Adventures in Ecuador + the Galapagos

Quito

I started my trip here and did a fascinating excursion of this picturesque, charming city. I stayed at Plaza Grande Hotel right on the square where the presidential palace is. Quito is the 2nd highest capital city in South America and one of the most beautiful. The Church of San Francisco is a famous destination and once hosted one of the first breweries in South America. You can still see some of the original brewery tools and have a beer. We had special permission to photograph the La Compañía de Jesus church which is incredibly beautiful. I love local markets so we did a detour to a local market where some of the indigenous women do healings with local herbs and flowers. I had a partial healing which restored my energy levels. Via Natura had planned a cooking class with their marketing executive, my fabulous guide, and several members of the Quito Tourism Board. We cooked a local potato soup, a ‘spinach meat’ for my dish and delicious dessert with fruits I’d never heard of and melted Ecuadoran chocolate! It was great fun and a wonderful way to experience local foods, customs and interact with locals. The rest of my day was spent doing hotel site inspections. Via Natura books a combination of luxury properties ranging from historic to Relais & Chateaux and small, boutique hotels. Thank you to Plaza Grande Hotel and the Hilton downtown for hosting me.

  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.

Galapagos

  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.

The excursions, both land and water, are amazing! Sadly I only had time for 3 nights / each day is filled with adventure. There are wet and dry landings for the various island walks and snorkeling was mostly done from zodiacs – there is a good assortment of snorkel equipment to choose from and wetsuits on board for rental. The wildlife is incredible from giant tortoises to different iguanas, so many birds and the aquatic wildlife is abundant. Sea lions play with you under water, you will snorkel with white tip reef sharks, sea turtles, all kinds of colorful fish, sea urchins, hundreds of large star fish, and eagle rays. I had a plastic cover for my iPhone but the underwater photos did not take which was extremely disappointing. The Galapagos might have made me a birder? Blue footed boobies! Male frigate birds with their puffed up red throats! Greater flamingos!

  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.

Guayaquil

This port city is larger than Quito and at sea level is hot and humid. Ecuador is famous for its chocolate and my chocolate hacienda tour at Hacienda El Castillo was fascinating. The cacao plantation also housed a mango grove, and who knew there were 5 different kinds of mangos? Our guide split open 1 of each and you could taste the difference, especially the one that is imported here. We saw both kinds of cacao trees, how they graft plants, ferment beans, dry them and how chocolate is actually made. Back at the hacienda, you will have the opportunity to make your own bars with ingredients you like. I made 70% dark chocolate with sea salt bars and unfortunately have devoured all of it.

Thank you to the Hotel del Parque, a Relais Chateaux property for hosting me the 1st night and Hotel Oro Verde downtown for my 2nd night.

  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.
  • A green and blue clock with the time 1 2 : 3 0.

 

kiki paris / november, 2021

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