Thursday, July 10, 2008

Cuenca

http://www.tropiceco.com/journeys/highlands/cuenca-ecuador.html

We will meet you at the hotel in Quito or Guayaquil and transfer you to the airport to take your flight to Cuenca. After arrival in Cuenca we will drive to the towns of Gualaceo and Chordeleg. Full day will be spent touring the area, including a visit to the small centers where Panama hats are manufactured. Lunch in Gualaceo. In the afternoon we drive back to Cuenca. Overnight at your hotel.

Full day visit to the Ingapirca Ruins and surrounding areas. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Afternoon drive back to Cuenca. Overnight at your hotel.

Morning we take city tour of Cuenca. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Galapagos To Do

http://www.hotelgalapagos.com/pages/extensions.htm

WHAT CAN I DO ON SANTA CRUZ ISLAND?


Around town..........

  • Experience Galapagos with the most experienced.
    Hotel Galapagos, the best since 1961.
  • Roam our expansive ocean front natural garden, like a private wildlife park.
  • The Charles Darwin Research Station’s Library, Visitor Center,
  • Tortoise Project, and the Land Iguana Project.
  • Nightlife, shopping, art galleries, restaurants, therapeutic massage, sports clubs with weights and exercise machines, internet cafes.

Daily tours..............

  • Scuba Diving daytrips, snorkeling and dive instruction,
    “Scuba Iguana” is our onsite dive center
  • Bay Tour Boats.
    We show you oldtime Galapagos; the more exclusive and relaxed side of our islands. Only Galapagos residents operate Bay Tours.
  • Day Trip boats to the nearby National Park visitor site islands.
  • Champagne breakfast at Tortuga Bay.
  • Galapagos tortoises in the wild, in the hills of Santa Cruz.
  • Lava Tunnels
  • Scalesia Cloud Forest

Active exploring...............

  • Kayaking.
  • Bicycle rentals.
  • Hiking.
  • Highlands land birding.
  • Horseback riding.
  • Beaches.
  • Contact us for details to transfer from your ship or the airport.



BAY TOURS

HIGHLAND TOURS, Santa Cruz Island

EXCURSIONS TO NATIONAL PARK ISLANDS

BARTOLOME (BARTHOLOMEW)

NORTH SEYMOUR

SOUTH PLAZA (PLAZA SUR)

SANTA FE (BARRINGTON)

http://www.scubaiguana.com/html/_Non_Diving_Day_Tours.html

Guayaquil

Malecon 2000 (waterfront), Las Peñas, Simon Bolivar Park (also known as parque de las iguanas), Centenario Park, 9 Octubre avenue from east to west, Malecon del Salado (salty waterfront), Cemetry, Mercado Artesanal, Cathedral, Museo Nahim Isais, Museo Municipal, Museo Presley Northon, Museo MAAC, Museo de la historia de la Cuidad, Clock Tower, Botanical Gardens, Zona Rosa (disco), Urdesa (restaurants), Flower Market,


See

These places are located in the downtown area, near the main hotels and at the heart of the regenerated area, a very secure walk.

  • The Malecon 2000. It is a long park beside the Rio Guayas ("Guayas River"), with shops, an IMAX theater, gardens, and a beautiful view of both the river and downtown.
  • The "Malecon del Salado" located next to the "Estero Salado" (an estuary of sea water), here you can enjoy fresh air and wonderful sunsets, with restaurants of typical food, all framed within a very safe new park.
  • The renewed downtown area (Area regenerada), very secure to walk and look around.
  • Museums (Museo Municipal, Museo Nahim Isaias, MAAC and Presley Northon Museum are located in the center of the downtown)
  • Santa Ana & El Carmen hills, you can see almost the whole city from here. You can walk up the 400 odd steps to the top from the Malecon 2000. There is a lighthouse, museum, small chapel and park at the top. Along the stairs, vendors sell water, ice cream and other snacks.
  • Las Peñas, where the city was founded, was actually rebuilt and painted bright colors.
  • Parks, we recommend to visit the "Parque de las Iguanas" downtown, which is home to hundreds of tame iguanas, some fish in a pond and a black squirrel or two.
  • The Central Bank building has several giant paintings on the outside of the building.
  • Markets, you can visit the "Mercado Artesanal", where you can buy some very cheap souvenirs from all regions of Ecuador. Near the Malecon 2000.

Other interesting places near Guayaquil:

  • "Parque Histórico", an interesting recreation of the early 20th century years of Guayaquil, the look, the people and the food. Includes a small zoo.
  • "Crucero Discovery", rides up and down the Rio Guayas. You can catch it at Malecon 2000. Crazy parties at night.
  • Salinas, the main beach. Fishing, surfing, and other water sports. Many modern hotels and delicious sea food. Interesting night life. Wonderful whalewatching during June to September.

The following places are interesting to see if you are daring:

  • 6 de Marzo is an interesting street to visit about 10 blocks from the downtown area during the week before New Year's Eve, because the street is lined with "Años Viejos" or old years, paper maché figures ranging in size from about 12 inches up to 10 or more feet tall. These are often political, movie or cartoon characters.
  • La Bahía, just off the southern end of the Malecon 2000. Huge market area full of shops and stalls of almost anything imaginable. Because it is so cheap you will have lower social class people and have to be a little careful with belongings.
  • Cocoa or Banana plantations are located around Guayaquil city.
  • Dreamkapture Travel offers Day trips around Guayaquil, Dolfin watch and Trekking activities.* Dreamkapture Travel/.
http://www.galapagosvoyage.com/page_content.asp?id_page=33

Quito

  • Explore the Old Town With its gorgeous colonial architecture, relaxing plazas and a stunning number of churches. If you happen to be there during Christmas or Easter, you'll be amazed at the number of events, masses, and processions that bring out the crowds. You'll find craft shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels across its grid of streets.
  • Watch The old men play Ecuador's version of bocce at Parque El Ejido. You can also see some serious games of Ecua-volley, the local version of volleyball, on a Saturday or Sunday.
  • The Middle of the World 45 mins from the capital Quito, you can go to see the Monument to the middle of the World. It's a big monument with many events and things to do. For example, national indigineous music groups play different songs of their culture. There are museums with the history of the 0 latitud and history of Quito as well. There are many unique artworks and once you are there you can even weight your self and you will find out how you weigh less on the equator.
  • Bycicle Ride the Ciclopaseo takes place every other Sunday (the first and the middle of the month). 30 kilometres (20 miles) of roads running north-south through the city are completely closed to traffic. People cycle, run and blade the route. Up to 30,000 people take part. Several bike shops rent bikes for visitors to be able to take part.
  • Cable Car There is a cable car ride up the side of Ruco Pichina. It's called "Teleferico" in spanish. Ask your hotel about the special buses that run through the city taking people towards this destination. You can also find your own way there through taxi or bus.
 http://www.cloudforestecuador.com/volunteer/volunteer-trips-quito-cloudforest3.html
  
Bella Vista

Cloud Forest

Pululahua - mountain biking

  • Visit the Otavalo Market, one of the largest indigenous markets in
    South America
  • Stradle the equator with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere at the Middle of the World monument
  • Canopy Zip Line tour of Santa Rita Ecological Reserve

Flight

$519.00 + tax & fees


Copa Airlines
Flight 303 738
BOEING 737-800 Jet
116-134 STD SEATS",150)' onmouseout="hideHoverInfo()">738


More Information
Los Angeles (LAX)
Panama City
(PTY)
02:12am - 04Aug, Mon
10:30am -
04Aug, Mon
Nonstop Coach
06hr 18min

Copa Airlines
Flight 829 73G
BOEING 737-700 Jet
122 STD SEATS",150)' onmouseout="hideHoverInfo()">73G


More Information
Panama City (PTY)
Quito
(UIO)
11:50am - 04Aug, Mon
01:40pm -
04Aug, Mon
Nonstop Coach
01hr 50min


Actual Air Time: 8hr 08min

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copa Airlines
Flight 300 73G
BOEING 737-700 Jet
122 STD SEATS",150)' onmouseout="hideHoverInfo()">73G


More Information
Guayaquil (GYE)
Panama City
(PTY)
06:50am - 26Aug, Tue
08:51am -
26Aug, Tue
Nonstop Coach
02hr 01min

Connecting flight wait time 10 hours 11 minutes

Copa Airlines
Flight 302 738
BOEING 737-800 Jet
116-134 STD SEATS",150)' onmouseout="hideHoverInfo()">738


More Information
Panama City (PTY)
Los Angeles
(LAX)
07:02pm - 26Aug, Tue
12:04am -
27Aug, Wed
Nonstop Coach
07hr 02min


Actual Air Time: 9hr 03min