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I had forgotten how much actual travel is involved in being a “traveler”. If I had thought it through step by step, I would never have planned this many hours of travel over a 3 day period, positive the kids could not manage it. But as it turns out, I didn’t really think it through, and we had reservations, so we went for it and the kids handled better then most adults would have done. Getting from the Amazon region in the eastern part of Ecuador up to a remote village in the Andes went something like this;
Depart Amazon Lodge-3hrs by boat-2hrs by truck
sleep in hotel
wake up at 5am -8 hrs by public bus-change busses-1 more hour by bus
sleep in hostel
leave hostel at 10am-4 hr bus-Arrive remote Andes village area
There were three keys to our success for this long haul, embracing the feeling of adventure, finding opportunities for little breaks/free play, and allowing some iPad time.
Ecuador is exotic for us, creating a near-constant feeling of adventure. The kids still haven’t tired of the fact that taxis don’t have seat belts and the drivers are slightly reckless. We are continually finding unique foods sold on the buses and in little hole-in-the-wall tiendas. The views are often breathtaking and if not, at least totally different from home. Zuki counted 11 different types of animals on the side of the road on our last 4hr bus ride. With the Ecuadorian music blaring and the aisles filled with standing locals with all sorts of “carry-ons”, the crowed buses are still a novelty.
Depart Amazon Lodge-3hrs by boat-2hrs by truck
sleep in hotel
wake up at 5am -8 hrs by public bus-change busses-1 more hour by bus
sleep in hostel
leave hostel at 10am-4 hr bus-Arrive remote Andes village area
There were three keys to our success for this long haul, embracing the feeling of adventure, finding opportunities for little breaks/free play, and allowing some iPad time.
Ecuador is exotic for us, creating a near-constant feeling of adventure. The kids still haven’t tired of the fact that taxis don’t have seat belts and the drivers are slightly reckless. We are continually finding unique foods sold on the buses and in little hole-in-the-wall tiendas. The views are often breathtaking and if not, at least totally different from home. Zuki counted 11 different types of animals on the side of the road on our last 4hr bus ride. With the Ecuadorian music blaring and the aisles filled with standing locals with all sorts of “carry-ons”, the crowed buses are still a novelty.
View from the last bus up to Chugchilan
Even within the above itinerary there was time for the kids to have free play, which seems to be a requirement for their contentment, and in turn our sanity. The first night we purposely booked a hotel with a pool equipped with a water slide and monkeys in the trees even though the hotel otherwise would not have been our first pick. Before finding a place for dinner we gave them time to play in the main plaza park with the local kids. The second night we made sure to get a little fresh air and explore our surrounds, chosing to eat at a special place for dinner, i.e. slightly fancier then normal, serving the fun sounding famous plate of the region, Chugchucara. Sunday morning before departing again we strolled around town and the kids thought of playing family hide-n-seek in the plaza, which was deserted on a Sunday morning.
 Ramshackle hotel but at least there is this funky water slide and monkeys in the nearby tree  Coca Park fun |  Even short explorations in Ecuador seem to turn up something of interest for the kids.  Latacunga’s famous Chugchucara consists of deep fried pork, mote (boiled hominy), potatoes, fried plantains, empanadas, popcorn, and pork rinds. It is accompanied by aji |
And although not all parents would agree, we allow the kids some time to use their iPads for long travel days. Even though they are very interested in the scene passing their windows they tire of it eventually. On a 8 hr bus ride, 3 hrs of iPad time, either watching downloaded movies, listening to audio books, or playing games really breaks up the hours.
And it always helps when the final destination turns out to be a great find.
And it always helps when the final destination turns out to be a great find.
Black Sheep Inn, main lodge area
The Black Sheep Inn in Chugchilan on Quilatoa Loop, is a beautifully thought-out, Ecologically sensitive lodge, equipped with lovely rooms with wood burning heaters, with a sauna, hot tub, zip line, work out room, and yoga room on premises. The views in every direction are amazing and there are innumerable beautiful hikes in the area.
Riding to Quilitoa standing in the back of a pick up sure had us all grinning. What a way to enjoy the stunning scenes.
Hiking down to the crater lake, Quilitoa. (Altitude at upper rim 12, 841ft)
Hike right out the back door of Black Sheep Inn
 Gimnasio: somehow Yoda had energy even after high altitude hikes |  Relaxing muscles in the hot tub. |
For the kids, the numerous friendly animals, were the highlight. On property there were 2 pigs, 5 lamas, 3 black sheep, some white sheep, 2 cats, 1 dog, and some guinea pigs hiding in the hillside. Zuki and Yoda had the lamas licking salt out of their hands and spent countless hours hanging out with the pigs, hugging them, feeding them and cleaning their pens “as a gift” to their animal friends. Zuki, our animal whisperer, was able to pet her pig to sleep in under a minute.
"Big Mama”, who is pregnant, getting lots of love
 “Jackson” named after Yoda’s best buddy in Kauai |  “Is your mama a lama?" |
Actual tears were shed as we departed. But I think they might fade quickly as we are off to the Galapagos islands where I am sure more animals will catch the hearts of us all.
