Blogs from Puerto López, West, Ecuador, South America - page 11

I SAW WHALES! Lots of them and up close and personal too. Humpback whales are migrating (to where?) and pass by these shores at this time of year. We went on a whale-watching trip at the coast last Friday and were lucky enough to find a large group of whales only about half an hour from the shore. There were 4 adults and 2 babies in the group and they stayed near the boat for about an hour just splashing around and showing off really. We could have stayed there watching them all day, it was brilliant. I could also have spent all day trying to get a decent photo as the buggers just wouldn't keep still but I did eventually manage a few tails and fins. These are the edited edited highlights; I think we ... read more

This weekend we went to Puerto Lopez. On the Friday we went out on a boat whale watching. It was absolutely amazing. The whales were so close to us. At most they were 30m away and at one point one swam right next to our boat. I got a few pics but non of them show how close or how well we saw them. You could even see the barnacles on them. There was a whole family mum, dad and 2 children. I´m not sure how lucky we were to see them that close cos we went out on Saturday and only saw them really far away. Apparently the children whales are really curious about boats which is probably why we saw them so well and for so long.... read more

Have you missed us?? **Update** Remember awhile ago when we were in the town of Banos and went upthe Tungurahua volcano but were dissapointed because although we could hear it rumbling we couldn´t see the lava being ejected. Well, guess what...It erupted!! They´ve evacuated 2 500 people from the town and surrounding hamlets, newspapers here are filled with photos with red cross workers etc. Actually, no one´s been hurt but of course thousands of animals have died. We´re glad we weren´t in town then, especially because our spanish is so bad that evacuating us may have been difficult.*** It´s been a few days since we´ve written so we´ve lots to catch up on. Now, where were we... Ah yes, I believe we last touched base in the sea side town of Canoa. I feel that I ... read more

Hola, Wow what a fantastic....while. I think the last time I wrote was in Cuenca, so I will pick it up from there. From Cuenca Tessa and I booted it to Guyaquil, Ecuador's largest and most "feo" (ugly) city. A port city, Guyaquil really didn't have much to look at except concrete and black-smoke, not to mention the polluted brownish-green water. However, always one to try to make the best of any situation, Tessa and I took a nice walk along the reconstructed waterfront, which did have some fun things to take a look at. Stopping for dinner, it started to pour rain and, shoeless and in normal clothes, Tessa and I rain around a pedestrian area with some local kids (who were happily and comfortably wearing garbage bags to help, somewhat hopelessly, with the pouring ... read more

Executive Summary: After embracing my inner Peter Pan in Canoa, I finally traveled on down the coast to Puerto Lopez and Montañita for quick visits before heading on to the harrowing border into Tumbes, Peru. Couple observations on local marketing and the coffee quandary. Puerto Lopez Puerto Lopez has just lately become a bonafide destination, thanks to the clever local PR engine that has dubbed nearby Isla Plata 'the poor man's Galapagos'. How close that comes to the truth I'm not sure, being too poor to compare, but the real draw seems to be the humpback whales that put on a show from July to September. It's always a bit strange and melancholy to travel off-season through a destination known almost exclusively for an activity you'll have to miss. But in reality the nearby National Machalilla ... read more