Adventure World

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

One of the gems of South America, Ecuador has many highlights as diverse as the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous cultures to the ever-changing ecological paradise of the Galapagos Islands.

The two Andean cordilleras that run parallel and cross Ecuador from north to south, offer a varied topography: volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, green valleys with impressive colonial cities, quaint Indian villages, farmlands, haciendas, lakes and rivers of crystal blue waters.

The country retains its wonderful culture and charm that many expect in South America, from the gloriously colourful markets to the traditional clothing and way of life.

The Galapagos Islands have been named after the giant Galapagos tortoises. In 1835, the English naturalist Charles Darwin visited the islands and discovered this ‘living laboratory’ which inspired his writings on the Theory of Evolution. Many of the animals on the Galapagos Islands have developed into different species from their continental relatives, and because they have never experienced man as a predator, they show no fear of humans.

The Galapagos is a wildlife paradise, and these are just a small sampling of the odd and wonderful creatures to be seen.

Our Top Five Favourites

Blue-footed Boobies: Their strange coloured-feet and hypnotic, if not, clumsy and amusing, mating dances is something to behold! How can you not help but wonder how such a weird looking bird was created?

Marine Iguanas: Prehistoric in appearance, these guys can cling to the most slippery rocks, and come in all sorts of colours. One of the most curious things of the Galapagos is that the animals differ between Islands. Some of the most colourful (orange/copper) Marine Iguanas are found on Espanola Island.

Giant Tortoises: Lonesome George has long been thought to be the last of his species, but other species exist on the Islands. These massive creatures are awe-inspiring, and can be visited at numerous places. The Charles Darwin Research Station has a captive breeding program and you can also observe them in the wild, in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

Sea Lions: How can you not fall in love with the cute and curious Sea Lions that lie on the beaches in the Galapagos? They'll swim with you, or just let you lie beside them to do some sun tanning, unforgettable animals indeed.

Galapagos Penguins: The most northerly of all penguins, the Galapagos penguins, are one of many fascinating creatures that you might see whizzing by you at full speed as you snorkel around the Islands looking at the equally-stunning wildlife under the water.

Top Highlights

Quito: At 2850km above sea level and only 22km south of the equator, Quito has a springlike climate. The colonial buildings in Old Town, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Home to white-washed and red-tiled houses and colonial churches.

Must sees & do’s: the Monastery of San Francisco (Ecuador’s oldest church and one of many stunning colonial buildings in the old town) hanging out in a Cybercafe; experience the nightlife. A day trip to the equator at La Mitad del Mundo (‘the middle of the world’) in the village of San Antonio, about 22km north of Quito. The 30 metre high stone trape-zoidal monument is topped by a brass globe that is 4.5m in diameter built right on the equator.

Galapagos Islands: Famous for its fearless and unique wildlife - swim with sea lions, float eye-to-eye with penguins, stand next to a blue-footed booby feeding its young, watch a giant 200kg tortoise lumbering through a cactus forest.

The scenery is barren and volcanic, with its own haunting beauty. A trip to the Galapagos Islands is for the nature and wildlife enthusiast, not the average sun-seeker. Consist of 13 major islands and many smaller ones, only five islands are now inhabited. The most popular way to experience the Islands are boat trips, tours range from 4-8 days.

Must do’s: hike the cliff-top trail on South Plaza, a superb vantage point for watching seabirds; walking on century-old lava flows on San Salvador; or climbing to the summit of Bartolome for a view of the islands.

Otavalo: Famous for its friendly people and Saturday market - woollen weavings are a must buy. The most evident feature of the otavlenos culture is their traditional dress. The men wear long single pigtails, calf-length white pants, rope sandals, reversible gray or blue ponchos and dark felt hats. The women are very striking, with beautifully embroidered blouses, long black skirts and shawls, and interesting folded head cloths.

Devil's Nose Railway Pass: Just below Alausi is the famous El Nariz del Diablo, where a hair-raising series of railway switchbacks negotiate the steep descent toward Sibambe in the coastal lowlands. Take the Chiva Express rail journey.

The Amazon: Plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing with 14 monkey, 600 bird, 4000 fish species and 15,000 species of plants to see plus river trips and cross-cultural exchanges. A 4 day stay at a jungle lodge is recommended, where you can experience night walks & canoe trips.

More highlights: the town of Banos, Cuenca with its cobblestone streets and nearby Ingapirca (Ecuador's best preserved pre-colonial ruin); and colonial Guayaquil.

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 593
• When to Go: You can visit Ecuador year-round, but certain areas are better at certain times of the year. Ecuador has two seasons: wet and dry. The coast is hot and wet from Jan-May, overcast and humid from Jun-Sep and drier and cooler the rest of the year. The dry season in the Highlands is late May to Sept which coincides with the wettest months in the Oriente. High Seasons are mid-Dec-Jan & Jun-Aug.
• Capital: Quito
• Official Language: Spanish
• Currency: Sucre (S/) US$ dollars recommended and freely used throughout the country.
• Electricity: 110V, 60 cycles. Plug, two flat prong type.
• Tipping: Hotels and restaurants add 10% tax and 10% service charge to the bill. Tipping is not necessarily expected, but remember to give it to the waiter, don’t leave it on the table. Tip porters at airport and guides.
• Bargaining: Is expected in markets.
• Geography: 270,000 sq km, is about the size of NZ. Three Regions: Andean range, Central Highlands and Western Coastal Highlands.
• Gateway Airport: Quito (UIO); Guayaquil (GYE)
• Air: Main airports are Guayaquil and Quito. Domestic flights have no seat reservations, so it’s always a race to get the best seats.
• Coach: Bus is the most common form of transport. International bus tickets sold in Quito require a bus change at the border; it is cheaper and convenient to buy a ticket to the border and then another ticket in the next country.
• Train: The more reliable routes are Quito-Cotopaxi or Quito-Riobamba. Other routes are available but service is sporadic and beholden to weather and track conditions.
• Food: Almuerzo, or lunch of the day costs US$1-2 and consists of sopa (soup) and segundo (second dish) which is usually a seco (stew) with plenty of rice or a kind of lentil or pea stew (lenteja, arveja). A delicacy is Cuy - whole roasted guinea pigs. Llapingachos - fried potato & cheese pancakes. A churrasco is a hearty plate that comes with a slice of fried beef, one or two fried eggs, vegetables (usually boiled beet slices, carrots & beans), fried potatoes, a slice of avocado and tomato and rice.