On our third day at Mashpi we had a morning excursion to a waterfall. Once again, we were with Santiago, the super-guide. As soon as we started down the trail he pointed out this tree.
After a host of erectile dysfunction jokes, he explained that this was a Walking Palm tree. These trees will actually move up to 20 cm a year…not very fast mind you, but its all a part of their survival. As the ground erodes around the tree, they put out a new root to find more solid ground. What looks like something from a XXX movie is a new root, that will eventually reach the ground.
No hike with Santi would be complete without a Rain Frog. How he spots these tiny frogs is beyond me!
He also pointed out these millipedes on an embankment as we walked by.
We could hear the waterfall well before seeing it. As we turned a bend, Copal Falls came into view.
Here is a quick video of the falls.
Fletcher and I decided to strip down to our swimsuits at the base of the falls. I’ll spare you the image of me in nothing but a swimsuit…the Ecuadorian food has not been doing my “svelte” figure any favors! Here is Fletcher getting a refreshing shower.
That afternoon we had an excursion to Mashpi’s “Hummingbird Garden”, which is about a 20 minute drive from the lodge. The garden sits at 4,117 feet, so it’s 1000 feet higher than the lodge. You could definitely feel the temperature differential. What an amazing spot to spend an hour or two! Santi pulled out these little feeders you can fit in the palm of your hand. These guys really liked Fletcher all of a sudden!
Even after he gave me the feeder, this one hummingbird refused to leave his hand. He must have sat there for 3-4 minutes.
Fletcher filmed the feeder in my hand. I think I had as many as 8 hummingbirds on my hand at one point.
The colors are simply amazing! Such beautiful birds!
I shot this video in slow motion so you can watch their wings in action. The long blue tail on one of the hummingbirds is out of this world!
Here is a still shot where you can see the long blue tail more clearly.
Fletcher was clearly enjoying himself!
As was Kim.
There were even some other birds hanging around the area. This is the Golden Naped Tanager.
We also saw this Rufous-Throated Tanager. I think these guys like the higher elevation, as we’ve not seen these near the lodge. With the cooler temps, this is definitely the part of Mashpi I’d hang out in if I were a bird!
One last shot of this colorful Hummingbird before we headed back to the lodge for the night. It’s hard to believe these colors exist in nature!
Up next, our final hike in Mashpi, and one more visit to Colonial Quito before flying home.