Mekkelmania : Ecuador and Galapagos - ,An Interactive Intercontinental travel magazine, with, Rio Bamba, Cuenca, jungle, jungle tour, Latacunga, Puyo, Ambato, Guaranda, blue footed boobie, sea lion, lizards, birds, turtles, giant, giant turtles, Guayaguil, Cotopaxi, Otavalo, market, Ibarra, Chimborazo, volcano, Banos, international,world,flying,airlines, reservations,hotels,holidays,vacations,planners,plans,resources, how,to,prepare,discount,air fares,tickets,directory,guide,adventure,travel,tips,travelers,travellers, traveling, travelling, advice,help,planning,preparations, packing,operators,women,safety, weather,warm,weather,high,altitude,South America,guidetravel, journals, reis, homepage, verslag, tips,Ecuador,last minute,Galapagos,An,interactive, stories, pictures, photos,of, backpack, backpackers, backpacking, mekkelmania, traveltips, beach, white beach, palm trees, relaxing, transport, prices, accommodation, Quito,interactive, stories, maps, lonely planet, travel guide, guide, travel information,reisrevue, reisverhalen, reizen, witte stranden, timetable, train,automobile, bus, culture, rain forrest, islands, links, visa department of transportation, help, travel advice, custom information, planning, information, resources, travel tips, hiking, trekking, rafting

Galapagos

Visiting the islands of the Galapagos is an unique experience. I think that you have to be here to know what it realy feels like. It is unbelievable when you walk around the island between so many animals which are not afraid of you. On every island you are welcomed by a large number of sea lions or seals. Every day you feel thrilled. Of course it is expensive to visit the islands, but it is definitely worth going here !!

In Quito and Guayaguill there are many offices where you can book a trip. The variance is big. We were here in low season, and the prices varied from $250 to $1100 for a five days' tour (=4 nights). We got the cheapest one, the Yate Poseidon. A rather small boat, with a maximum of 10 tourists. The first night we were both mucho seasick. The rooms were very, very small, you could not turn your butt (=Dutch expression) and your stuff has to be stuffed in the little corner of the cabin. The shower was nothing more than a garden hose. The first night was hell, the last 3 nights we spent on the roof and we did not have any problems any more. The 5 day trip cost us $670 each ($100 entrance fee, $312 flight ticket and $250 for the boat). But this was in low season.

Of course it is also possible to arrange something in Puerto Ayore on the Galapagos itself. We did not do this, but we saw many travelers (mostly cheap Israeli's !!) wandering from office to office and I don't know if they had any luck. I guess so, but if they got any better prices I wonder... The hotels in Puerto Ayore are pretty expensive, we went there one day before our trip started, so we could walk around the small village. Nothing really much to see here. Only an expensive stay. We stayed in Hotel Elisabeth for $10 a night. I went down to register and the owner asked me if we were married. I said 'no' and he replied : "Ooo, no fucky, fucky !!!"

For the animal life, the Galapagos islands are great. Below a number of photo's of some of them. On http://www.galapagos2000.de/GPS/ even more pictures of other animals can be found.

Another page with lots of information and photo's of the wildlife on the Galapagos is http://www.horizon.fr/galapagos/framesetan.html

* Click on photo's for more info about the animals.

The photo's are (clockwise) : 2 pairing Albatrosses , 3 blue-footed-boobies willing to pose for a photo session, our boat Yate Poseidon, a land leguana, a pelican hopping closer and closer and a giant Tortoise in the Darwin station.

The highlight was swimming with the sea lions and some giant turtles. They were swimming all around us, not scared at all. They were even as curious as us. Unbelievable.

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