[OGD] Re: Ecuador

Quote (trimmed):

>From:  tenman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>Thanks for sharing. Wonderful stuff, both orchid and non-orchid. Must 
>have been a great trip!
>Tennis Maynard
>------------------------------
>From: DMangologist@xxxxxxx

>My my, Mr Sparrow, what an absolutely fabulous presentation, for which  I 
>thank you.

Thank you both very much, and to those who contacted me directly. It is a
great pleasure to get some positive noises from this network. :=)

I thoroughly recommend Ecuador to those interested in SA orchids. In my
limited experience, the Eastern lowlands are less than useful, for although
there is some extraordinary coastal forest, it is largely cattle degraded,
snake-infested Lantana scrub. The Andes altiplano is also less than useful,
for climatic reasons, but the Eastern flanks of the Andes and the alta selva
are absolutely astonishing. South is better than North, and the roads
connecting the alta selva ('high jungle') towns are good, as are the feeders
down from the high altitude spinal routes. The Parque Nacional del Podocarpus
- next to  Vilcabamba and Loja - and associated roads is an area that is
extremely good for orchids. The lowland towns of Tena, Puyo, Macas and Zamorra
have remarkable orchid flora. The Puyo-Macas road skirts another huge national
park. 

How to travel? I have relatively fluent Spanish and tend to hire a car and
just set out. I have more contacts in Peru than Ecuador, but it costs only
USD150 or so to fly someone up from Lima, so if anyone wants a guide, please
make contact with Angel Antezana <angelantezana@xxxxxxxxx> who can organise
what is needed including car hire and so forth. Please be clear that you are
dealing with him, not me, and that I have no business interest in what he does
with you. He is ex-Peruvian air force, mid-forties, OK-ish English. He is used
to lunatics with an interest in little bunches of twigs and tiny brown flowers
stuck somewhere up a tree in the rain. 
______________________________

Oliver Sparrow
+44 (0)1628 823187
www.chforum.org

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