After weeks of trekking, hiking and checking out remote ruins in the Andes, I was in for a serious case of culture shock upon m arrival in Lima. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. Lima is a large and diverse city with roots going back long before Colombus’ arrival in the […]
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–Day 7-Santiago Island-Egas Port-Rabida Island– We start the morning hiking across Santiago Island to lava flows teeming with Galapagos Sea Lions. There are not as many Marine Iguanas as the last two days but they are generally larger. Some incredible pools and bridges over the ocean formed by the lava flows add texture to an […]
Some days I am really glad that I woke up early! –Day 4–Chinese Hat-Santa Cruz Island-Whaler Bay– After breakfast we go for a walk on a gorgeous beach. Lots of Sally Lightfoot Crabs. Many sea lions. We see a pup nursing. Several sea lions are swimming in the surf as well as two Marine Iguanas. […]
Three Nonstop Days of Trekking and Pre-Colombian Pre-Inca Culture Arriving in Chachapoyas we checked into Hostel Revash and quickly booked a three day package of tours beginning the following morning. Chachapoyas is a quiet colonial town. However, the area was the center of a sophisticated civilization that predates the Incas by 1,000 years! Within a […]
There are at least three or four ways to get from Ecuador to Peru. The most popular is via the Pan American Highway which runs through Quito, Guayaquil and Lima. One can also go by boat through the Amazonian jungle. But when Peter, the owner of Hosteria Izhcayluma in Vilcabamba suggested a backroads way that […]
I just wrapped up a five week stint in Ecuador with a stay at the hosteria Izhcayluma in Vilcabamba. Izhcayluna aptly bills itself as a backpacker resort and was founded by brothers Peter and Dieter in 2001. It sits 2 km up a hill overlooking Vilcabamba and the beautiful Valley of Longevity. My cabin was better than […]
What makes a day special, unique and memorable? Is it seeing some new drop dead gorgeous scenery for the first time? Is it doing something unique within a commonplace situation? Is it meeting someone from a different culture and having a deep heart connection with them as you share your differences despite language and culture […]
Day 3–Santiago Island-Sullivan Bay-Bartholomew Island –214 Photos Taken– 6:00 a.m.-We go on our first expedition of the day to Santiago island where we explore the lava flows and get some education on Galapagos Vulcanology from our guide interpreter, Victor. The patterns in the lava are caused during the cooling process. This is a fairly […]
In the morning, I retrace my steps back to be at the airport by 10 am. There are some glitches. First, no guide until almost 11, but then Victor shows up and I am immediately impressed and charmed. Then we wait for a second plane to come in which is late. All in all, I […]