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Quito to Peru Border

Galapagos Islands

Horse Riding around Cotopaxi

Quito to Peru Border

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This journey was the first stage of a trip organised by Journey Latin America. It started in Quito on April 16th 2006. The party consisted of Roger and Jean, Ana, Catherine and myself as clients and Zoe as our leader. The first day was spent walking around part of the old town. At most of the churches there were services in progress as it was Easter Sunday. Next morning we left for Otovalo to visited the market. On the way our transport developed a water leak and we had to transfer to a local bus. We had a brief look around the town before taking a taxi to the Cascada de Peguche, a waterfall and site used by the local people for ritual purification. As there were no taxis available we returned to Otovalo by hitching a lift in an open truck! Back in the town we visited the artisans market in the Plaza de Ponchos were I bought a poncho ready for my horse riding. Then it was off to the Plaza 24 de Mayo to look at the produce market. On our return to Quito we stopped at the Mitad del Mundo Equatorial Line Monument. This position of the equatorial line was established by an expedition lead by French man Charles-Marie de la Condamine in 1736. Being only 150 m from the true position it was a great achievement for 1736. We then moved a short distance to a small reconstruction of a native village. here we saw demonstrations of experiments to show that this was the true equator line.

On Tuesday it was an early start for the bus station to catch the local transport to Baños. On arriving at our accommodation three of us set out on a walk which took us over the Rio Pastaza and up into the hills with good views of the Tungurahua Volcano. We thought we could hear thunder but it turned out to be large quantities of steam and ash being blown into the air from the volcano. That evening we went to the thermal baths which cause some laughs! Next morning while some had a look around the town, Zoe, Catherine and I went for another walk up into the hills to Rotan village. Late afternoon we left Baños for Riobamba taking the recently re-opened road after lava landslides had been removed.

The journey by bus the next morning to Cuenca took over six hours through beautiful countryside with deep valleys and green hillsides. Along the way we passed buses carrying sheep on the roofs going to (or from) market. On our walk around Cuenca that afternoon we unexpectedly came upon a Free trade riot beside the river. There was tear gas in the air and Molotof cocktails being thrown.

The excursion the next day to Cajas national Park was very interesting. We climbed up to an altitude of 4300 m onto the continental divide. It was only 100 km. to the Pacific but 6500 km. to the Atlantic. The park contains over 235 lakes and lagoons with many wild flowers.

A long journey to-day so we left the hotel at 5.00 for the bus station to catch the bus to the Peru customs at Huaquilla. The journey down to the coast was long with dramatic views of wide valleys as we followed the rivers down to the pacific. Crossing the border was slow and problematic but we made it eventually. For details of the journey from here to Lima click here.

Quito

Otavalo

Equator

Banos

Riobamba

Cuenca

Parque National Cajas

Galapagos Islands Click here to go directly to the photos.

Islands visited.

Santa Cruz.

After arriving at Baltra we drove to Puerto Ayora, joined the boat Coral 1 and in the afternoon visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we were able to see the breeding programme for the Giant Tortoises and find out about the various sub-species on the islands. Birds seen included: Darwin Finch, Galapagos Mocking Bird, Yellow Warbler, Large billed Flycatcher, Frigate Bird, Bron Pelican, Galapagos Dove and Galapagos Hawk.

Espanola

In the morning we landed at Punta Suarez here we saw Californian Sea Lions, Sea Iguanas, Lava lizards, Ground Finch, Hood Mocking Bird, Galapagos hawk, American Oystercatcher, Waved Albatross, Blue-footed Booby, Masked or Nazca Booby, Swallow-tail Gull, Red-billed Tropic Bird and Brown Pelican. The afternoon was spent around Gardner Bay. The snorkelling around Turtle Rock was very rough but saw puffer fish, large parrot fish and sea lions.

Floreana Island

In the morning visited Cormorant Point for a walk and then snorkelling at devil's Crown. Again it was very rough with strong currents but saw tropical fish and white tipped reef shark. In the afternoon we visited Post Office Bay to visit the 'post box' and to snorkel from the beach. We saw greater Flamingos, Yellow warbler. White cheeked Pin-tailed Duck, Ruddy Turnstone, Black-necked Stilt, Galapagos Flycatcher, American Oystercatcher, Sally go lightly Crabs, sea lions, Elliot's Stormy Petrel, Red-billed Tropic Bird, Frigate Bird, Noddy Tern, Audubon Shearwater, Brown Pelican, Lava Heron, Galapagos Penguin, two large (150-200 kgs) Green Sea Turtles, Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas. Some of the fish seen included Blue Chin Parrot Fish, Cortez Rainbow Wrasse, Galapagos Puffer and Eagle Ray.

North Seymore

This island has a number of bird breeding areas. We saw Brown Noddy Terns, both Magnificent and Great Frigate Birds, Blue Boobies, Lava Gulls, Swallow-tail Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Yellow Warbler, Small Ground Finch, Sea Iguanas, Ghost Crabs, Galapagos Hermit Crab and Land Iguanas. About 40 land Iguanas have been re-introduced on to this island and we were fortunate to see about 14 of these. We witnessed a rare sight of two males having a very bloody fight.

Rabida and Santiago Islands

In the morning we walked on the island and snorkelled from the beach. Sightings were made of the Medium ground Finch, Galapagos Hawk, Brown Pelican, Brown Noddy Tern, Striated Heron, Marine Iguanas. Fish seen included, King Angelfish, Yellow tail Surgeonfish, Galapagos Mullet, Blue stripped Snapper, Yellow tail Damselfish, Panamic Graysby, Leather Bass, Creole Fish, Blue chin Parrot fish, Rainbow Wrasse, Streamer Hogfish, Bump-head Parrotfish, and Bi-colour Parrotfish. In the afternoon we moved to James Bay on Santiago Island where we walked to see the low-tide lagoons where we saw many Galapagos Field Crickets before returning to snorkel from the beach observing many tropical fish similar to those seen in the morning.

Fernandina and Isabela Islands

In the morning we visited Punta Espinosa Fernandina Island where we were very fortunate to see a Banded Galapagos Snake, which is a constrictor, as well as a Galapagos Scorpion. It was here that we were able to see the Flightless Cormorant, Lava Gulls, Galapagos Penguin, Yellow Warbler, Sea Turtle, American Oystercatcher, Marine Iguanas, Lava lizard and numerous tropical fish including the Hieroglyphic Hawkfish (see photos). In the afternoon firstly we went snorkelling in deep cold water seeing, Puffer fish, Sea Lions, a few parrot fish and Sea Turtles. This was followed by a panga ride where we saw Audubon Shearwaters, Lava Gulls, Blue-footed Bobbies, Masked or more correctly Nazca Boobies, Swallow-tail Gulls, Elliot's Storm Petrel, Brown Noddy Terns and Fur Sea Lions.

Bartolome Island and Santa Cruz Island.

On Bartolome Island firstly we walked to a view point (114m) to view the volcanic formations, In particular examples of Pahoehoe and Aa Lava. Then we went snorkelling around Pinnacle Rock to see Yellow tail Surgeon Fish, Guinea fowl Puffer, Triggerfish, Azure Parrotfish, Blue-chin Parrotfish and juvenile Grunts. After lunch we arrived at Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz for panga ride. In the shallow waters we saw White tipped reef sharks, Eagle Rays, Mustard Rays, Brown Pelican, Lava Heron and Green Sea Turtle.

Before arriving at the airport on the last day we stopped to see wild Giant Tortoises.

Photos

General views of the Islands Return to top of the page.

Birds

Fish

Sea animals

Land animals

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General views of the Islands Return to Menu