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TravelogueviExplorer Ecuador & Galapagos
16 days:t:Travel along with this viExplorer Ecuador & Galapagos, throughout the tour you can find updates and new pictures from the tour.[p=tjdc]
Wilmer
Guide for this tour
Ecuador is a country with various different aspects, in which you can travel from the tropic zone, at sea level up to the highland moor on 4000m. Every region and area offers a different climate and vegetation. You can experience and enjoy a lot. But the tour is still nicer and unforgettable, if I am able to spend those weeks with such nice people like you. Thank you very much for your visit. Good Bye J.
| 1 |
Dublin to Quito
Arrival in Quito... and two suitcases didn’t arrive. But they should be here tomorrow and we are going to search for them after our walk in the forest.
Arrival in Quito... and two suitcases didn’t arrive. But they should be here tomorrow and we are going to search for them after our walk in the forest.
| 2 |
Quito
After a really good breakfast, we left for a city tour of Quito. “It’s beautiful, this colonial site!” We visited the basilica and the churches by the main square, La Plaza Grande, but we had bad luck because nearly the whole town closed down for the Easter Holidays.
After a really good breakfast, we left for a city tour of Quito. “It’s beautiful, this colonial site!” We visited the basilica and the churches by the main square, La Plaza Grande, but we had bad luck because nearly the whole town closed down for the Easter Holidays.
| 3 |
Maquipucuna
We started our day early today in order to observe the animals of the forest, because they are most active between 6 and 8 o’clock. After a two hour walk the breakfast was waiting for us.
We started our day early today in order to observe the animals of the forest, because they are most active between 6 and 8 o’clock. After a two hour walk the breakfast was waiting for us.
| 4 |
National Park Cotopaxi
Alter having a good breakfast, we left Quito to visit the Cotopaxi National Park: the idea is getting up to 4500m by bus and than continuing to walk until the refuge which is located at 4800m. The hike up was hard because of the oxygen deficit! But thanks to the courage of two of our group members, all of us made it. In the afternoon, we went on a nice horse ride through the countryside. The time went by really quickly and it was an excellent experience. The evening wasn’t too comfortable due to the altitude; the hacienda lies at 3600m! Quote of the Day: “ don’t … have…words…because…of …oxy…gen…deficit.”
Alter having a good breakfast, we left Quito to visit the Cotopaxi National Park: the idea is getting up to 4500m by bus and than continuing to walk until the refuge which is located at 4800m. The hike up was hard because of the oxygen deficit! But thanks to the courage of two of our group members, all of us made it. In the afternoon, we went on a nice horse ride through the countryside. The time went by really quickly and it was an excellent experience. The evening wasn’t too comfortable due to the altitude; the hacienda lies at 3600m! Quote of the Day: “ don’t … have…words…because…of …oxy…gen…deficit.”
| 5 |
National Park Cotopaxi
On our way to Quilotoa, we visited the typical local market in Latacunga. As a typical lunch we had a mixture of pork meat, fried pork crust and corn in all different varieties. We needed this energy for the hike down the crater lagoon Quilotoa. This time we started at 4000m and went down to 3650m. We had the weather in our favour. It was pretty foggy when we started, but after a little while the clouds went away and opened a spectacular view on the Crater Lake. We stayed with a typical Indian family of the region in a simple house. We enjoyed a special festive dish of the region – Guinea Pig and danced to folkloric music.
On our way to Quilotoa, we visited the typical local market in Latacunga. As a typical lunch we had a mixture of pork meat, fried pork crust and corn in all different varieties. We needed this energy for the hike down the crater lagoon Quilotoa. This time we started at 4000m and went down to 3650m. We had the weather in our favour. It was pretty foggy when we started, but after a little while the clouds went away and opened a spectacular view on the Crater Lake. We stayed with a typical Indian family of the region in a simple house. We enjoyed a special festive dish of the region – Guinea Pig and danced to folkloric music.
| 6 |
Quilotoa – Puyo
We got up really early to say hello to the sun, rising up behind the Crater Lake. We realized a short morning walk following the crater rim and had breakfast at our host family’s. Afterwards we visited one of the schools sponsored by viSozial. The children did sing some typical songs for us and we got informed about the project and the daily school life. We moved on to the jungle…the nice hostel of Puyo did already await us with it´s hot showers and comfortable hammocks.
We got up really early to say hello to the sun, rising up behind the Crater Lake. We realized a short morning walk following the crater rim and had breakfast at our host family’s. Afterwards we visited one of the schools sponsored by viSozial. The children did sing some typical songs for us and we got informed about the project and the daily school life. We moved on to the jungle…the nice hostel of Puyo did already await us with it´s hot showers and comfortable hammocks.
| 7 |
Puyo – Jungle - Puyo
Today was our jungle day. Our discovery started comfortable with our bus in Puyo, where we picked up our local guide. The Kichwa Community in the nearby village was already awaiting us. We took a nice walk through the jungle and learned a lot about the medical use of the plants and finally we enjoyed a canoe ride down the jungle river. Our lunch was prepared in the traditional way, cooked in leaves… and was really tasty.
Today was our jungle day. Our discovery started comfortable with our bus in Puyo, where we picked up our local guide. The Kichwa Community in the nearby village was already awaiting us. We took a nice walk through the jungle and learned a lot about the medical use of the plants and finally we enjoyed a canoe ride down the jungle river. Our lunch was prepared in the traditional way, cooked in leaves… and was really tasty.
| 8 |
Puyo - Baños - Riobamba
The day brought us quite a lot of rain during our bus drive to Puyo and on the road we had a flat tyre – bad luck. But we used this little break to visit the little town of Arrosemena Tola which celebrated its foundation anniversary. Getting to Puyo, we visited a rescue centre for animals of the rain forest, where we saw mainly monkeys. But the main spectacle was offered to us by Ecuador’s volcanoes: the Chimborazo, with its 6310m, was a beautiful reward. When we arrived at the city of Riobamba, there was another foundation anniversary. All the residents of the town did come together to celebrate the anniversary of the city. We, for our part, did celebrate the anniversary of Daniel our way in a Pizzeria.
The day brought us quite a lot of rain during our bus drive to Puyo and on the road we had a flat tyre – bad luck. But we used this little break to visit the little town of Arrosemena Tola which celebrated its foundation anniversary. Getting to Puyo, we visited a rescue centre for animals of the rain forest, where we saw mainly monkeys. But the main spectacle was offered to us by Ecuador’s volcanoes: the Chimborazo, with its 6310m, was a beautiful reward. When we arrived at the city of Riobamba, there was another foundation anniversary. All the residents of the town did come together to celebrate the anniversary of the city. We, for our part, did celebrate the anniversary of Daniel our way in a Pizzeria.
| 9 |
Riobamba-Cuenca
Today we got up really early! The party of the city went on until late, we could hear the music until the break of dawn! We headed south to the city of Alausí, where we could admire the marvellous Andean landscape. On our way we made a stop to have a look at the first Catholic Church built by the Spaniards in Ecuador in 1534. In Alausí, the little Andean train did offer us a special adventure: the tour to the Devil’s nose. And after a long trip in our private bus, we arrived in Cuenca and did a little city tour. We finished our day enjoying a tranquil night in a nice hotel near the main square. Quote of the day “Would you give us a bit of motivation?” (Nice way of asking for "trago", an alcoholic drink)
Today we got up really early! The party of the city went on until late, we could hear the music until the break of dawn! We headed south to the city of Alausí, where we could admire the marvellous Andean landscape. On our way we made a stop to have a look at the first Catholic Church built by the Spaniards in Ecuador in 1534. In Alausí, the little Andean train did offer us a special adventure: the tour to the Devil’s nose. And after a long trip in our private bus, we arrived in Cuenca and did a little city tour. We finished our day enjoying a tranquil night in a nice hotel near the main square. Quote of the day “Would you give us a bit of motivation?” (Nice way of asking for "trago", an alcoholic drink)
| 10 |
Cuenca - Galapagos
Well, we didn’t want to loose our new habit of getting up early, we got up at 5 o’clock today to get the flight to the Galapagos islands. We are still on vacation, you know. On the airport we had to say goodbye to our nice bus driver Bolívar, who had to drive back to Quito. Once we got to Baltra we could finally feel some heat. On our way to Puerto Ayora, we visited “Los Gemelos”, two twin craters. In a private property, we saw our first giant tortoises …and they are huge! Afterwards we saw some more of them during our visit in the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we did learn about the work that´s being done for the fauna of the islands, especially for the tortoises. Finally we did enjoy a tasty dinner with fish and “patacones” (fried green bananas)
Well, we didn’t want to loose our new habit of getting up early, we got up at 5 o’clock today to get the flight to the Galapagos islands. We are still on vacation, you know. On the airport we had to say goodbye to our nice bus driver Bolívar, who had to drive back to Quito. Once we got to Baltra we could finally feel some heat. On our way to Puerto Ayora, we visited “Los Gemelos”, two twin craters. In a private property, we saw our first giant tortoises …and they are huge! Afterwards we saw some more of them during our visit in the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we did learn about the work that´s being done for the fauna of the islands, especially for the tortoises. Finally we did enjoy a tasty dinner with fish and “patacones” (fried green bananas)
| 11 |
Free time on Galápagos
Today was leisure time and we split up to make different tours. A few went to Plazas Islands, while the others discovered Floreana. To discover the underwater world of the islands was obligatory for everyone. All of us came back with excellent experiences and impressive sun burns.
Today was leisure time and we split up to make different tours. A few went to Plazas Islands, while the others discovered Floreana. To discover the underwater world of the islands was obligatory for everyone. All of us came back with excellent experiences and impressive sun burns.
| 12 |
Santa Cruz - Isabela
Today we had some free time which we used to visit the beach: the weather was spectacular and now all of us have a nice tanning in a crab shade. After a nice lunch, we left on a little boat for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. We were pretty sea sick,...feeling a little need to vomit... We did the check in at Miss Gardenia and enjoyed a siesta which we truly deserved.
Today we had some free time which we used to visit the beach: the weather was spectacular and now all of us have a nice tanning in a crab shade. After a nice lunch, we left on a little boat for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. We were pretty sea sick,...feeling a little need to vomit... We did the check in at Miss Gardenia and enjoyed a siesta which we truly deserved.
| 13 |
Sierra Negra and beach
We got up early today to visit the volcano Sierra Negra. We walked along the rim of the crater and were amazed by the black lava, without any plants from the last eruption in 2005. We went on to the parasite volcano “El Chico”, where we learned about the different lava formations (for example lava tunnels). From the highest point, a beautiful panorama of the majority of Isabela’s volcanoes opened up. We saw most of the Island and even the outlines of Fernandina on the horizon, where the last eruption took place just a few weeks ago. This walk took us five hours and we chose to relax on the amazing beach in the afternoon.
We got up early today to visit the volcano Sierra Negra. We walked along the rim of the crater and were amazed by the black lava, without any plants from the last eruption in 2005. We went on to the parasite volcano “El Chico”, where we learned about the different lava formations (for example lava tunnels). From the highest point, a beautiful panorama of the majority of Isabela’s volcanoes opened up. We saw most of the Island and even the outlines of Fernandina on the horizon, where the last eruption took place just a few weeks ago. This walk took us five hours and we chose to relax on the amazing beach in the afternoon.
| 14 |
Isabela
After a really bad night because of the noise made for the political campaigns, our friend Gerard didn't take part in our activities today because he didn't sleep at all. We having a rich breakfast, we left in a small boat to discover the shorelines of Isabela Island. We were lucky to see a colony of Blue Footed Boobies, a Penguin Colony, Sea Lions and the White Tipped Reef Sharks. Afterwards we started to discover the incredibly rich marine world of Galapagos. In a really nice place we dove in for snorkelling. A magnificent experience: the Sea Lions did enjoy swimming with us, without showing any fear. The sun was really strong, so all of us got sun burned again. This night, our guide Wilmer did prepare us a barbecue and a drink to friendship sponsored by William.
After a really bad night because of the noise made for the political campaigns, our friend Gerard didn't take part in our activities today because he didn't sleep at all. We having a rich breakfast, we left in a small boat to discover the shorelines of Isabela Island. We were lucky to see a colony of Blue Footed Boobies, a Penguin Colony, Sea Lions and the White Tipped Reef Sharks. Afterwards we started to discover the incredibly rich marine world of Galapagos. In a really nice place we dove in for snorkelling. A magnificent experience: the Sea Lions did enjoy swimming with us, without showing any fear. The sun was really strong, so all of us got sun burned again. This night, our guide Wilmer did prepare us a barbecue and a drink to friendship sponsored by William.
| 15 |
Isabela-Baltra-Guayaquil-Europa
We got up at 4:30 o’clock today, early enough to take the boat back to Santa Cruz Island. Lucky enough this time the sea was calm and we arrived without any problem of sea sickness punctually at 8h00 on Santa Cruz. At once we headed for Baltra airport and took a flight back to Guayaquil. We had some time for a nice little city tour and a delicious sea fruit meal, before it was time to say goodbye. A long flight is waiting for us…Good bye.
We got up at 4:30 o’clock today, early enough to take the boat back to Santa Cruz Island. Lucky enough this time the sea was calm and we arrived without any problem of sea sickness punctually at 8h00 on Santa Cruz. At once we headed for Baltra airport and took a flight back to Guayaquil. We had some time for a nice little city tour and a delicious sea fruit meal, before it was time to say goodbye. A long flight is waiting for us…Good bye.
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viExplorer Ecuador & Galapagos
Jamie
Mon-Thur 15:00 - 19:00
