Endangered hawksbill (carey) turtle, Fernandina Island

Cruising the Galapagos - from the ordinary to the extraordinary

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December 26th 2008
Our final stop in South America was actually away from the mainland once more (and definitely off the backpacker trail!), a nine day visit to the Galapagos Islands. The skies were clear for the flight out of Quito and we were rewarded with sublime views of the snowcapped volcanoes that surround the city. Cotapaxi stood out as the most stunning, with its conical shape hovering above the low level c ... read more

South America » Ecuador » Galápagos

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The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A b... ... read more