Why study in Ecuador?
Perhaps my most “adventurous” trip, or at least the most disorganized, has actually been a school one. Our Andean archaeology class went on a three-day trip to the central highlands to see some Cañari and Incan ruins near Cuenca. The first day we planned to hike the Incan trail to Ingapirca, the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. We started out by a lake in the páramo, but our professor mixed up the hills and we ended up walking for hours in the wrong direction. Still it was very beautiful and we managed to find our way back without too much trouble. However, by then the mist and rain had crept in, so we were stuck in a remote place without any way of getting back. Some students decided to walk back to the town, but got “distracted” in a restaurant and never sent anyone for us. Eventually the professor had to climb up a small mountain until he found a place where there was cell phone reception. Still, despite that mishap we managed to see quite a few ruins and enjoy our trip.
