Blogs from Guayaquil, West, Ecuador, South America - page 7

We took advantage of the 1pm check-out in what seemed like an un-interesting city and lay in bed until midday. Upon investigating the cost of humpback whale watching over on the coast in the Machalilla National park, we decided to head straight to Quito a week ahead of our Galapagos trip. Our plans to explore surrounding areas such as Baños were scuppered by the recent eruptions of volcano Tungurahua (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10189054.stm), but Claire and Matt from our Inca Trek were in Quito and we would surely be able to occupy ourselves. Before heading to the bus terminal we went in search of lunch... you guessed it... KFC! Then we stumbled quite accidentally upon not one but two city plazas teeming with iguanas! In the first, we were the only ones taking any interest, but the second was ... read more

It has been more than 7 years since I left Ecuador to go to Germany. I have visited a few times, but this one, after 2 and half years is planned differently. After backpacking in other countries sometimes alone or where I didn’t even speak the language I would like to travel backpacking in Ecuador. I’m not sure how easy or hard it is going to be for two reasons: first, Guayaquil is my city, my hometown, so people I know, family, food I like, places I know and haven’t seen in a long time are here making sometimes difficult to leave the city considering I’m just visiting for a “short” time. Secondly, I believe we (South American people) suffer from some sort of fear or paranoia and are therefore scared of traveling in our ... read more

Goodbye Jambeli So today we're moving on from the animal rescue farm in Jambeli... and to be honest we're not sure where we're actually going to be sleeping tonight! It's an exilarating feeling not knowing where the next 10 days will take us. All we know is that we have to be back in Quito on the 29th ready to start our tour on the 30th. But until then we're completely on our own... The lady who works at the farm said she would be travelling back to Guayaquil today so offered us a lift with her - she also invited us to come with her to another animal project in Guayaquil that they are also involved in. So that's where we're heading later. It's strange to think that we're leaving this place - it's ... read more

Jambeli The nearest place on the map is Guayaquil but we're actually staying in a place called Hacienda Jambeli which is an animal rescue farm near the small town of Naranja. But it's off the beaten track. Jambeli is like being in another world. Chickens, peacocks, geese and the odd cat roam around freely but you are truly reminded that you're in the Amazon by the fact that occasionally a monkey will jump on your back out of the blue. The centre mainly focuses on rescuing animals and attempting to eventually rehabilitate them back into the wild. Although for some of them it will never be possible. Our daily routine consists of waking up and going straight to work to prepare the food for the Macaws which are becoming increasingly endangered and thus Jambeli are trying ... read more

Weather: Hot & Humid Location: Guayaquil So, off we go again to the airport for our flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador's highest populated city. It seems we've only been in the air for about 20 minutes before we arrive skidding into the airport at our new destination. We have left the drizzle and altitude of Quito and arrived in what already appears to be the jungle! The humidity hits us as soon as we set foot off the plane. And the popular Friends quote soon becomes a part of our everyday language. There are palm trees, banana trees, cocoa trees and oozing, bubbling swamps...and this is only the airport! I have truly never seen anything like it. We are met by a man called Christian, who arrives half an hour late with a flimsy bit of ... read more