with a variety of options to explore. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica in 2005, and I had a keen desire to photograph rain forest wildlife again. The Oriente, or Amazonian region of Ecuador, seemed like the perfect place for some tropical forest trekking. For a different but equally rewarding experience, we chose to visit the Galapagos Islands, lying a few hundred miles off the mainland.

Some research prior to the journey put us in contact with some research stations in the cloud and rain forests of Ecuador that sources told us might offer some of the best opportunities in the entire country to photograph native wildlife. We arranged stays at a couple of these stations, with the Galapagos trip stuck in between. We also chose to bring along a new camera and underwater housing to try out, along with some video and audio recording devices we used sparingly.

To see what happened on the trip, follow the links below or click the boxes at right:

Ec/Gal Guide Book

The River of Doubt