🇪🇨 Hola desde Ecuador // hello from Ecuador!
My dear friends,
It’s been a while since I last posted on this platform, so it’s about time I catch you up on what’s been happening over the past few months, and why I’ve been a little quiet here… 🤫
🐎 June – mid July
Leaving for Ecuador: Working with Horses
On June 4th, 2025, I left for Ecuador, 🌋 to the Pululahua crater, to be exact: one of only two inhabited volcanic craters in the world.
There, I had found a volunteer project that sounded like a dream come true: working with horses!
For about 4 weeks, I spent my days surrounded by about fifteen of them on a so-called hacienda (a large-estate farm or ranch) — training, riding, and simply enjoying their company. 🐴
Every morning I walked to the fields with two loyal furry companions — 👑 Princesa and Olivia — by my side, feeling deeply connected to the animals and landscape.
The crater itself was covered in a highly biodiverse cloud forest, a new kind of forest for me, which I eagerly explored after my training hours.
Everything was going smoothly until, quite suddenly, I was told I could only stay for two more weeks instead of the planned two months. Just as I had bonded with the horses, I had to say goodbye…😢
Thankfully, I had a plan B (may this be a reminder to do your homework before you commit to a project!). A few days later, still processing the sadness and shock 😳, I was already on the phone with a lodge in the Amazon rainforest — and soon, a new adventure began.
🌴 End of July – end of August
Switching Gears: Teaching at Yachana Lodge
This new place, called Yachana Lodge, turned out to be a wonderful temporary home. I was welcomed with warm hearts and open arms. My days filled up quickly: teaching English to the staff, helping with marketing projects, and joining excursions exploring the rainforest 👩🏽🏫.
During that time, I also realized I craved some distance. Not just from social media, but also from my life back in the Netherlands.
After years of focusing mainly on mental illness recovery, I could finally feel that this chapter of my life was coming to a close. It was both freeing and strange… because creating content for this platform has always been something I love deeply.
🇪🇨 September – mid October
Reunions, Road Trips & the Galápagos
At the end of August, the first familiar face from home arrived: my dear friend Frederique! Together, we explored various destinations around Ecuador, like Baños de Agua Santa, the Cotopaxi volcano, and the legendary Galápagos Islands! 🦎
A few weeks later, my second friend Femke joined me for another rainforest adventure — this time to the Cuyabeno Reserve, a corner of the Amazon known for its flooded forests, lagoons, and yes, pink river dolphins! 🐬
(Stay tuned — these adventures are coming online soon!)
🎉 October 19
Back in the Amazon: Birthday & Family Time
After all those unforgettable adventures, I’m now back at Yachana Lodge — and for two very special reasons: I get to welcome my parents here, and I’ll be celebrating my birthday surrounded by nothing but pure rainforest!
What a gift 🎁❤️🔥
After that, I’ll be packing up my bags again, leaving the Amazon behind and slowly heading toward another country.
Which one? Stay tuned !
With love and gratitude,
Marie Elise 🌿✨
