You don't have to worry about camping, hotels are cheap enough that it makes camping kinda silly. However, the hotels are pretty basic, some might not have hot water, but after a day in the blazing sun, a cold shower sometimes feels jsut fine.
Besseae is easy to see, its blooms year round and is right near the road.
I saw a couple of frogs, but I have no idea where the majority hang out. None were all the colorful. If you wnat I could post a picture. I would assume the amazon, not the cold at night mountains. I saw tadpoles on the way to kovachii...
Ecuagenera has two nurserys, the big one up in the mountains near Cuenca and another one in the amazone for the really warm loving things. Besseae is on the way from one nursury to the other.
But there are quite a few interesting Orchid and tourist spots further north near Quito. There are more orchids per mile from Quito to Mindo then anywhere else in the country. Mindo is the birding capital of Ecuador. I saw a pair of toucans. There is also Otovalo, a huge market town. But that is far from Besseae.
My advice is to fly into Quito, go up to Otovalo for a day or so. There is whitewater rafting near Mindo is you like. Then go over to Otovalo. Down to Banos where you can see phrag lindinii, among other things. Theres hot springs in Banos. Drive to Ecuagenera the next day, and look around. Then to pangui, where the other nursery is. Get to see besseae, then return to ecuagnerea via a different route, see another population of besseae. Another night at Ecuagenera. Then to Cuenca, fly to Quito then fly home.
Thats just a possible route. Time wise it should take a week. The drive from Banos to the south is long and there arn't many orchids to see along the way. There is a inca ruin to stop at.
I know I said flying to Guayquil was better, but I wasn't really thinking of it from an orchid tour perspective. You could fly into guayaquil then fly to quito. Its pretty cheap.
Is there any thing people want to do or see, other then frogs or besseae?
Kyle
