Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Looking for a couple or two people to join us on a 12 day boat trip through the Galapagos Feb. 11-23/08. We have booked a private yacht and a couple had to back out leaving us with space for two people (one cabin). There will be a nature guide and bird guide on board.

I read in several messages in this branch that it's possible to contact the Galápagos boats directly to save some hundred dollars.
The only difficulty is to find out these contacts, emails or numbers, so...
Does anyone have a good hint? :-)
The trip is planed for july/august.
Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!

Hi folks!

I´m planning to summit Chimborazo in mid-march and would need some advice concerning preparation and acclimatization.

I have a reasonable fitness-level and have already been on a 5960m mountain in Bolivia some years ago (and therefore know that it´s going to be tough). My major concerns are my (almost nonexistent) technical climbing experience (though, with a guide, I once did some climbing using ropes and crampons) and the acclimatization.

I´m thinking about first climbing Volcán…

Dec 2007: getting to Cotopaxi or Chimborazo by public transport is not quite so straightforward as appears in the Aug 2006 LP Ecuador and Galapagos.

Cotopaxi (p 152)

I took a Latacunga bus down to Cotopaxi from Quito; asked the ticket man to indicate where I shd get off, when I saw the Cuello de Luna sign (which is right opposite the entrance road to Cotopaxi), I headed to the front of the bus but the fellow indicated, 'no, it's further' and proceeded in the end to drop me off about 7kms…

I posted this question earlier but for some reason it didn't show up in the Ecuador/Galapagos section. I am currently in Quito and am heading to Cuenca. I have noticed that guitars are very inexpensive here and would like to get a recommendation on where is the best place to purchase a good quality guitar, either in Quito or Cuenca.

Thanks.

Has anyone stayed at the Continental in Guayaquil?

If anyone out there has any Guayaquil hotel experience, I'd welcome that too.

Happy travels!

HI,
I was on this train this afternoon and am happy to report that we were able to ride on the roof for the most significant part of the trip. Once we stopped at Alausi, right before we began the famous switchbacks, anyone who wanted to go on the roof was allowed to. However the only available car was the luggage car which had railings around the edge.

For the entire trip you had the option of sitting on the roof of the last car which was outfited with high railings and seats.

You also, if you…

Want to fit a Galapagos trip into our itinerary but prices seem prohibitive - what's the most cost effective way of seeing the Galapagos Islands???

Just returned from a quick (9 day) trip to Ecuador to visit my son who has been studying there. Several of the days were taken up with chasing things down with him concerning school so didn't get as much sight-seeing in as I would have liked, but thought I'd report on a few things. First few days in Quito stayed at the Hostal las Alpes and can't recommend it enough. The staff was very helpful, the furnishings colorful and the rooms nice and large. Ran about $40 a night for a single. It was…

¡Hola!

I´m wondering how often hiking-tours to Cotopaxi or Chimborazo do depart from Quito or Riobamba. Can you just search for a tour-operator who departs on a specific day or do you have to be more flexible?

Same question applies to cycling tours. I´m interested in doing a 2- or 3-day trip to Cotopaxi and Laguna Quilotoa.

Thank´s for sharing your experiences.

Ingi