Wendy’s first trip to Latin America was in 1967 when she visited Brazil and Peru with a college friend who grew up in Rio. Then Rick and Wendy traveled to Peru, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina to see their daughter Diana who spent 8 months living in Chile and touring elsewhere on the continent. They traveled on business to Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Savador for TechnoServe, the organization for which they had volunteered in Africa. Since then, they’ve vacationed in Ecuador and the Galapagos as well as Mexico. They’ve traveled to more countries in Latin America than Rick has in Europe!
Ecuador’s Amazon Basin Jungle in El Oriente (The East)

Ecuador’s Amazon Basin Jungle in El Oriente (The East)

Traveling to the jungle from Quito meant many changes: leaving Quito at 9,400 ft. to be at less than 2,500 ft. altitude in Ecuador's El Oriente (Eastern in Spanish) Region was only the first.  Then came flying for about 30 minutes to Coca (pop. 20,000) along the Napo...

Galapagos Archipelago’s Boobie, Frigates and More

Galapagos Archipelago’s Boobie, Frigates and More

Rick, Wendy and Carolyn loved observing how all the animals were "ecologically naive" --no fear of predators--so they could get very close. While Giant Tortoises are the Galapagos' emblem, Wendy’s  #1 priority was to see the Blue-Footed Boobies.  "Booby" may be...

Galapagos Archipelago’s Tortoises & Other Animals

Galapagos Archipelago’s Tortoises & Other Animals

Famous Giant Tortoises: Giant Tortoises have been especially vulnerable for centuries since sailors took them for meat on-board whaling, military, or pirate ships.   Sadly, these animals had been kept alive on their backs for up to two years to serve as a source of...

Galapagos Achipelago’s Geology

Galapagos Achipelago’s Geology

About 1,000 miles west of mainland Ecuador lies the unique Galapagos province, 97% of which has been protected, since 1959, from any use except tourism and science.  It is where Charles Darwin stayed for 5 weeks during the survey voyage of the HMS Beagle and which...

Ecuador’s Bellavista Cloud Forest

Ecuador’s Bellavista Cloud Forest

About 100 miles northwest of Quito lies a huge mountainous cloud forest region at about 9,000 ft. altitude. Bellavista private preserve has an eco-lodge, scientific station, steep trails, and hundreds of birds, insects, and exotic semi-tropical plants within its...

Peru: Visiting Businesses in the Andes

Peru: Visiting Businesses in the Andes

In May 2008, Rick and Wendy visited Peru—their third time—on a business trip for TechnoServe.  Prior trips to Peru had included both pleasure--mainly visiting Lima and Machu Picchu--and a volunteer work project for Rick.  This was part of their visit to five countries...

El Salvador Recovering from Civil War

El Salvador Recovering from Civil War

In order to create more jobs and income opportunities for the rural poor, El Salvador is boosting its agricultural exports. Besides TechnoServe helping farmers in key sectors to sell to export markets, it also runs entrepreneurship programs that empower people to...