The Five Best Hikes in the Galápagos
View from Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island. Photo by Claudia H. licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Bring your walking shoes, because rocky trails in the Galápagos are not best tackled in sandals. There are trails along pristine beaches, through forests of cacti, and along unworldly blackened
The Five Best Sites to Snorkel or Dive in the Galápagos
Diver encounters a Whale Shark in the waters of the Galápagos. Photo © Dieder Brandelet.
The Galápagos may be the best destination worldwide for watching wildlife on land, but the marine marvels underwater are beyond belief. From snorkeling with playful sea lion pups and nonchalant sea turtles to
The Five Best Spots for Wildlife-Watching in the Galápagos
Photographers get up close to Galápagos sea lions enjoying the sun. Photo © Design Pics.
You won’t be squinting through binoculars for glimpses of wildlife in the Galápagos — the animals display themselves proudly and fearlessly, and every excursion brings unforgettable sights.
Charles Darwin Res
The Waterfall Route from Baños to Puyo
Tarabitas (cable-cars) cross the valley. Photo © Rinaldo Wurglitsch, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
This spectacular 61-kilometer road drops nearly 1,000 meters in elevation along the Pastaza Valley to the edge of the Oriente. There are nearly a dozen waterfalls along the newly christened
New Year’s Eve in Ecuador: Embracing Local Culture
Political satire is a popular theme for the monigotes and años viejos. Photo © Amy E. Robertson.
I’d been living in Quito for a few months when the year-end holidays rolled around. I was eight months pregnant at that point—too far along to travel to Seattle or Rome to spend Christmas and New Year’
Galápagos Islands Travel Safety: Recommended Vaccinations
Photo © DrFarouk, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Vaccinations are recorded on a yellow International Certificate of Vaccination, which you should bring with you to Ecuador. You may be asked to show this document to prove your immunizations, especially in the case of a yellow fever out
Galápagos Islands Travel Safety: Food and Water
Enjoying a drink during a boat tour at Darwin Bay Beach in the Galápagos. Photo © Andrew Turner, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
If you’re going to get sick while traveling, it will probably be from contaminated water or food. As a tropical country, Ecuador is full of bacteria and par
Regional Cuisine on the Galápagos Islands
Langosta (lobster or jumbo shrimp) served with patacones (fried mashed plantain). Photo © Rinaldo Wurglitsch, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Ecuador isn’t known for gourmet cookery, but perhaps the best food is found on the coast, and many of these specialties are available on the Galápago
Diving in the Galápagos Islands
Diving amongst a school of fish in the Galápagos Islands. Photo © Derek Keats, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
With such an astonishing array of marine life, it’s no surprise that the Galápagos ranks among the world’s best dive destinations. The New York Zoological Society’s Oceanograp
Choosing Between Land and Sea when Visiting the Galápagos
A sea lion and pup rest on the rocks of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. Photo © Cynthia Perry, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
There are basically two ways to see the Galápagos: on a cruise or on a land-based tour. Cruises have historically been the most popular, and advantages inc
Getting around the Galápagos Islands
A land iguana tromps along on North Seymour Island. Photo © Alan Davey, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Getting around the Galápagos is easier than it used to be. If you have booked a tour, you don’t need to worry about this because all transfers, shuttles, and cruises are prearranged.
An Introduction to Ecuador for Volunteers
Located in northwest South America, Ecuador is bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. The country is home to four distinct regions: the mountainous Sierra, with its chain of volcanoes and a vibrant indigenous culture; the Oriente, home to the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle; the g
Volunteer with Jatun Sacha in Ecuador
Jatun Sacha volunteers can choose from sites in the Amazonian or Coastal rainforest, Andean forest, or on the Galapagos Islands. Photo © JP Bennett, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Jatun Sacha (JS) is a self-sustaining nonprofit organization that owns and maintains five private nature rese
Volunteer with Merazonia in Ecuador
According to their website, “Merazonia is a dynamic rescue and rehabilitation center for trafficked and abused Amazonian animals, located on 250 acres of rainforest.”
As one could expect, it rains a heck of a lot, so bring a rain poncho and quick-drying clothes.Volunteers will usually find monkey
Discover Quito, Ecuador’s Capital City
Ecuador’s capital is a city that scales many heights, not least in terms of elevation. The second-highest capital in the world after Bolivia’s La Paz, Quito sits at 2,850 meters above sea level in a valley hemmed in by mountains, including the twin peaks of Volcán Pichincha. Quito’s dramatic geogr
Sights in Quito's Old Town
Quito’s Old Town is what makes the city famous, containing a huge number of colonial churches and religious buildings set around elegant plazas. The walls and ceilings are decorated with elaborate paintings and sculptures, and altars are resplendent with gold leaf.
Flash photography is prohibited
Doing business & staying in touch while in Ecuador
Ecuador: Doing business & staying in touch
Ecuador Weather, Climate and Geography
Ecuador Weather, climate and geography
Ecuador History, Language and Culture
Ecuador History, Language and Culture
Ecuador Travel Guide and Travel Information
Ecuador Travel Guide
