Best way to travel around uninhabited areas?

Hello all!

I am planning a trip to Ecuador to do some field studies and collecting of Brugmansia aka Angel's Trumpet plants.

I would like to get to as many remote areas as possible over the course of a couple weeks. I say remote because these plants have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years, so there are many hybrids. But in remote wild populations the plants should have settled out and it should be clear exactly which species the plants are.

I would like to travel in the along the northwest of the Andes between 2000m and 3000m searching for one species, then travel from the Colombian border to Cuenca at around 3000m searching for another species.

Would the best way to do this be to hire a guide with an SUV, or rent a car myself and get a map(I doubt this is very safe)?

I am looking for the cheapest way possible. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

By vulcanicola on Sep 21, 2009, 11:52 in Ecuador forum.

princess says on Oct 30, 2009, 10:27: Actully as long as u speak spanish u will be fine renting a car its safe but if u would prefer a guide i can recommend some to u email me at princess35 at rogers.com 0 funny, 0 helpful.

More posts by the same author: