This blog follows the development an eco-tourism project in a remote part of NW Ecuador near the town of la Merced de Buenos Aires.
Camp Lost World is the working title for our big project in the mountains of NW Ecuador. Earlier this month I purchased 225 acres of cloud forest, rivers, overgrown pasture, and spectacular cliffs. The land is very remote. The nearest town is La Merced de Buenos Aires Urcuqui Imbabura where you'll find great food, friendly people, beautiful landscapes, but a lack of many of the basic necessities, like a pharmacy. The town is the gateway to several tourist attractions, such as the Cascade of the Virgin and several beautiful mountain lakes. The climate is my idea of heaven, cool at night, sunny in the morning, with clouds rolling in at about 1 pm every day. It's one of those magical places where it's forever Spring. The town is 2 hours from Ibarra, and about 4 and a half hours from Quito. It is possible to get here by bus, and I'll be posting instructions and bus schedules soon.
From La Merced de Buenos Aires, you drive about 15 minutes down a 4x4 road past the small hydroelectric project. Park where the road ends and follow the well marked trail. If you're in good shape and adjusted to the altitude, it will take you about one and a half hours to reach Camp Lost World.
If everything goes as planned, we'll be constructing rustic cabins and planting gardens next month. The goal is to preserve 90% of the property in it's wild state, protecting the pygmy deer, spectacled bear, and many other threatened species that live on the property. Volunteers are welcome to stay for free, though once we have a little more infrastructure in place the number of volunteers we need will be limited, and cabins will be available to rent for a price that is yet to be determined.
