Let Joanne Williams’ Ecuador photo workshop and tour take you to Ecuador’s most breathtaking photo locations. You’ll visit tropical rain forests and get closer to dozens of rare and endemic species than you ever thought possible. You’ll see why many have dubbed it a “mega-diversity hotspot”.
Ecuador is a tiny country about the size of the state of Nevada located in the northwestern corner of South America. It borders Peru and Columbia while abutting the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is divided into four regions: the western coastal lowlands, the Andean backbone, the eastern jungles of the Amazonian basin and the Galapagos Islands, which drape across the equator.
Ecuador is one of the most “species-rich” nations on earth—so much so ecologists have dubbed it a “mega diversity hotspot”. In my opinion, it is also one of the most beautiful countries on earth probably due to the vast variety of habitats. Alpine grasslands, coastal swamps and tropical rainforest attract numerous species of birds and mammals.
Images of many different species of beautiful hummingbirds are easy to capture without elaborate setups to lug around. There exists some 100 known rodents but the number is probably higher. The largest living rodent in the world is the Capybara and lives in the tropical rainforest of the nation’s Amazon. The are 132 species of bats accounted for in the country but more are believed to exist. The largest terrestrial mammal found is the tapir, which can weigh up to 300 kg and belongs to the odd-toed ungulates (hoofed animals). Eleven even-toed animals are also part of the landscape with the llamas being the most interesting ones. The carnivores have 31 species present in the country with two beautiful members of the cat family, the mighty jaguar and the smaller ocelot found in the tropical rain forests. But the most versatile of all cats is the puma, which adapted to all habitats and can be found in all regions of the country although it is now under siege by human encroachment
In the higher Andean region of the paramo you find two more carnivores, the Andean fox, a member of the dog family and the spectacled bear, the only bear specie in the whole national territory. Other carnivores, which adapted to life in water are the otters with the giant otter being the most fascinating one and the marine sea lions. Many people, of course, are interested in the New World Monkeys and 19 members of those primates inhabit the lower tropical regions. Introduced here are the Woolly, Spider, Squirrel and Howler Monkeys. Along with all this fabulous wildlife, you can also have images of beautiful scenery, and colorful lifestyles of the people. Accommodations, are, of course, excellent as I do like my ‘creature comforts’ and want my tour participants comfortable & happy!
