Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

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Jun 18, 2013 2:08 PM
isherwood

last reply
Jun 18, 2013 2:08 PM
isherwood

0 replies
15 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

jungle flights in ecuador

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a flight to the Ecuadorian jungle without booking a lodge? Who flies the planes for the lodges? Are they regular flights or do the planes belong to/are chartered by the lodge?

Thanks a million.

El Gringo Tropical

Jun 18, 2013 7:58 AM
Frida1

last reply
Jun 18, 2013 3:15 PM
hazzdawg

1 replies
37 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Drinking water and internal flights

I have two questions. What do people recommend for drinking water? Is it easy to get bottled water, or are iodine tablets or a water purifier good ideas? Secondly, when traveling on an internal flight in Ecuador, is it a problem to carry a small pocket knife in carry-on luggage? What about over 3 oz of sunscreen, etc? Do they have these security rules?

Thanks

Jun 17, 2013 5:56 PM
mray

last reply
Jun 17, 2013 10:14 PM
polyglot25

1 replies
61 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Water and weather

Hello:
I can't get a grasp from reading moon and lonely planet guide books about water temperature. Am I correct in assuming that all the Andean Mt lakes are too cold to swim in? How about rivers, for example if I go kayaking in the Banos area?
As well, how about the coast? I am assuming it is similar to the Nicaraguan coast this time of year. Mostly over cast some afternoon showers and sun coming out for an hour or 2 hear and there?
Thanks for your insights

Jun 17, 2013 12:13 PM
krisruth

last reply
Jun 18, 2013 1:11 PM
hermosajoe

4 replies
121 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Travel from Ecuador to Panama

My husband and I want to leave Ecuador in mid-August and go to Panama. What is a cheap and safe option for this? We had heard that it was not advisable to go over Columbia-Panama border.

Any thoughts, leads, or ideas?

Jun 17, 2013 6:43 AM
Frida1

last reply
Jun 17, 2013 6:43 AM
Frida1

0 replies
32 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Otavalo language school

Does anyone have a recommendation for a language school in Otavalo?

Jun 17, 2013 2:38 AM
joepie

last reply
Jun 17, 2013 9:41 AM
snowflakes100

2 replies
103 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

is sleeping bag useful in colombia and ecuador?

In 3 days we go to Colombia (for 3 weeks) and afterwards for 3 weeks to ecuador.
We shall sleep in normal budget hostels and do the normal tourist places.
Have we to take a sleeping bag for the quilotoa loop? Ecuador looks more cold at night,
but less rainy than Colombia. Am I right?
thanks

Jun 15, 2013 1:16 PM
ebh2121

last reply
Jun 18, 2013 1:18 PM
ebh2121

2 replies
117 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos in January

I realise that this is a common topic on here, but I can't seem to find any information about booking a cruise for Galapagos at the last minute for the end of Dec or the start of January. I realise that this is likely the high season given the holidays so was wondering if anyone has experience of a last minute booking during this period? We are looking for either a 5 or an 8 day cruise departing sometime between 29 Dec - 5 Jan. Would prefer to pay a little more for a better boat rather than going completely budget but we are reasonably flexible.

Does anyone have any experience of last minute bookings from Ecuador at this time? We are 2 people in our early 30s.

Thanks,
E

Jun 13, 2013 9:34 PM
Caitlin17

last reply
Jun 18, 2013 6:36 AM
barryworldlynomad

4 replies
191 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos in October

Hi Everyone,

It's the old question of pre-book or book when in Quito for the Galapagos. Specifially, my boyfriend and I will be in Ecuador in October and I've heard it's low season which means it might be easier to get a last minute deal however I've also heard that a lot of boats can be out of action for servicing. I've found a tour I can book now which is $1620 per person for 6 days/5 nights and includes flight but my only issue is the first and last nights are in Quito so it's only 3 nights on the islands which isn't much time. What do you think the chances are of us finding a last minute deal when we arrive in Oct that's around $1600 per person for at least 5 nights (on a boat) and includes flights? We're on a budget and don't mind too much about the boat though a half decent guid would be good.

Thanks for any advice!

Jun 12, 2013 6:30 PM
herve740

last reply
Jun 12, 2013 10:11 PM
pboae

1 replies
176 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Tips on I-phone use in Ecuador-- "jailbroken" phone needed?

Hi-
We'll have an I-phone with us during our travels in Ecuador from June 20 to July 21. Does anyone who has been to Ecuador with an I-phone know if it Is it necessary for the I-phone to be "jailbroken" in order to get an Ecuadoran sim-card once we arrive in order to obtain 3-G internet ?
Thanks for any help on this?
herve

Jun 12, 2013 10:28 AM
megan_k

last reply
Jun 17, 2013 2:39 PM
Dustyjams

2 replies
104 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Looking for someone to adventure with, June-end of July

I am interning in Puyo for a few months, and am realizing that a lot of the tours and activities I would like to do either require, or are a better deal, with more than one person (and probably more fun as well!).
I am hoping to find another traveller or group to do a horseback trip around Chimborazo on July 3-4th (there is a significant discount for 2 or more people). I also would like to do rafting in Tena, paragliding in Banos (any weekend until end of July) and trek part of the Quilotoa loop at some point between July 20th-30th.
If anyone is in those areas around those dates and would like to meet up, let me know!

Jun 12, 2013 9:13 AM
fluffy_bunny

last reply
Jun 13, 2013 5:25 AM
femby

1 replies
101 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Church on Pichincha

Kind of a specific question. I've scoured the internet and cannot find the answer. On the top of the Teleferico in Quito there is a small church/chapel. I saw a sign pointed to it with a name, but i cannot find the name anywhere.

What is the name of the small church on the top of the teleferico in Quito?

Jun 11, 2013 7:51 PM
acsierra

last reply
Jun 16, 2013 6:03 AM
acsierra

2 replies
135 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Churute mangrove

Have someone been at churute mangroove to give me an advise about visiting the park? I'm planning to go this weekend

Jun 11, 2013 4:40 PM
dan19870425

last reply
Jun 12, 2013 12:04 AM
jgcp

3 replies
180 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Where is their a location like vilcabamba except less expensive land?

I'm looking to buy land in a location with very similar spring-like temperatures and landscapes as vilcabamba except i'm looking for inexpensive land prices for the purpose of starting my own permaculture food forest and living off the land.

Jun 11, 2013 6:14 AM
Lisette_B

last reply
Jun 13, 2013 4:42 PM
Frida1

3 replies
235 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Mountain trekking in Ecuador

We just came back from an amazing mountain tour and can recommend this trip to anyone! On day one we took a daytrip to the Cotopaxi national park which we had organized through a travel agent in Quito. It was a beautiful day with almost no clouds in the morning and great views. Our guide was very funny and social and he took us up to the glacier, which I think was about one hour and a half tough hiking up the Cotopaxi. It was a great feeling to arrive at the glacier and I had never seen something like this before. After a cup of hot chocolate at the refuge we went down to the Limpiopungo lake where we just has a soft hike and then the guide dropped us off close to the Secret Garden, a lovely place with a stunning view of Cotopaxi.
The next day we woke up early enough to take the bus up to Latacunga and from there jumped on the bus directly to Isinlivi where we arrived after midday. ... more »

Jun 9, 2013 7:28 PM
un_australian

last reply
Jun 9, 2013 7:57 PM
un_australian

2 replies
150 views
location: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

anyone know how long the bus trip from Loja to Quito is?

The title says it... but also would like to know if it is possible to get a bus direct from Loja to Tumbaco or will I have to go to Quito and then catch a bus to Tumbaco from there?

Thanks for any info.

Edited by: un_australian

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