With 2013 barely off the ground, a new blogger relay has taken the travel world by storm. The idea? To pick your best posts from the past year, depending on twelve predefined categories. When I was nominated by JdombsTravels to take part, it sounded like a great opportunity to reflect on everything I've been up to and to scrutinise my blog posts … [Read more...]
Cycling from Baños to Puyo
Banos is a town you can easily fall in love with. It’s one of those quiet places, tucked into a valley surrounded by mountains and cascades, where you feel safe and relaxed. But there is also plenty to do there. One of the highlights is riding a bike and cycling from Banos to Puyo. WHERE TO RENT A BIKE It's easy to find a tour operator with … [Read more...]
Mama Negra Festival: a Surreal Experience
Mama Negra festival is a celebration of a legend. The city of Latacunga in Ecuador sits under the shadow of Cotopaxi Volcano. Cotopaxi is one of the biggest active volcanos in the world. It destroyed the town twice and, in 1742, it threatened to do so again. Fearing its imminent threat, the locals of Latacunga prayed to the Virgen de la Merced and … [Read more...]
Cotopaxi Volcano Climb: An Attempt to Summit
The Cotopaxi Volcano climb was one of the toughest physical challenges I've ever attempted. It's a gruelling continuous uphill slog in freezing conditions and on sometimes treacherous ground. While all I could think of was the pain I was in during the experience itself, the memories that lasted are of the incredible views once we'd broken through … [Read more...]
Visiting Quilotoa on a Day Trip from Latacunga
Take a Quilotoa day trip or join the 'Quilatoa Loop' hike, but whatever you do, don't miss Quilatoa off your Ecuador itinerary. WHY TAKE A QUILOTOA DAY TRIP? The views from the top of Quilotoa Crater are incredible. When we rounded the corner and came face to face with the shimmering water of Quilotoa Lake, it stopped us in our tracks. The … [Read more...]
Otavalo Market: A Day Trip From Quito by Public Bus
Otavalo Market is one of the largest, most famous markets in South America. If you're planning a trip to Quito you can try to visit Otavalo Market in one day - as I did - or you have the option of finding accommodation for the night and further exploring the region. My advice? Do the latter if you have the time. HOW LONG IS THE JOURNEY FROM … [Read more...]
Galapagos Island Wildlife: A Unique Experience
Ecuador is one of the most species-rich countries in the world and this is largely down to the diversity of Galapagos Island wildlife. Many of the species found on the Galapagos Islands are endemic, and it's common for their names to have the prefix 'Galapagos'. One of the most unique attributes of Galapagos Island wildlife is that it barely seems … [Read more...]
A Visit to the Galapagos Tortoise Conservation Centre
The Galapagos Islands are famous for many things - romantic Galapagos cruise trips, Darwin's finches, impressive volcanic landscapes, spitting iguanas and dancing blue-footed boobies, to name just a few, but of all the Galapagos Island wildlife, the most iconic symbol of the archipelago is the giant Galapagos tortoise. LONESOME GEORGE Sadly, … [Read more...]
What to Expect from a Galapagos Cruise
Before I came to the Galapagos Islands, I was pretty naive. Like most people, I imagined them to be uninhabited landscapes, only accessible to those who jumped off a passing cruise ship for an hour or two to take in the sights. I was in for a few surprises. So, if you're about to book a Galapagos cruise, these tips might help you save the dollars … [Read more...]
Whale Watching at Isla de la Plata
Puerto Lopez in Ecuador is a run down, littered town with very little going for it other than its proximity to Isla de la Plata. So, why visit? WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT ISLA DE LA PLATA? Isla de la Plata has two main draws. First, the island itself is often referred to as a mini Galapagos thanks to the presence of some of the Galapagos Island … [Read more...]
