There is no shortage of luxurious retreats located in significant birding spots across the globe. Here are 13 exceptional hotels for bird-watching.
The Hideaway Report embraces the conservation and sustainability efforts of our recommended properties. Here are 8 where guests can get hands-on experience.
They're not always comfortable, but they're certainly memorable. These 7 light-adventure cruises are the only way to explore some of the best places on earth.
Ecuador's Mashpi Lodge has seen a significant upgrade. The resort has added two accommodations for families and revamped its interior.
Andrew Harper looks back at the year in travel and reminisces about his most memorable experiences.
Each year, we have the pleasure of singling out a number of particularly memorable hotels and resorts. These are the top hotels in Ecuador selected.
Surrounded by towering green mountains and overlooked by immense snowcapped volcanoes, Quito ranks among South America's most underrated cities.
The home and studio of Oswaldo Guayasamin, whom many consider to be Ecuador's greatest painter, still stands on its privileged hillside perch overlooking Quito.
Shopping in Quito can be a real pleasure, especially in La Mariscal, a neighborhood just northeast of the historic city center.
Nowadays, there are cruise options to suit a range of traveling styles, from luxurious larger vessels to plush yachts that hold just a handful of guests.
Lima is South America's food city of the moment, but Quito has started to catch up. On this visit, I discovered two restaurants worthy of note.
Periodically, I long for the tranquility of unspoiled nature. Two ecolodges recently gave me the perfect excuse to decamp to Ecuador.
Even if you have no intention of keeping a “life list,” it’s impossible not to feel excited by the incredible variety of gorgeously colorful birds in Ecuador.
One of the most memorable activities at Mashpi Lodge was a night hike through the cloud forest with a view across a valley lined by jungle-clad mountains.
Most Galápagos itineraries include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant tortoises, but you can see them up close at Rancho El Chato.
It’s not just the birds that are tame in the Galápagos: As we returned to our boat, our guide noticed sea lions playing in the surf off nearby Mosquera Island.
Three new luxury hotels have been added to the Harper Collection this month, including a resort in the Galápagos Islands and hotels in Boston, Massachusetts.
Galapagos Safari Camp, the original upscale land base in the Galápagos archipelago, is found on the island of Santa Cruz.
In this month's issue, Mr. Harper details his trip to the Galápagos Islands and his stay in Quito. Two Boston hotels are also reviewed.
Watch Mr. Harper's video of wildlife encounters in the Galápagos while on excursion from Pikaia Lodge, including giant tortoises, sea lions, iguanas and more.
Watch Mr. Harper's video from his stay at Mashpi Lodge, a private enclave in Ecuador set in a cloud forest amid one of the world's biodiversity hot spots.
Ecuador is very much on our minds after the earthquake that struck on April 16. While our Harper hotels were not damaged, many are gathering resources to help.
There is an irrepressible energy in South America drawing all eyes below the equator. Maybe it’s the spark that comes from hosting both the World Cup and the Olympics, as Brazil will be doing in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Located in the highlands of Chiriqui province,300 miles west of Panama City, the Panamonte was founded in 1914 by a retired railroad conductor, Joseph Wright of Texas. The original six-room hotel played host to Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh and the polar explorer Admiral Richard Byrd, who came here to finish his memoirs. A Swedish couple bought “Pop Wright’s hotel” in 1946, and it has been in the family since.
Quito's Hotel Plaza Grande and Casa Gangotenaare featured in this month's Hideaway Report
Until recently, few sophisticated travelers opted to linger in Quito. But times are changing fast: In recent years, the magnificent Old City has been extensively restored; Quito was designated the 2011 American Capital of Culture; and a new airport is scheduled to open at the end of 2012.
A 90-minute drive south of Quito, the landscape is dominated by the majestic 19,348-foot snow cone of Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes.
Running for 200 miles south of Quito between two parallel cordilleras, Ecuador’s “Avenue of the Volcanoes” contains seven peaks more than 17,000 feet high. The tallest, 20,565-foot Chimborazo, was long thought to be the highest mountain in the world.
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