Ecuador / Galapagos summary
I don’t think I can fully judge Ecuador by what I’ve seen. From what I hear from other travellers you can easily spend a month here. I have experienced stark contrast in people and landscape which have made a lasting impression.
Quito is a good place to base yourself from but any more than a few days without tours would drive me up the wall. The days can be short, due to the weather, but if you plan accordingly you can fit everything in. The people at the Travellers Inn have been superb and I’d recommend them as a place to stay and do tours with. Talking tours I’d definitely do the Mindo and equator ones again and if I had time a stop over in the jungle.
The Galapagos islands are an amazing place. I just wish someone had told me you could easily treat it like any other destination and sort things out once you’re there. The first few days were amazing and although the second half of the tour wasn’t the best we still got to see a lot. If I were to advise anyone going there I’d suggest a couple of days on Santa Cruz, Isabella and possibly San Christobel then three or four days on a boat. Whatever you do I wouldn’t advise booking a trip with www.galapagosoptions.com or www.galapagos.tv. For giant tortoises go to the Darwin Center and the farm on the main road across Santa Cruz (also has the lava tubes).
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2 comments
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Aeo R. says:
Hello, I recently booked a tour with galapagosoptions.com and am wondering what it is exactly that I should be weary about? If you have time, please email me.
Thank you!
20 April 2010
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RAJF says:
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment.
I can’t comment on the company as a whole, just our guide and the experience I had nearly two years ago. They may have changed their guide and/or tour options.
My biggest grievance was that our guide seemed to organise activities around his personal life. On one of the days we went to a non-descript beach and he brought his girlfriend along. Later in the evening he took her out to dinner with us but we sat separately. I wouldn’t have minded if it wasn’t for the fact that we had to go out of our way to pick-up and wait for his girlfriend.
With regards to our itinerary we expected snorkeling every day. We only managed to get out a couple of times as there was either not boat, equipment or the location clearly wasn’t suitable. We also visited far too many tortoise sanctuaries. Once you’ve seen one or two for a few hours at a time it’s enough, especially when there’s so much more to see. The last thing was the quality of food. We were taken to cheap establishments and given the cheapest meal option; things like chicken foot soup.
I believe in making the most of things so made the most of the free time to soak up the amazing surroundings I was in. At the end of the day things are rarely to everyone’s taste or standard and you have to remember where you are. The Galapagos remain one of the most amazing places I’ve been just a shame the memory is slightly tarnished.
I hope you have an amazing trip,
Rob
20 April 2010
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Sabbatical 2008
After many years of thinking about travelling I'm going for it. Fortunately my work allow me to take a sabbatical and continue in my job when I return.
I'll be travelling with my good friend Tom. Over 4 months we'll be taking in parts road tripping through America, diving in the Galapagos, Trekking the Inca Trail, exploring New Zealand and Australia
I'll be updating this blog as much as I can so stay tuned.
