To get o Santa Lucia we got a bus from quito aking us into the cloud forest. We got out in a small village and then got a small truck which we all stood in the back of to take us as close as we could get to our lodge before we had to start trekking.

In order to get to our lodge we had a 2 hour trek up the montain through the forest.

Whebn we reached the lodge, nobody was disappointed it was areally nice wooden lodge overlooking the cloud forest with possibly the nicest showers in the world.

The first morning was spent trekking to the sugar plantation then on to a series of waterfalls. After luch we went to the orchiderian where we all saw a wide variety of different types of orchids. the evening was spent relaxing in hammocks and chatting before all going to bed early as the lights are turned off at 9 to save electricity. Before bed however 5 select people volenteered to wake up at 4 the next moring to go on a fast night trek inorder to get in position to see the c*** of the rock´ a type of bird which is special to the santa lucia region.

The next morning, the A Team assembled at 4, Rob, Mic, Ed Long (me), Emily and Lucy, and set off into the night for a fast paced 2 hour trek. We got to the viewing point early due to our fast paced trekking and waited for sunrise. Once the sur rose now of us regretted getting up so early, nirds where flying about everywhere and we all got to see the c*** of the rock clearly doing its dance. After watching the birds for about an hour we set off back for breakfast!

After breakfast we packed our bags and set off down the montain to the banana and coffee plantation and then on to a waterfall where we all went swimming in the river. After drying off and having dinner we set off down the pre-inca trail to where Fernando our bus driver was waiting for us.

Overall everybody enjoyed our time at Santa Lucia, and i personally think it was the highlight of our time in Ecuador, especially due to the early morning trek to see the c*** of the rock which was well worth the effort it took to get there.

Ed