Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

Hi

I have a lonely Planet Peru and Bolivia, both are from 2004.
I am now in La Paz and going to Uyuni, back in Lima around early November.
I would like to travel up north to Ecuador and Colombia.
Anyone willing to switch above mentioned guides or a South American Shoestring for my two travel guides somewhere in the coming weeks?
Take care

I am about to go to the Oriente (past Coca) and am having lots of trouble in Quito finding repellent containing a decent amount of DEET. Does anywhere sell the strong stuff? Second question - I am going to play it safe and take malaria tabs but cannot find info regarding WHICH tabs to take for the Oriente. I was planning on taking doxycycline and would like to avoid Lariam. Any recent experience (I don´t have my family doctor handy)?

I'm interested in researching Ecuador as a place to retire to and I've got a bunch of frequent flyer miles burning a hole in my pocket and I've got some holes in my teeth where some fillings came out.

Anyone know a good dentist in Quito that could take care of my "emergency" dental needs now and some crowns at a later date?

I'm also curious about car rentals rates and possible accommodations that are neither a hostel or a hotel but a short-term rental of a private house or apartment. High-speed…

I am flying into Quito tomorrow night. Heading to La Cienega around Cotopaxi for two nights, then onward to Patate valley for another two nights. Then it is back to Quito and eventually up to Otavalo.

Anybody hear any local weather forecasts for these areas?

Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

The typical are 8days/7 nights.

I feel that I like something more in depth, especially more time for the volvanos at Isle Isabela. After a standard cruise going be ferry ferry would be one option.

However, are there any cruises in May for 10-12 days available?

May seems good to me price-wise and weather-wise, before the grey sky set in, and chance of a single shower with blue sky seems better.

I appreciate any comments

Thanks Ushi

Hey People,

I'm a aussie surfer heading down to SA from Costa Rica in late Dec and was wanting some advise from any experienced travellors on this route. I'm looking at doing either

a. Flying into Ecuador on the 23rd of Dec than heading to the coastal area (montanita etc.) spending 7/8 days than busing it down to huanchaco and basing my self there for 8/9 days.

b. Other option would be to fly into Peru on the 26th of Dec and then base myself in Huanchaco for 2 1/2weeks.

I'm thinking (b) at the…

If your time was limited, is it at all possible to do a jungle walk/paddle as a day trip from Quito?

Anyone ever slept in the Quito airport? My flight arrives at 10:55pm so I was thinking of just sleeping there and catching the 7:30am flight to the Galapagos.

Does anybody have an opinion about ayampe (specifically finca ayampe) for a place to stay a week or two and surfing for beginners. Also any opinions on the yacht darwin in the galapagos
thanks
wyoming

Has anyone done a trip on the Manatee Amazon Explorer riverboat on the Napo River?

We're considering doing one of their trips, but were wondering if you see as much wildlife and do as much walking and canoeing as you would staying in a lodge.