Approach, landing and taxi-in at Quito airport, Ecuador.You know you’ve been in Quito too long(or just long enough) if you start calling it by its airport code, UIO. And no one will forget that first experience, or any thereafter, landing into this lofty Andean Airport. I recall waking to turbulence and steep banks and catching glimpses of green peeks ascending starboard of our descent.
Mmmmmm….roasted Andean Rat(a.k.a Cuy)! Weird Ecuadorian Foods.
So the topics around the dinner table revolved around two topics: religion(Catholicism) and food(rodent)…I am adventuresome when it comes to travel, but rather on the strait and narrow when sampling local cuisine. But for those traveling in the Andean regions of Ecuador such as Banos, Cuenca and Otavalo, you will eventually see one of those oversized rats being skinned, butterfly split and skewered, roasting in the open air markets. I am referring to the Cuy(a Quechua word, pronounced Kwee)
LearnSpanishandSurf.com Ecuador Experience
This is a Guest post from LearnSpanishandSurf.com
Open your eyes to the thrills and experience of learning a new language while studying abroad. Step out of your comfort zone and consume yourself in a culture that is both new, yet exciting, but also provides a supportive and opportunistic way to learn the Spanish language. Experience a hospitable environment with LearnSpanishandSurf.com’s Ecuador Spanish Immersion program that provides each student the choice of living with a host family in which Spanish is their first and only language spoken.
With LearnSpanishandSurf.com’s two Ecuador Immersion programs; Manta and Montanita, enjoy surfing the warm waters as well as Learning Spanish in a beautiful beach location. With the country of Ecuador being no larger than Read more
Calling all ladies—Betty surf and Yoga Camp, Canoa, Ecuador
Ecuador is a great place to come year round to learn to surf. The beaches of Canoa offer the perfect place to get wet for the first time, stand up and hang ten off your board….But for those getting into the sport, they might find it a bit daunting to go up against the waves. To this end, Betty Surf Camp was started, to give women seeking adventure travel in a safe place.
Vilcabamba Travel Guide
Vilcabamba is a small village within the Vilcabamba Valley in southern Ecuador and as famous for its dramatic landscape as for the longevity of its inhabitants. With lush green scenery, a mild year-round climate, and fresh mountain air, it is no wonder that Vilcabamba has been a popular vacation spot for hundreds of years. Once a retreat for Inca royalty, foreigners discovered Vilcabamba in the 1970s after a series of articles was published highlighting the long lives of the locals.
Since then the area has been known as the Valley of Longevity and has turned into one of the most popular destinations in Ecuador. Because most people come to Vilcabamba to relax, the town has managed to keep its small Read more
Loop around Banos by bike
Banos, in my mind, is one the top spot for tourism in Ecuador. There you have so many adventure activities in one spot, you’re guaranteed to overwork your adrenal glands. No other place in Ecuador can you go from Bungee jumping….Banos by bike offers a great way to take in its scenery and stunning vistas and the freedom to go where you want at your own pace.
Puerto Lopez Travel Guide
Puerto López is a small fishing town with a sweeping, horseshoe-shaped beach located along the famous Ruta del Sol in Ecuador. Fishing boats and sunbathers add some color to the yellow sand beach which gives way to small headlands as you head into town. Quiet and unassuming, there is not a whole lot to do in Puerto López itself, but the town makes an ideal base to explore the nearby Parque Nacional Machalilla, Ruta del Sol, as well as watch the migration of Humpback whales through June to September.
Ecuador’s only coastal preserve, Parque Nacional Machalilla, has protected 40,000 hectares of cloud forest and tropical dry forest as well as 20,000 hectares of ocean since 1979. An entrance fee of Read more
Vagabond Journey Magazine Launches
Vagabond Explorer Magazine challenges you to get outside the rounds of conventional tourism, get into the open air, and look the world directly in the face. Serving as the official magazine of Vagabond Journey Travel, in each issue we strive to give you the best on the ground travel reports, biting vagabonding narratives, tactical and money saving tips, and reviews of the top blogs, books, and gear made for the traveler. Look inside at Vagabond Explorer Magazine
Historic Hacienda Stays—Half the fun is getting there
Ever wanted to feel like Butch Cassidy or Sundance riding free over the Andean hills of South America? Well, you don’t have to be a bank robber in exile to do so anymore. The Folks at Ride Andes have it all sorted for you. Just book online, fly down and they take care of the rest. Airport transfers, accommodation, horses—and you won’t have to worry about the cops tracking you down. Ride Andes is one of Ecuador’s most distinguished outfitters for Horse tour holiday adventures. Don’t know how to ride—don’t let that stop you. Ride Andes even gives riding lessons.
Most popular amongst the tours is the Colonial Hacienda tour. Imagine setting off on beautiful grassy tracks taking Read more
A little travel Euolgy
“The world is a book and those who don’t travel know only one page.”
St. Augustine
I just wanted to start this blog off with a bit of an apology to all my readers for being very slack the last couple months in answering comments. I just went through a back log of them and finally gave some responses. I became a bit preoccupied upon finding out that my dear Grandfather made the dignified decision to end his battle with cancer and to let life do what it wants. At the end of January I made the trek home to see him and honor him in his life. Truly a great man, he was a hard worker and dedicated Read more
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