Back to Ecuador for the first time since COVID and we forgot how much we enjoyed being there! Our first two weeks were spent in Cuenca, slowly getting our apartment in order and adjusting to the elevation. At the midway mark, two friends joined us for a week-long budget adventure in the Galápagos Islands. We packed a lot into that week: flying into Santa Cruz and doing a highland tour on our way to Puerto Ayora, then taking a ferry to Isabela Island where we biked to the Wall of Tears, snorkeled with penguins, sea lions, turtles, sharks & seahorses on the excellent Cabo Rosa Tunnels Tour, and hiked up the Sierra Negra volcano. From Isabela Isand, we backtracked to Santa Cruz where we caught an excursion to Pinzón Island, an excellent snorkel spot (octopus, sea lions, white tipped sharks, and massive green sea turtles). Then it was onto our last island, San Cristóbal, where we snorkeled with playful sea lions at Tijeretas Bay and La Loberia Beach, and relaxed on pretty Playa Mann. From San Cristóbal, we flew out to Guayaquil where we said goodbye to one of our friends who couldn’t join us on any mainland adventures. Then we continued on to Cuenca where we did a bunch of touristy highlights: New Cathedral, Flower Market, Panama Hat Museum, Turi Lookout, daytrip to Chordeleg and Gualaceo, Pumapungo Museum, Amaru Wildlife Sanctuary, a spa day at Banos’ Piedra de Agua, and a hike around Cajas National Park. We also managed to squeeze in a trip down to Vilcabamba for a full day horse back ride to El Palto Waterfall. From Cuenca, we backtracked to Guayaquil where we were able to do a whirlwind afternoon tour checking out the port city’s highlights (malecon, Iguana Park and Santa Ana Hill). Overall, it was a hectic but fun adventure and we can’t wait for another return trip here!
Becky at Plaza de San Francisco; Cuenca
Boys sharing a phone for entertainment at Mercado 9 de Octubre
Fresh meat for sale at the 9 October Market
Flower Market
A flower seller in Cuenca
Fruit seller
Painted utility boxes in Cuenca, part of a project to revitalize the community through art
Fruit and vegetable selection from the Mercado 10 de Agosto
Artwork at the 10 August Market
Flower seller in Cuenca
A lady sells fruit from a wheelbarrow in Cuenca
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, more commonly called the "New Cathedral"; Cuenca
Palace of Justice building in Cuenca
Interior courtyard view of the Palace of Justice Building
Church of Todos Santos near the Tomebamba River
The Broken Bridge (El Puente Roto) which suffered repeated damage from river floods and was finally abandoned as a functioning bridge. Today it is a tourist attraction
Wall mural
Street art in Cuenca
Wall mural on Cuenca's most popular staircase linking the Central Historical District with the lower neighborhoods on the other side of the Rio Tomebamba
Town Hall of Cuenca
Town Hall entrance way
Black and white photo of potato farmers on display at the Town Hall in Cuenca
Street art
View of Cuenca from Turi Mirador
Church of Turi
Robby getting a hug from a friendly fruit seller after he asked for passion fruit (aka "maracuya")
Santísimo Rosario Catholic Church
Cafe Colonial in Cuenca
Cuenca historical center
Street dogs in Ecuador are super smart, knowing how to safely cross a road with busy traffic!
Becky in front of a massive wall mural
Street art
Guinea pig (cuy) on a stick
Beautiful architecture can be seen in the Historical Center of Cuenca
Del Parque Hotel & Suites, a 3 star hotel in Cuenca
Greeting BG after her midnight flight to Guayaquil
Los Cuatro Amigos reunite!
BG is all smiles as we get ready to fly to the Galápagos
Los Gemelos (twin lava craters); Santa Cruz Island
Free roaming giant tortoise at El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Becky poses behind a giant tortoise at El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Three out of hundreds of giant tortoises that call El Chato Tortoise Reserve home
Steps leading down into a lava tunnel
BG inside a lava tunnel at El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Posing inside giant tortoise shells at El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Posing on a tortoise crossing sign
Cisco and BG at Galapagos Morning Glory, our favorite hostel in Santa Cruz
Lounge area at Galapagos Morning Glory
Blue footed booby wall mural
Makeshift bar - a literal hole in the wall!
The best empanadas at the main market on Santa Cruz
A pelican by the waterfront in Puerto Ayora
A sleepy sea lion naps on a bench in Puerto Ayora
Ceramic garden decor; Santa Cruz
The Ceramic Garden is a free and colorful exhibit courtesy of local artist Cristina Nelson Gallardo; Puerto Ayora
Darwin's Arch on Santa Cruz Island
A cute eatery in Puerto Ayora
Sea lion welcome committee on Isabela Island
Renting mountain bikes to explore Isabela Island
Path to visit El Estero mangrove
The foot path leading to Playa Surf
Blue footed booby!
Galápagos lava lizard
Steps leading up to Mirador Cerro Orchilla
Group photo at Mirador Cerro Orchilla
The infamous 100 meter/300 foot long "Wall of Tears" was built by 300 prisoners under harsh and abusive conditions
Feral cats are considered the worst of invasive species in the Galápagos as their diet consists of small reptiles and birds (with nearly 50% of the Archipelago's land birds at risk of extinction)
Robby at the Estero Lava Tunnel
Marine iguana soaking up the sun
A marine iguana emerges from the water near Tunel del Estero
Marine iguanas huddling for body warmth
Sally lightfoot crab
Blue footed booby at La Playita
Sea lions napping at the staircase at Concha Perla
Playful sea lion at Concha Perla, the best snorkel spot in Puerto Villamil
A yawning sea lion near the ferry terminal on Isabela Island
Boarding our boat for the Cabo Rosa Tunnel Tour, one of the best day trips from Isabela Island
Sea horse near the mangroves at Los Finados snorkel spot
Galápagos mullet
Bullseye puffer
Becky posing next to two Galápagos penguins!
Galápagos penguins are endemic to the Galápagos. They are the only penguins found north of the equator
A blue footed booby at the lava tunnels of Cabo Rosa
Posing next to a blue footed booby
The Cabo Rosa Tunnel formations are geological formations created by ancient lava flows. These formations include tunnels and arches, formed when lava solidified on the surface while the molten core flowed away, leaving behind cave-like structures and bridges
Turtles at Cabo Rosa tunnels
Blue footed booby stretching its wings
The fantastic four at Cabo Rosa Tunnels
Our helpful friend from Galápagos Bike & Surf
Delicious ceviche for dinner!
Cisco and BG catching a ride up to our Sierra Negra Volcano Tour
Sierra Negra caldera is 10 km wide and 110 meters deep. The caldera is one of the top 10 biggest caldera diameters in world
Group photo at Sierra Negra Volcano
The barren landscape leading to Volcán Chico
The Becky sisters on the hike to Volcán Chico
A lava tunnel on the footpath to Volcán Chico
Volcán Chico is a fissure of a parasitic cone that last erupted in November 1979
Striking a pose at Volcán Chico
Yes! BG tackles the volcano with zero training and makes it happen!
Sierra Negra tortoise is the only species of giant tortoise known to naturally occur around Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island
Artwork on a building on Isabela Island
Puerto Villamil harbor
A sea lion crosses the road in Puerto Ayora
Cisco enjoying our 4 for $10 cocktails at Los Kioskos, a restaurant strip on the streets of central Puerto Ayora
Blue footed BG!
Sign of Santa Cruz near the harbor
King angelfish
Galápagos Reef Octopus
A school of fish seen on our Isla Pinzón snorkeling tour
White tip sharks
Porcupinefish
Diamond stingray at Isla Pinzón
Posing with Jessie who normally works on SCUBA liveaboards. Can't wait to dive with her...she is phenomenal!
BG buying coffee painted artwork from a local artist on Santa Cruz
Giant tortoise statue in Puerto Ayora; Santa Cruz
Lantana camara, also known as “Florida Flower”
A friendly cat at our apartment in Santa Cruz
Street art in Puerto Ayora
A young girl plays with the food on display to lure customers in to restaurants on Los Kioskos street
Trail leading to Tijeretas Bay, one of the best snorkeling sites on San Cristóbal
Charles Darwin Statue
Sea lions playing at Tijeretas Bay
A sea lion swims straight towards us!
A sea lion anxious to play with us (it started blowing bubbles at us and kept circling around for several minutes)
Sea lions snoozing at Playa Mann
I love Galapagos!
San Cristobal sign at sunset
Sea lions at Playa Baquerizo during sunset
Enjoying sunset at Playa Baquerizo
Green sea turtle at La Loberia beach
A curious Galápagos sea lion swims towards us
Mosaic artwork on a building on San Cristóbal
Sea lions snoozing on Playa Mann
Please don't touch baby sea lions! This is what happens when you do! It immediately gets abandoned and shunned from the colony (and its mother refuses to feed it). It is a death sentence!
Two sea lions playing in the surf at Playa Mann
A sea lion resting on rocks at Playa Mann
Reunion photo!
Our host waving goodbye to us as we walk to the airport
Flamingo artwork at the San Cristóbal Airport
BG kissing a booby at the San Cristóbal Airport
Goodbye beautiful Galapagos! Getting ready to check in for our flight back to mainland Ecuador
Gorgeous sunset over Cajas National Park
Scenic view of San Sebastian church
Fresh fruit and vegetables from our local market
Ceramic mural on the Government Building of Azuay
San Luis Seminary courtyard
Flower seller at the daily flower market in Cuenca
Visiting the Barrancos Panama Hat Museum in Cuenca. Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador!
Panama hats for sale at the Barrancos Panama Hat Museum
Pre-Columbian terracotta statue
Becky and Cisco at a massive wall mural in Cuenca
Street art; Cuenca
Colorful display at Pumapungo Museum
One of 10 shrunken heads (tsantsas) on display at Pumapungo Museum
Purple gallinule
Becky with a llama at Pumapungo Museum
Galapagos inspired ceramics for sale at the Eduardo Vega Gallery in Cuenca
Eduardo Vega's son, Juan Guillermo, gives us a tour around the family's ceramic gallery in Cuenca
Selfie at the Turi Lookout over Cuenca
Visiting the charming town of Chordeleg
Main square in Chordeleg
Chordeleg is famous for its handmade filigree jewelry design
The lamp posts in Chordeleg display some of the filigree earrings on offer in the town
Cisco and BC trying on Panama hats
Two ladies preparing hornado. This dish is made from a whole roasted pig, often cooked over coals and served with sides like llapingachos (potato patties), mote (hominy), and vegetables. The skin is typically crispy, and the meat is tender and flavorful
Woman waiting at a bus stop in Gualaceo
A popular hornado roasted pig stand
Women roasting cuy (guinea pig) at the Gualaceo Market
Street vendors in Gualaceo
Getting shoes shined in Gualaceo
Gualaceo town center
Colorful kite decor in Gualaceo
Painted tree in Gualaceo's main square
Indigenous women wearing traditional Ecuadorian clothing
Fresh milk for sale at the Gualaceo Market
Colorful Gualaceo street scene
Locals waiting to catch a bus at the Gualaceo Bus Station
A woman repurposing tires into planters
Swimming pool at Eco Resort Izhcayluma
Hammock at our peaceful cottage at Izhcayluma Resort in Vilcabamba
Vilcabamba - the Valley of Longevity
Jaime, our friendly guide, leads us on a half day horseback ride through Podocarpus National Park in Vilcabamba
Robby enjoying his horseback ride up the mountains surrounding Vilcabamba
Stunning scenery on our horseback ride through Podocarpus National Park
Cisco enjoying our Vilcabamba excursion
Giving our horses a break while we hike to El Palto Waterfall
Beautiful garden leading to Cascada El Palto
Freezing water at Cascada El Palto
The three amigos at Cascada El Palto
Becky getting some loving from a dog that lives near El Palto Waterfall
Getting ready for our ride back down the mountain
Just a girl with her horse
Beautiful Podocarpus National Park!
This guy had amazing horses! Loved our horse back riding day in Vilcabamba
Gorgeous Vilcabamba
Beer time
Visiting Amaru Zoológico Bioparque, a wildlife sanctuary built on the side of a mountain on the outskirts of Cuenca
Andean guan
Rufous-vented chachalaca
Black Agouti
Ocelot
Black vulture
Pampas cat
Cisco demonstrates the wing span of an Andean Condor
A group of collared peccaries
An orange-winged amazon parrot
White-faced whistling duck
Red-masked parakeet
Crocodile
Trachemys callirostris turtle (typically found in Colombia and Venezuela)
Colombian wood turtle
Northern screamer
Sloth
Green iguana
Andean tapir
Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), a species of wild cat found in Ecuador
Cuban parakeet
Cockatiel
Chinese goose
Cisco and Becky at Lake Toreadora; Cajas National Park
Puya raimondii (also known as the Queen of the Andes) is the largest species of bromeliad in the world and can be seen at Cajas National Park
Robby feeling good at our high elevation hike around Cajas National Park
Robby and Cisco in the ancient San Luis Polylepis Forest at Cajas National Park
We hiked the pink Route 1 (a 4 km loop) of Cajas National Park and passed by several high altitude lakes like this one
Robby and Cisco happy that our hike is almost at an end
Just as we were reaching the end of our hike, the sky started clearing up!
Murphy's Law - perfect weather just as we left Cajas National Park!
Mountainous section of Cajas National Park
The gorgeous drive from Cajas National Park back to Cuenca
The three amigos in our apartment's elevator
Sunset over beautiful Cuenca with Ann, Bob, Robby and Cisco
Spa day at Piedra de Agua (recognized as one of the top spas for North and South America)
Robby and Cisco in the underground cave section of Piedra de Agua
Becky and Cisco in the steam box section of the spa
The boys feeling refreshed after their salt and coffee exfoliation therapy treatment
Time for champagne after a relaxing spa morning at Piedra de Agua
Driving past Cajas National Park on a gorgeous day
Capuchin monkey statue (locally known as "Mono Machín"); Guayaquil
Municipal Palace of Guayaquil
General Sucre statue in Guayaquil
Iguana at Seminario Park (also known as "iguana park" due to the dozens of iguanas that call this park home); Guayaquil
Statue of Simón Bolívar on horseback; Seminario Park
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Guayaquil
Replica of the Henry Morgan ship on the Guayas River in Guayaquil
Malecon (boardwalk) view of Guayaquil
Robby strikes a pose at a colorful exhibit in Guayaquil
Guayaquil has a dangerous reputation but we rather enjoyed exploring the city during the day
A budding artist in downtown Guayaquil
444 steps leading up to the peak of Santa Ana Hill
Colorful building in touristy Santa Ana Hill; Guayaquil
Restaurants and bars aplenty in touristy Santa Ana Hill
Cityscape of Guayaquil as seen from the top of the lighthouse on the peak of Santa Ana Hill
Robby, Becky and Cisco with the lighthouse of Santa Ana in the background; Guayaquil
