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My Backyard: Destinations
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Work Up an Appetite South of the Border
By Lucy Birningham
2006 Jan (Vol. 8, No. 1) |
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Vilcabamba received global attention in the 1970s when scientists discovered that a disproportionate number of its residents live more than 100 years. The experts never pinpointed the exact cause behind this “Valley of Longevity,” but here are a few clues: The village is nestled in the crook of Ecuador’s southern Andes and surrounded by 12,000-foot peaks. Most of the food offered here is organic and locally grown. It’s flanked by cloud forest and jungle, home to a network of multi-use trails (and 600 species of birds). And then there’s the daily siesta. Now, we can’t guarantee that you’ll live longer by visiting Vilcabamba. But it can’t hurt, either.
Work Up an Appetite
Bird Watch in Podocarpus National Park
Famous for hundreds of colorful songbirds and wild orchids, the 360,000-acre Parque is accessible by bus or taxi from Vilcabamba. Hike about 5 miles to the entrance, pay the $5 entrance fee and grab a map for either a day hike on the Speckled Bear Trail or a multi-day backpacking adventure. Many of the local resorts and hostels will provide a sack lunch for your day hike. Contact Ecuador Nature Expeditions (www.ecuadornaturexpeditions.com) or log on to www.vilcabamba.org/podocarpus.
Climb Mount Mandango
You can bag one of Vilcabamba’s most visible peaks in two to four hours, depending on your pace. The trail to Mount Mandango gains elevation quickly as it rises above the valley floor with some steep drop-offs to offer great views of the cloud forest and villages below. If you’d rather explore by bike, you can rent or borrow equipment from local hostels. Contact South American Explorers at www.saexplorers.org.
Indulge
Eat: Local Organic Dishes at Hosteria Izhcayluma
Good food comes cheap in Vilcabamba, and the menus are varied. Organic fruit salads, whole-grain breads, homemade muesli, soup, locally shade-grown coffee and garden vegetables abound. $2-$8 per person; www.izhcayluma.com.
Drink: Local Mineral Water
Some scientists theorize that the secret to the valley’s longevity is the perfect mineral balance of the local water, which, combined with the temperate climate, helps purge toxins and balance your metabolism. Thankfully, locals are eager to share the fountain of youth and the mineral water is gratis at many hotels.
Be Merry: Bliss Out at Madre Tierra Spa
Forget the long bus and plane ride with a full day of spa treatments at Madre Tierra, a hostel nestled in the hills just north of town. Customize your package by choosing from organic clay baths, Swedish massage, sea-salt rubs, steam baths, facials, aromatherapy treatments and more. The best part? It’s hardly a splurge. The “Especial” package (six treatments) is just $45. www.madretierra1.com.
Digs
Travelers on the “Gringo Trail” begin seeing fliers for Madre Tierra hundreds of miles away ($18-$30 per person, includes breakfast and dinner, www.madretierra1.com). By the time they reach the hillside cluster of bungalows, pool bar, meditation hut and bonfire area, they’re ready to rip up their return plane ticket. In addition to the spa, Madre Tierra features colorful gardens and an organic farm, plenty of hammocks and two meals a day served on a spacious outdoor patio. Following a similar concept, the German-owned Hosteria Izhcayluma sits in the scenic hills to the south of Vilcabamba ($20-$30 per person; includes breakfast and free use of its bicycles; www.izhcayluma.com).
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Updated: Apr 10th, 2006 - 14:39:58
© Copyright 1999-2006 by Hooked on the Outdoors
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