Dannyka Manangan

Jodi Sta. Maria explores the beauty of Ecuador: 'Felt like I was transported back in time'

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Known for her love of exploring different cultures and destinations around the world, Kapamilya actress Jodi Sta. Maria recently added Ecuador to her growing list of international travel adventures.</p><p> On her Instagram page, Jodi shared how it was “zero regrets” for her to travel all the way to the South American country.</p><p> “30 hours of travel, 9,000++ feet of altitude, and 0 regrets. ✈️🌋 Quito took my breath away literally kaya I had to take it easy the first few days to adjust to the altitude,” the actress wrote.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXGqTOkpOo/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A171372.6000000001%2C%22ls%22%3A171098.2000000002%2C%22le%22%3A171105.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="889" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p> The actress then gave followers a glimpse of her experiences in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, where she immersed herself in its rich history and architecture.</p><p> “Stayed in an old colonial home and strolled the historic city center 🏛️✨Felt like I was transported back in time. I also did day trips and had photos taken with wild hummingbirds 🏔️🐦 Yes madami silang species na andito 👍🏻,” she said. </p><p> Apart from the majestic view, the actress enjoyed sampling local cuisine during her stay.</p><p> “I tried some local food too. Choclo con queso na nadaanan ko lang sa gilid ng kalsada, had camaron with rice and a decadent chocolate + wine pairing to end my day 🌽🍷 Ecuador produces some of the finest chocolate in the world 🍫👌🏼,” she added.</p><p> One of the highlights of her trip was visiting the Intiñan Museum, where tourists can experience activities related to the equator line, one of the country&#x27;s most popular tourist attractions.</p><p> “And the highlight of my Quito experience, balanced an egg on a nail at the Middle of the Earth!🥚🌍🧪 Excited for the next leg of my Ecuadorian adventure 🇪🇨,” Jodi said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781134733994Jodi Sta. Maria.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner">jodistamaria Instagram</span></span></span></div><p> The activity, often featured in travel blogs and vlogs, is a favorite among tourists as it allows them to stand on the equator and participate in various experiments connected to the place’s geographical location.</p><p> Ecuador marks Jodi’s latest overseas destination following a busy start to the year. In January, she traveled to Morocco.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/9/jodi-sta-maria-enjoys-trip-to-morocco-bawat-sulok-kanto-may-kwento-0905"><strong> READ: Jodi Sta. Maria enjoys trip to Morocco: &#x27;Bawat sulok, kanto, may kwento&#x27;</strong></a></div><p> During an event at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism, Jodi shared how traveling, which began with a fascination at a young age, became one of her life’s passions.</p><p> &quot;I had a wonderful time sharing how travel can change one&#x27;s perspective in life and the many lessons it quietly teaches along the way,&quot; she stated.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVnvxfqklFx/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A239049%2C%22ls%22%3A171098.2000000002%2C%22le%22%3A171105.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="823" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/2/4/jodi-sta-maria-on-exploring-all-seven-continents-she-believed-she-kept-going-and-she-did-1841"><strong> </strong><strong>READ: Jodi Sta Maria on exploring all seven continents: ‘She believed, she kept going, and she did’</strong></a></div><p> She also shared, “What began as curiosity slowly became something deeper. Travel was no longer just about arriving in beautiful places. It became about the lessons they quietly teach. Every palace holds a history waiting to be uncovered. Every city has a soul waiting to be discovered. Every person carries a story waiting to be heard.”</p><p> “And in those moments, we begin to connect. Because somewhere in unfamiliar sheets and unfamiliar faces… we find pieces of ourselves. We travel not to be lost but to find ourselves again,” she continued.</p>

<p>Jodi Sta. Maria adds a new country to her long list of travel adventures.</p>