Nanegal Things to Do Tips by MattTB

There is an incredible amount of bird life at Santa Lucia. You will hear all kinds of birds everywhere you go! Seeing them is another story! The forest is thick and makes birdwatching challenging! But with binoculars and a bit of patience it pays off! I saw numerous species including eagle, tucan, woodpecker...

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

You have to leave the lodge at 4 am, it's dark, but great! You walk for two hours down, then up steep inclines. Arriving at the lek at 6 am. The lek is where the spectacularly coloured Cock of the Rock male performs it's mating ritual at exactly 6 am each morning!

I saw about 20 of them! They are quite big birds, beautiful colour and very noisy!!! What an experience!!!

I couldn't take any pictures! I tried, but with out flash they just didn't come out! Or maybe I'm a poor photographer! The birds are very sensitive to the flash, so you can't use it! You can get within 10 meters of them!

You can see on the map of the trails in the picture, you follow the red route.

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

At the lodge there are several hammocks to relax in if you are not up for trekking!

While relaxing you will notice the continual hum of humming birds as they fly around visiting various plants.

It took me 5 days of frustration to get this little b******d on film!!! They are just so quick!

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

The Forest comes alive at night! Mammals move about, owls screech!

I left the lodge with my guide at 4am and we trecked with flash lights through the jungle... Something big was moving in the thick of the trees right next to us... we shone our lights , but couldn't see it.... it didn't want to see us! Was it a Puma? a Bear? It was big! We went back in daylight to examine tracks... it was the Andean Specktacled Bear!

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

This is a very strenuous trek of about 6 hours just about continuously uphill! It takes you to the very edge of the Santa Lucia reserve from an altitude of around 1800 up to 2800 meters. But it is entirely worth the effort!

As you go higher in altitute you notice complete change in the plant life and fauna... different species, different bird life etc. It's a different world!

And finally just when you are about to collapse from exhaustion you reach the bird tower surrounded in cloud. Here you are able to climb up and get into the forest canopy! Great stuff! Didn't see too many birds on this occasion, but it is a good spot to watch the Tucan apparently!

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Website: http://www.santa-lucia.org

At the bottom of the valley near the reception is a river, you will pass this on your way to the lodge and your way back. The number of different types of butterfly is amazing! They are either flying around or on the river banks. We saw a massive blue butterfly with wings the size of my hands!!

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Website: http://www.santa-lucia.org

Most if not all plants and trees in the forest have a use! Oh how much is to be learnt from local peoples knowledge of the trees! Could there be a cure for cancer or aids here? Whatever secrets lie here should not be destroyed!

The Dragon's Blood Tree was my favourite! Pretty dramatic for a tree! A careful cut to the bark makes the tree 'bleed' blood red resin. This resin can then be rubbed on the skin turning it white. The white cream can be used to treat cuts to the skin! Pretty amazing!

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

From the lodge and basically everywhere you go there are stunning views of the forest! You can sit and watch the clouds come in and engulf the trees!

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Website: http://www.santaluciaecuador.com

There are some trully amazing plants in Sant Lucia. The number of orkids is amazing and many of them are unknown species!! There are many rare trees in the reserve too! This is one of the many plants you can see..

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There is a woman's co-operative that you can visit. They make various things from the forest produce, such as key rings and necklaces. There is some beautiful stuff available to buy! You can get some really authentic things and also feel good that you are supporting the local community!! I recommend it!

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Website: http://www.santa-lucia.org