Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Hi, Newbie coming to Ecuador (shooting for low season there -means pretty soon from CA/US)... I know I want to see Quito, thinking also Guayaquil (experience the mountains & the warmer low lands -also is the other major airport) ... was debating flying into one or the Other, then taking a Domestic flight to which ever city I didn't fly into... Should I try to Book all the flights from Here or want and get there to do? (sights I'd like: Equator, of course -part Inca Trail, if Time and looking at…

Hi
We just come back from our cruise on the Galapagos. We went with the agency Go2Galapagos (or Victoria Tour) from Quito. The agency was not really good and lied to us. The boat was a catamaran called Galapagos Vision. The boat was great, with hot water, nice cabins (except the central cabin). The crew was nice and the food very good. We paid 1200$ for a 8-day cruise. Other passengers paid 1010$ with Moonrise Travel agency based in Puerto Ayora and booked later than us. The guide (John Sunnega)…

Ok, just got back from a month in Ecuador and the Galapagos and had lot's of info from here, so it's payback time.

I will hopefully do a longer post later on Ecuador, but just had to post this info first.

If you are looking to do a cruise around the Galapagos, and you can afford it, then you could do a lot worse than the ARCHIPEL II. I did loads or research before the wife and I went and this boat popped up here only once. But it is an absolutely fabulous boat (in the luxury to 1st class range)…

We just returned from Quito after a 2 day delay due to the Spanish airline Iberia, whose Airbus A 340-600 with 333 people on board failed to land properly.
A few other passengers are still stuck there because the damaged airplane is still sitting at the end of the runway and planes need to be light enough to clear it.

Has anyone used this operator "Galasam International" for a Galapagos cruise?

If so, how was your experience with them?

We are considering taking an 8-day cruise with them.

Their website: http://www.galapagos-islands.com/<BR><BR>

Has anyone stayed at the Red Mangrove Inn in Galapagos and/or done their day trips? Any comments/thoughts?

Thanks!

www.redmangrove.com<BR>

can anyone recommend any worthwhile treks in ecuador...perhaps in vilcabamba and riobamba or anywhere else...how long do each of them last...do u need guides or can u go on your own..how much would it be cost per day?

any info would be much appreciated...

thanks

As an experienced traveller who´s been on the road a good while I had the misfortune to have to attend hospital with suspected DVT recently. Fortunately I struck it lucky with the doctor. The name is Doctor Jaime Moreno at The Hospital Santa Ines in Cuenca. It was easy to discuss the investigative route with him, he has access to a good team with modern equipment and test facilities, his English Language is good, his prices reasonable and his approach thoroughly professional. My only…

Hi all,

I am a twenty year old Australian male travelling in Ecuador on my own. I'm hoping to visit one of the many ecolodges I've heard about, but it is expensive for a solo traveller, especially the transport to isolated areas. If any readers want to share the fun and the costs please contact me.

My personal preference is to visit the coastal Choco Rainforest in the north-west (www.touchthejungle.org). To be honest though, everything along these lines looks amazing to me. www.sanilodge.com is…

Can anyone recommend a Canoa website that accurately reflects the "vibe" of this little town? I've googled the name and nothing really shows what I could expect... from what I've found on the Thorn Tree this is a sleepy surf town - but I'm wondering just how sleepy it is. I need some fun and nightlife.... I don't want to be in bed by 11pm every night.

I've found one for http://www.montanita.com/ and it seems that this town is kind of overdone already.... is the town really accurately…