Not only do Cotacachi, Papallacta, Atahualpa offer exquisite views, local culture, and outdoor activities – both up close and at a distance – but there are also a series of micro climates that enable different types of farming at different altitudes. The micro climates enable production of everything from roses to Continue reading
In Ecuador’s Andean Highlands, you are surrounded by a patchwork of green beauty all the way up the mountainsides. Ecuador’s Andean Highlands are located between the western and coastal lowlands and the eastern Amazonian jungle. They offer diverse nature including volcanoes – live and extinct, hot springs and thermal baths, and unique flora and fauna.
We made several different trips to Ecuador’s Andean Highlands, either day trips from Quito or 3-day weekends. It’s so easy to get to these areas. Buses are plentiful and cheap. Here is an overview of Continue reading
For your Galapagos Excursions, decide if you want to see the Galapagos by motoring between islands and living on a boat. Or would you prefer staying on one or two islands and taking day excursions? You can do some of each; we did both.
Our boat – First Class Cat
A cruise will be much more expensive than a land trip. However, it is not possible to see the remote islands if you do not go on a boat cruise.
[TIP: You will visit the more remote spots only …
Peguche Waterfall
Ecuador is tiny. In the diverse distinct regions in Ecuador, you will find extreme beauty from its historic Andean cities to its nature. The nature of Ecuador consists of micro-climates from snow-capped peaks (there are 44 peaks with 14 active volcanoes) to humid jungles to warm coastal beaches.
It is home to: Continue reading
Tom and I spent 2 months in 2015-2016 traveling the small but diverse country of Ecuador. On Tuesday of this week, as I was leaving the gym, a woman from my dance class asked, “Why did you choose Ecuador? It is an unusual choice.”
We loved the variety of experiences and enjoyed many of the local people we met in Ecuador.
Here are the reasons to visit Ecuador: Continue reading
This is Part 2 of our post on International Travel and the key things we have learned to do during travel to make it more enjoyable.
[Click here to see Part 1 of this post]
My good friend Laura suggested that everyone taking long driving trips with their spouse needs ideas on how to make the ride more pleasant and the travel time go by faster. I actually planned several things for our long driving trip to Florida, engaging my husband in some of the technical issues and gaining his buy-in for how we would pass the time. It generally doesn’t work unless he is bought in in advance, and it is even better if he has a role in the planning.
What we did on our drive from PA to FL:
1. We listened to some books. Although we could not physically check them out of the library since we were planning to be away for 10 weeks, since I have ‘Overdrive’ set up on my tablet, I can Continue reading
Diving is different, as you are diving in colder waters and around rock formations rather than coral. There are more very small colorful creatures, and more larger animals.
For exa
mple, I never saw so many octopus out during the day as I did during Costa Rica diving. When I look at our pictures, almost every day has photos of octopus.
The cute puffers are everywhere; they were Continue reading