South America Day 30: Quito, Equador

January 2012

We were up late for a city tour around Quito. We met our guide and made our way to the largest church in the city with spectacular stain glass windows.

We walked into the old town to the Presidential Palace, where on Mondays the President and Vice president will go onto the balcony for the changing of the guards. It was Monday and both the president and Vice President were in attendance. We also got to see an extra display for the 5 year anniversary of the revolution celebrations.

We then walked down to the San Francisco square.

We got picked up and headed towards the equator line stopping for lunch along the way. There is a small museum at the equator line and they show you some of the effects the equator has.

Once back at the hotel we took a quick cab ride to see the Handicraft markets which were disappointing before heading back to the hotel to catch a flight to Lima.

Stay
Ramada Airport, Lima

Eat
Rumicucho, Equador

Do
Equator Line
Changing of the guards mondays at the Presidental Palace
San Francisco Square

South America Day 29: Galapagos to Quito

January 2012

Up early to disembark at 615 am and try and see the turtles make their way out to sea at Bacnas Beach. We did however miss them and only saw their tracks back out to sea.

We got back to the boat at 8 am to finish packing and for breakfast before boarding the dinghy to catch the plane back to Quito.

We arrived back at 4pm. Being a Sunday most things we shut around the hotel and we had a horrible dinner at TGIF (never again!).

Stay

La Parc, Quito

Eat

On Sunday its best to eat in the hotel. Do not go to TGIF like we did.

Do

Am was in Galapagos

PM Nada

South America Day 27: Galapagos

January 2012

The morning was spent resting on the top deck after breakfast while the boat refueled.

At around 9 am we got into the dinghy's again and visited Black Turtle Cove. Here we saw many sea turtles and watched the pelicans fish.

We sailed further around the Island before lunch and siesta.

After lunch we had our first snorkeling trip of the day, swimming with sea turtles, sting rays and tropical fish.

That afternoon we made a landing on Cerro Dragon, walking up to a view point and seeing flamingos, mockingbirds and finches along the way.

South America Day 26: Galapagos

January 2012

Up at 6:30 am for breakfast and on the dinghys by 7:45 am. We landed on North Seymour Island to baby sea lions.

 The Island is a breading place for frigate birds and we saw many males with their red balloons trying to attract females.

We also saw a few blue footed boobies which aren't currently as common as in the past due to the lack of sardines.

We saw some land Iguanas and watched the sea lions play on the beach.

Once back on board the boat we had a quick snack, before getting ready for our first snorkeling expeditions.

We snorkeled for about an hour off North Seymour seeing some white tip reef sharks, lots of tropical fish and some marine Iguanas feeding.

Once back on the boat we had lunch before preparing for afternoon activities.

That afternoon we went for another snorkel, further up North Seymour, seeing more tropical fish, about 8 sharks and swam with the sea lions.

Once back at the boat we set sail for Mosquera. Here on a big white sandy Island was a colony of sea lions, most with babies. We spent an hour on the Island observing the many activities of the sea lions.

South America Day 25: Quito to Galapagos

January 2012

Off to the airport for a 1015 flight. They scan your bags before check in to make sure that your not bringing anything on board that might contaminate the pristine Galapagos region.

Once landing on Baltra it was a 10 minute bus ride, followed by a 10 minute boat ride across the channel to the Island of Santa Cruz. Here we then had a 45 minute min bus ride to the main port.

We got dinghys to our boat - the Queen Beatrix - and enjoyed a buffet lunch before our first activities in the Galapagos.

Our first trip was to the Charles Darwin Research Centre, our first sight was heaps of iguanas (not my favourite animal) as we got off the boat.

Once at the actual research center we saw baby Galapagos Tortoises only born within the past 10 days, and right up to those that are just ready for release back into the wild.

We snuck a look at Lonesome George (he is very shy), saw some bright orange land Iguanas and the Espanola Tortoise.

We walked back into town watching the birds and a cheeky sea lion by the water.

We watched the sun go down while having pre-dinner drinks, followed by a sit down dinner with the rest of the group.

Stay
Our trip was with g adventures, mainly for the low tour size (max of 16) and the culture of the company. We did this trip

South America Day 24: Lima to Quito

January 2012

Most of the morning spent in transit or travelling.

Arrived at our plush hotel in the late afternoon, having a very long shower before meeting our group for the Galapagos cruise we would be leaving on tomorrow.

After our meeting DH and I went for dinner at Rincon La Ronda. We shared the tamales and dumplings for entree, for dinner I had the pork with all the trimmings and DH had the suckling pig.

Stay
La Parc, Quito

Eat
Rincon La Ronda, Lima

Do
Travel day