Galapagos diving can be described as nothing short of spectacular. It has been said that if Darwain would have had scuba gear, he’d never have left. The Galapagos has many accolades: the world’s second largest marine preserve; one of the world’s top ten dive sites; the last place in the world to dive with large schools of Hammerhead sharks
Want to meet a bunch of like-minded South American explorers, get blitzed and have a chance to win some prizes too? The South American Explorers club’s bi-monthly pub quiz takes place at the Turtle’s Head Pub located in Quito’s La Mariscal the first and third Wednesday of every month.
I have lived in Quito about a year now, and to be honest, this is the place for me. I like having a bit of action and Quito has Ecuador’s largest concentrate of ex-pats stationed here…The main question for anybody coming to live in Quito is where. Quito proper has two parts worth living in: the new town or central historical. Here follows a little guide that might help you decide between the three places.
I rarely go to museums anymore. Thy tend to put me to sleep. All that walking around and looking at stuff. TV has given us all we need to look at and 86ed the whole walking around thing. But there was one museum I had to take in. And so after a year in Quito I finally got to see the museum of her most celebrated artist, Oswaldo Guayasamin.
Banos, in my mind, is one the top spot for tourism in Ecuador. There you have so many adventure activities in one spot, you’re guaranteed to overwork your adrenal glands. No other place in Ecuador can you go from Bungee jumping….Banos by bike offers a great way to take in its scenery and stunning vistas and the freedom to go where you want at your own pace.
So I’ll round out our little mini guide to Ecuador’s second city with my top three tourist attractions. Like I said before, Guayaquil is easily passed over because it seems like a humid quagmire of noise and rush-hour traffic. But get beyond the grud and you’ll find a few places worth seeing if you are stuck for a couple of days in transit or sorting out visas.
Guayaquil, if you recall is Ecuador’s commercial hub and home to over 3 million people. It is the southern city and the gateway to Peruvian travel. Most people in the past have quickly made their way through in pursuit of more glamorous destinations in the mountains and the coast. But as more more people are straying on, living and working, there becomes a need for a little guide to places to stay, places to eat and places to drink.
After scaling Ecuador’s volcanoes or hacking your way through its jungle, you’re going to need a place to kick back and unwind. Canoa, located on the country’s central coast, is the perfect place to do it.
Practically unknown just a decade ago, Canoa has emerged as a low-key tourist destination. The obvious draws here are the long, wide, clean beach that stretches for several kilometers, and the surfing breaks. Canoa has emerged as one of the premier surfing destinations in Ecuador, and it draws a lot of local and foreign enthusiasts, especially during the local summer- December through April. The beach has a number of breaks for beginners, too, and there are plenty of instructors who are happy to give Read more
Before me sat an empty plate, practically licked clean, where once rested a fine piece of steak, sausage, slices of grilled potato, freshly-made artisan bread….In my post-binge state I was seriously considering the hammock slung from a nearby beam while from the stereo emerged Anthony K’s melodic chant from some Chili Peppers song.
Night gathers on Montanita. The glow from restaurants and bars punctuates the growing darkness all around. Energy and activity. Glowing centers of ambiance draw in the bronzed vacationers and locals alike. I’ve been sitting on Por Q No’s corner watching the crowds climb into Montanita’s growing swirl of general shenanigans. Some slow their pace to check out the interior and menu of PQN and enter, others carry on towards the pueblo’s main strip of bars and restaurants. I find myself quite nicely stuck in this little corner, acutely askew from all the throbbing going on down in the strip. Por Q No isn’t the place you go to see and be seen. It’s a place to hang out and chat Read more