Claire Arakaki

05/22/2026

7 days in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest 🌿🐒🛶

We spent a full week deep in Yasuní National Park, staying at a Wild Mandari small community-run lodge and completely immersing ourselves in life in the Amazon.

Our days were spent floating quietly down rivers looking for wildlife, kayaking blackwater lagoons, hiking through the jungle, fishing with locals, camping overnight in the rainforest, and falling asleep to the sounds of the rainforest every night.

The Amazon was beautiful, overwhelming, humid, covered in bugs… and one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been to.

Some of our favorite experiences included:
🌿 Wildlife river cruises searching for monkeys, birds, caimans, and even pink river dolphins
🐒 Watching monkeys move through the canopy overhead
🛶 Kayaking peaceful blackwater lagoons surrounded by rainforest
🏕️ Spending 2 nights camping deeper in the jungle
🐊 Night excursions looking for caimans, reptiles, insects, and fireflies
🦜 Birdwatching in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth
🌎 Staying at a community lodge supporting local tourism and conservation efforts

This trip also gave us a much deeper appreciation for the Amazon and the importance of protecting places like Yasuní.

The full Amazon travel blog is now up on my website 🌿 (link in bio)!

05/04/2026

Looking for the perfect nature escape in Ecuador? 🌿

Mindo is one of the most underrated destinations in Ecuador—and easily one of my favorites. Just a short drive from Quito, this small cloud forest town is packed with biodiversity, adventure, and peaceful jungle vibes.

While many people visit Mindo as a day trip, I highly recommend staying 2–3 days to really experience it.

✨ Highlights from Mindo:
– Birdwatching in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world (550+ species!)
– Visiting the Yellow House Trails for a quieter, more immersive cloud forest experience
– Feeding hummingbirds by hand (one of the coolest things I’ve ever done!)
– Hiking waterfalls in the Nambillo Waterfall Sanctuary
– Visiting butterfly and orchid gardens
– Tasting fresh, locally made Ecuadorian chocolate

Mindo is also famous for the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, with guided tours that start around 4 AM to see their iconic mating dance. I was tempted to do it, but since we weren’t visiting during peak season, I skipped it—definitely one to consider if you’re a serious birder!

Whether you’re into wildlife, hiking, or just want to unplug for a few days, Mindo is 100% worth adding to your Ecuador itinerary.

Save this for your trip planning and full blog linked in bio!

04/30/2026

Birdwatching in Mindo was so much fun! 🐦✨

With over 550 species of birds, you don’t have to try very hard to see something incredible.

This little photo dump includes just a glimpse of what we saw—colorful tanagers, parrots, toucans, barbets, hummingbirds, and so much more. Every walk felt like a mini treasure hunt.

We stayed pretty close to town and still saw so much wildlife, which just shows how accessible birdwatching is here.

But if you really want to take it to the next level, there are plenty of lodges and guided tours deeper in the cloud forest where you can spot even more rare and unique species!

One of my favorite moments was feeding hummingbirds by hand—such a surreal experience and something I’ll never forget.

Mindo is also famous for the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, with early morning tours (like 4 AM early 😅) to see their iconic mating dance. I skipped it this time, but it’s definitely on my list for next time.

If you’re traveling through Ecuador, don’t skip Mindo—it’s truly a dream for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone who appreciates a slower pace surrounded by wildlife 🌿

04/25/2026