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Trip Report
Crossing the Middle of the World. Hello Ecuador!
Feeling the adrenaline of entering a new country, more than that, half the world, arriving in Ecuador through Peru was a beautiful experience, warm people, generosity and good food.
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South AmericaEcuador83 days / July - August - September 2018
Highs & Lows
Make a Volcano excursion and the hammock at the end of the world.
Check the income and cost to the Galapagos Islands.
Itinerary Overview
I arrived in Ecuador on a Saturday afternoon, the climate was already different from Peru in many ways, being on the east side the sea was closer than I imagined. From the first city of Ecuador take a bus towards the coast, to Montañita, a place recognized and mentioned by many Argentines even where the combination of beach, bars, artisans and youth who live on holiday arrives, a bit quiet since The tourist season was low, I enjoyed a calm climate, it was also the cloud season so I did a volunteer service at a campsite called Tigrillo and they treated me super well, setting up the tent is also essential and the mosquitoes are not so invasive. We must always carry repellent. The climate is so diverse in Ecuador that my next destination was the city of Quito, there in the bus terminal, there are the MetroBus that connect with the entire city, the Foch area was incredible, a circuit with colonial buildings make this the famous pink zone, there I was in a very cozy hostel, it was called Cafecito and as its name says there was a cafeteria with local coffee and excellent quality cakes and desserts. Quito adopted me and it did not take long to get a job, since it helps the economy of Ecuador because it is dollars, Ishpingo a restaurant of typical Ecuadorian food was my school to learn about this culture and its meals, lunches were a classic in Ishpingo, Gonzalo the owner lived many years in Argentina where he trained as a chef, so we enjoyed sharing a delicious fernet with coca cola. The bars are very crowded, the Irish bar is a meeting point, the walks are great since reaching the Panecillo through the old town area and having a 360 view is a fact not to miss, try chocolate and the The bakery is excellent, the typical drinks have the famous cane that is high, electronic music cycles are also well organized, suddenly this is my favorite Nicola Cruz in a bar and an excellent jovial party atmosphere is generated. After this trip I decided to go to Colombia and the border that is Ipiales is about 2 hours from Quito by bus.
Quito Backpacking trip, third country in South America
11+After visiting Colombia, I decide to return to Ecuador, but entering through the Amazon area, from Pasto Colombia you can make a path that for me is sacred, the Mocoa path, sensations of the jungle, adrenaline and microclimate in a single view of the heart of it. Putumayo, a risky and sensational road. There it crosses from the pass that is in La Hormiga and on the Ecuador side it is called Lago Agrio, I returned to Quito and could not ignore Guayaquil. A huge city with a very particular salsa rhythm, with dialects and climate totally contrary to Quito, the so-called Sierra. Argentines in Ecuador can enjoy a 6-month stay, so give a margin of availability to carry out tasks, rent a small apartment or spend time on the beach if you are a musician or artisan.
Ballenita Performing the spondylus route, exploring Pacific beaches.
12+How nice it would be to teleport to Ballenita, Mr. Adolfo's hospitality made us feel like family. Ballenita is a place with quiet beaches and a diverse public, its boardwalk that is located in front of the beach allows security at night and an exceptional walk during the day, from there 2 kilometers away is the bus terminal in Santa Elena, which is the next city and from there continue the tour, Salinas offers a beach with buildings and if you want more tranquility, Ayangue is located a few kilometers from the entrance, in Puerto Lopez is the balcony for whale watching, that period of July and August you can see the visit of these cetaceans that are magnificent in volume and wisdom for the sea. We did not do any tour since the sighting can be seen from the coast with binoculars. The famous Farallon hotel is located, and the grandparents' house are great walks, with a direct garden at sunset in Ballenita you can breathe the saltpeter, we made Argentine empanadas and lemonade juice and sold it on the beach, the carnivals in Ballenita are fun on the Malecon there are shows and children running and with water pumps. The Spondylus route has marked my journey with a feeling of well-being, the fresh mangoes, pineapple, lemonade and the millions of recipes with the famous green banana, a classic is the onions and it is consumed a lot when leaving the party. In montanita there is a bowling alley known worldwide that is located with a part of the beach called LOST BEACH, I am passionate about electronic music and as it has its recognition I have attended to see world dj's, inside the place is paradisiacal and makes you enjoy a night The girls enter for free on Mondays for pure dancing, you can see the sunrise right there since one part has a live roof. Thanks Ecuador!
Guayaquil Guayaquil is always the middle point to go to the coast.
12+Guayaquil is always the middle point to go to the coast. Or to make a stopover in GYE and then take a flight to Galapagos, it is a city with many inhabitants, a hot city, the whole year is an average of heat, oppressive to walk a lot in the sun, it has a river with a boardwalk in The city center, the breadth of the neighborhoods and the large highways make this city have lungs with green parks in different areas, in Malecon 2000 it is perfectly in front of the river, there you can see the great monuments of the history of the city as museums, gardens, shopping centers, restaurants and bars among others.
On the Malecón is the semicircular monument of La Rotonda in honor of the historic meeting of Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín. In the Las Peñas neighborhood, the oldest in Guayaquil, you can see the brightly painted restored houses and visitors stroll through cobblestone streets. It is a residential area, on the Santa Ana Hill. In Plaza Colón, there are the cannons with which the city used to be defended from pirates.
There is another area similar to the Malecón 2000 called the "Malecón del Salado" where you can enjoy family outings in small boats, restaurants, discos and bars.
The Malecón is also part of the city's reconstruction process. It has a design that resembles a sailing vessel with a 55-meter-long suspension bridge.
In addition to its beautiful gardens, it has swimming pools, rest areas, outdoor squares for artistic presentations, and the so-called Plaza de los Mariscos to savor the delights of coastal seafood cuisine.
The Guayaquil Historical Park, located on the outskirts of the city, shows the fauna and history of the city from the old province. The park has three main sections: the Wildlife Zone, the Traditions Zone, and the Urban Architecture Zone.
It is an excellent plan to get to know Ecuadorian traditions and culture in depth.
Santay Island is a natural reserve of flora and fauna in front of the city and which is accessed by boat. In addition, there are excursions with a tour guide. Guayaquil and Isla Santay are communicated through a 840 meter long pedestrian bridge. This helped to improve the island's standard of living and encouraged ecological tourism in the sector, characterized by its mangroves and its richness in fauna and flora. The Bolívar Park also known as the Iguanas Park. It is very common to see large and beautiful iguanas in the branches of its trees. The Centennial Park is the largest in the city. It has many monuments, including the monument to patriotism.
Guayaquil is the city that never sleeps. You can find fun on Avenida Victor Emilio Estrada, in the Urdesa sector, in the Ciudadela Guayaquil, in the Torres del Norte and in the Piazza de Samborondón.
Guayaquil has an excellent gastronomy. Among its main dishes are: Rice with stew and meat (beans, lentils or chickpeas and meat, chops or chicken), Sausage broth, Crabs and Encebollado (based on fish and yucca).
As for drinks, the chicha slippery is a traditional drink of the city made from rice with ice cream.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Guayaquil if I liked it, it seemed an eccentric city, bright with everything accessible, but the truth is a point that I preferred to leave behind, since we went twice and they robbed us.Anything go wrong during the trip?
Except for the robbery, everything was very good, you eat very well, the weather is pleasant to explore, it has a lot of colors and a very good vibe!Restaurant recommendations?
In Malecon 2000 you can find many Mc Donald's bars. Hostels and Airbnb have the kitchen, so the recipes to prepare and get fresh food, considering that Guayaquil has a port is rewarding, on the street you can have lunch for less than 5 usd. fresh food, the onion with chifles that are fried green banana chips, they are my favorite, the shrimp encocado, it is delicious, the soups rich and energetic, a color fact, the coriander is very typical in the meals, in all of them. !Tips you would give a friend?
Make reservations through the portals, be careful in the terminal area, and surroundings, walks with water, visit all possible buildings, in Guayaquil there are always street vendors that have fresh drinks, and also try a cane liquor called Guanchaca, drink in moderation as it is high in alcohol.Packing tips?
Travel backpack, light clothing, hat and sunglasses for the sun, comfortable shoes, documentation in a safe place and cell phones or cameras as well.Transportation Tips?
Taxis in Guayaquil work with a real rate so for being a tourist nothing happens, the bus you have to know routes, walking if you have time and desire in a day you can travel a large area of tourists.Any surprises?
In many trees there are free mangoes, I was very surprised since they are edible. The Spanish spoken is very understandable and with different words, a pleasant melodyBooking details?
Using the app the booking for hostels, volunteering are also demanded by many backpackers, or travelers who want to cover travel expenses and continue climbing the route to South America is possible, on Facebook or applications such as Worldpackers and Workaway are still active in Ecuador . It should be noted that Couchsurfing is available and has very good results. If you visit the Galapagos Islands in Isabela, the Claudia Hodari Hostel -Casa Rosada Galapagos Isabela Caleta Iguana House. Claudia is an excellent person and an exemplary woman, check entry requirements to the Galapagos and air tickets in advance.
Lodging
Cafecito Hostel Airbnb / Guapulo neighborhood
Ballenita beach is located on the Pacific coast, Ruta del Spondylus or former Ruta del Sol. It is a small fishing community located 5 km from the city of Santa Elena, and less than 2 km from the Santa Elena Regional Terrestrial Terminal. It is the main spa in the city due to its short distance. There I met Adolfo, a Chilean who lived on the Pacific coast for a long time, he offered us his house, with a spectacular view, and from there the beaches are very connected, the buses pass through the route that is no more than 3 kilometers There the sea is of a sacred color and the beaches are calm. The Spondylus Route is one of the most important tourist routes in Ecuador, it ranges from Mataje in the north of the Esmeraldas province to the city of Salinas in the province of Santa Elena, it travels approximately 748 km along the E15 Trunk, crossing about 45 points between cities, towns and communes during its trajectory, with a first-class road network that allows the Ecuadorian coastal profile to be bordered in its entirety.