By: Rachel McLeod-Warrick, Kip Wadsworth, Alana Tessman, Japhet Hoff, and William Johnson
Hike To the Eco Lodge
We started our ascent at 1,500 meters above sea level at 10 AM. We began by hiking on two-track past hilly pastures and coffee bean plantations. This road led to a single file trail that entered into the dense forest. The frequent sighting of new bird species and unique plant life led to important stops to learn from our guide and Manager of the Ecolodge, Holger.
There are so many new ecological processes that exist in this forest that are very foreign to those of us who have only lived in deciduous North American forests. The forest is better described as a jungle. Straying off the trail is very difficult because of the dense and large flora.
At points during the hike up, plant leaves the size of place mats covered the trail, while other sections were muddy and slippery. As we approached the lodge we could hear the hum of the generator, which powers the stoves and lights of the lodge. We finished our hike at 1,920 meters (6,300 ft) above sea level just in time for lunch at 1:15 PM.
Description of Lodge
Santa Lucia Ecolodge is a conservation-focused cooperative that aims to protect forests for future generations while creating environment-positive jobs for community members. Acknowledging the inherent value of the cloud forest as providing habitat for endemic species and beauty for visitors and nature enthusiasts, the team at the Ecolodge works to foster a respect for the environment in those who visit.
Committed to conservation and social/environmental responsibility, they provide tourists with an ethical and preservation-focused ecotourism experience. The lodge was constructed thanks to the
efforts of volunteers who helped haul materials up the mountain, as there were no roads suitable for transportation.
The main lodge offers many large windows through which guests can enjoy the natural surroundings, with the deck opening into a large dining room. The kitchen is visible from the dining room, with the guests able to observe their food as it’s cooked. Guests can also enjoy the remarkable view while lounging in the hammocks on the deck.
Since the building materials for the construction of the lodge had to be light in order to reach the top of the mountain, the walls were quite thin. As a result, noise carries throughout the entire lodge leading to late nights of contagious laughter spreading through all rooms, as everything was audible. The outdoor showers included a wonderful view of the forest, with other accommodations including composting toilets.
Overall the group had an amazing time at the Lodge and are so grateful for the hospitality and comfort the lodge provided.
Birding
One of Santa Lucia’s claims to fame is that they have over 400 species of birds within the reserve where it’s located. The group had the opportunity to identify about 100 different species of birds of all sorts, shapes, sizes, and colors.
The cloud forest did not disappoint – from the small yet colorful violet-tailed sylph to the large and elusive golden-head quetzals. After arriving and unpacking our stuff in the lodge, Holger, our amazing guide, sat our group down in front of five hummingbird feeders to teach us how to identify these amazing birds and why they’re such a vital part of the cloud forest ecosystem.
We also spent designated time on the trail, identifying different
species of birds through their beautiful calls and through spotting them. Birds in the cloud forest are truly like none other. They’re colorful, bright, and magnificent.
One bird the group was highly anticipating seeing was a choco toucan. The group had departed the lodge, hiked down the mountain,
and were on the bus ready to leave. Finally, on the bumpy winding road, there was a toucan perched on a tree. The bus immediately stopped and we all rushed off to get a good look at the toucan, coming just in time for the end of our trip.
The Ecuador Abroad group had an amazing time learning more about the aves species and look forward to birding in the future.
Plants and Epiphytes
The biodiversity at Santa Lucia was extraordinary, but particularly for the plants. From the giant trees to the tiny mosses, multiple species cover a wide range of shape, size, and colors. The forest had what is called multiple strata which means that the forest has trees of multiple height making the canopy diverse.
The smaller plant species had more diversity in a tiny section of ground than I had ever seen in North America. The ferns had incredible diversity with even the presence of “fern trees” which are ginormous ferns in which the rhizomes are tightly bound together to mimic a trunk.
One particular plant group that characterizes Santa Lucia are epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that grow on other things. They are not rooted in the ground, but are attached to trees, palms, and other larger plants. Epiphytes are possible because of the air moisture heavily present in the cloud forest.
Plants and trees in Santa Lucia were almost completely covered in epiphytes making it hard to even see a branch. The group participated in an activity where four groups were given a branch. Each group separated the epiphytes into the categories of Bryophytes, ferns, dicots, monocots, and organic matter. The groups weighed the different categories individually after stripping them off the branch.
We were astonished at the sheer mass and diversity present on a single branch. It was clear to see the many adaptations as well as the micro habitats they provide for small mammals, birds, and insects.
A prominent group of epiphytes in Santa Lucia and all of Ecuador are Orchids. In Ecuador itself orchids make up aproximarlty 25% of the
total plant species. In Santa Lucia and the nearby reserve, Maquipucuna, there are approximately 200 to 300 species of orchid, many of them endemic, meaning only found in a particular area.
The orchids were nothing like I thought orchids would look like. They ranged from blossoms as big as my hand to as small as my pinky nail. They grew in various ways and had clear adaptations for its particular pollinator. One activity we participated in was identifying the different species, which proved very difficult as some were so small than the different parts of the orchids couldn’t be made out.
Night Hikes
During our stay at the lodge we had the opportunity to explore the cloud forest at night. With the help of our guide Holger we were able to see all sorts of insects, spiders, frogs, and reptiles. The group felt wary of pumas and Andean bears that tend to roam around during the evening or night.
On our last night, a group of students were convinced they heard a puma and thought something was close by. After a short investigation, we found out that a mule nearby was making all the noise.