The Call of the Wild: Our Journey from the Amazon to Wild Explorers
- Cari Rojas
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
The Amazon has been a part of my life since I was a child. My paternal grandfather fell in love with a small town he helped to establish—Limón Indanza. Our childhood vacations were shaped by this magical place, where the jungle enveloped us with its mystery and lush beauty.
Five years ago, at the start of the pandemic, my husband and I made a life-changing decision: to move to Limón Indanza, a town in the Ecuadorian Amazon that had been part of my family's story for over 80 years. There, we immersed ourselves in a completely different way of life, working in tourism consulting.
During this time of uncertainty, many of us—whether by choice or circumstance—were forced to rethink what we knew about stability, both financially and professionally. We took a complete leap of faith and embraced the Amazon. My husband, with his background in Ecotourism and over a decade of experience at Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism, signed a tourism consulting contract. Meanwhile, I ran a business using a laser-cutting machine, creating custom orders ranging from medals and trophies to urban decorations for both local and national clients.
Little by little, our passion for exploration led us to fully dedicate ourselves to experiential tourism in this remote corner of the world. We organized expeditions to the legendary Cueva de los Tayos, scouted locations for Hollywood productions, and guided travelers through the Amazon’s fascinating landscapes. We also brought our love of trail running into the mix (my husband and I actually met while running—this sport has been and always will be a fundamental part of our lives). We organized three editions of the Limón SkyRace and Ultra Cueva de los Tayos, events that filled the town’s hotels and restaurants, creating a significant economic impact.
These races inspired nearby towns and provinces to launch their own trail running events, raising awareness of sustainable tourism as a long-term economic alternative—one that stands in stark contrast to large-scale mining operations threatening the southern Amazon. Mining companies arrive, provide jobs for a few years, then sell their concessions to Chinese corporations, stripping indigenous communities of their lands and taking almost all the profits. They destroy everything, and then they leave. Tourism, on the other hand, is a sustainable, generational business—if managed responsibly.
Living in the Amazon, we discovered that nature always holds something hidden, waiting to be unveiled. And in the process, we discovered ourselves. In the wild, there are no distractions—only the present moment, a deep connection to the environment, and an even deeper connection to oneself. Captivated by the jungle, we decided to found Wild Ecuador with the mission of sharing these hidden corners of our country while living a life of purpose. Our work no longer felt like work—each expedition filled us with joy, allowing us to make a living doing what we love most.
But life is about change. Evolution is part of the journey, and it’s never about making ourselves smaller to fit in. With this conviction, we took another big leap. We left our small-town life behind and returned to Quito, Ecuador’s capital. We expanded our experiences, guiding travelers through the Andes, the Amazon, the Coast, and finally, the Galápagos Islands. Without realizing it, our business grew in unexpected ways. And with that growth came a natural transformation: we felt the call to explore destinations beyond Ecuador.
With great excitement and gratitude, we now say goodbye to the name Wild Ecuador and welcome Wild Explorers.
We have always been explorers—of mountain peaks in the highlands, of caves and jungles in the Amazon, of unique flavors along the Ecuadorian coast. And now, at last, we have begun to explore the Galápagos. Choosing the name "Explorers" is the natural evolution of our story. We love Ecuador with all our hearts—it is and always will be one of our favorite places on Earth. But now, we are charting new routes across different meridians, and soon, why not, across new continents.
The possibilities for exploration are endless. We love to run, to roam, to experience the world. Welcome to this new chapter of Wild Explorers.
Why Do We Explore?
At Wild Explorers, we specialize in crafting passionate, personalized experiences. From expeditions into the most remote communities and running in breathtaking locations to luxury Galápagos cruises—just tell us your dream adventure, and we’ll make it happen.
But why do we explore?
We explore because it’s in our nature. Since ancient times, humanity has felt the urge to go beyond the known, to discover new lands, to understand the world around us. Exploration is a way of connecting with our deepest instincts, with the curiosity that drives us to learn, to feel alive, to break free from routine, and to challenge our own limits.
We explore to meet the unknown—and in doing so, to meet ourselves. Because when we step into a new landscape, immerse ourselves in a different culture, or embark on an adventure that pushes us beyond our comfort zone, we realize how small we are in the vastness of the world. But we also realize how vast our spirit can be when we dare to take the next step.
We explore to feel the wind on our faces at the summit of a mountain, to hear the heartbeat of the jungle, to run trails that whisper stories of ancient times, to dive into an ocean teeming with life. We explore because the world is vast, wild, and beautiful. And because every journey is an opportunity to write a new chapter in our story.
And you—why do you explore?
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