This is an XML content feed of journal entries and reviews that have recently published by RealTravel members within Ecuador. Use one of the buttons on the right to add this feed to your feed reader. tag:realtravel.com,2005:1599 RealTravel members http://realtravel.com/images/logo-for-feeds.jpg (c) 2006 RealTravel.com 2008-05-28T18:21:07Z 340087http://www.feedburner.comThis is an XML content feed of journal entries and reviews that have recently published by RealTravel members within Ecuador. Use one of the buttons on the right to add this feed to your feed reader. tag:realtravel.com,2008-05-28:7055032 2008-05-28T18:21:07Z 2008-05-28T18:21:07Z Alex and Clare http://realtravel.com/member-m6721540-alex_and_clare.html <p><em>"Alex had a close encounter with a penguin"</em></p> <p>a entry by Alex and Clare from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1159003.html">Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>We awoke to the sound of a large male sea lion ‘barking’ at his harem and after breakfast our guide George took us for a walk in James Bay. Along the way we saw many marine iguanas, sea lions and sally light foot crabs. The bay had grottos which were rock formations where the water surged up from the sea and inside we saw turtles and sea lions swimming.</p><p>We went snorkeling before lunch and saw diamond sting rays, a white tip reef shark, turtles, penguins!, barracudas, king angel fish, bumphead parrot fish, pacific leopard flounders and gold spot sheepheads (to name but a few!).</p><p>On a ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j7055032.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_pfy1I8PYMD-q.v4b6T-BED.UeIc_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/pfy1I8PYMD-q.v4b6T-BED.UeIc_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_pfy1I8PYMD-q.v4b6T-BED.UeIc_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=pfy1I8PYMD-q.v4b6T-BED.UeIc_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fgalapagos_islands-journals-j7055032.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j7055032.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-05-28:7054821 2008-05-28T17:48:44Z 2008-05-28T17:48:44Z Alex and Clare http://realtravel.com/member-m6721540-alex_and_clare.html <p><em>"Boarded the Eden boat!"</em></p> <p>a entry by Alex and Clare from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/santa_cruz-galapagos_islands-reviews-hotels-d1252832.html">Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands.</a></p> <p>Felt slightly fragile from the night before but felt a lot better after a gorgeous breakfast at the Red Mangrove sitting at a table overlooking the bay. Saw a diamond sting ray and lots of fish swimming in the bay while we were eating and also saw a marine iguana swimming in the water and eating his breakfast!</p><p>Boarded the Eden boat at about 11 am and then had lunch on the boat. In the afternoon we toured Santa Cruz and the highlands. We climbed down a ladder then part walked part climbed and crawled through a lava tunnel. We then visited a tortoise reserve where we were lucky enough to ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/santa_cruz-journals-j7054821.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_EJM5S1Z1p5OfjZbodruGsQtv1rA_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/EJM5S1Z1p5OfjZbodruGsQtv1rA_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_EJM5S1Z1p5OfjZbodruGsQtv1rA_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=EJM5S1Z1p5OfjZbodruGsQtv1rA_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fsanta_cruz-journals-j7054821.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/santa_cruz-journals-j7054821.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-04-16:6859811 2008-04-16T20:04:13Z 2008-04-23T16:32:48Z Raaaabert + Angie http://realtravel.com/member-m6845091-raaaabert__angie.html <p>a entry by Raaaabert + Angie from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/vilcabamba-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18871.html">Vilcabamba, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>A nice quite town that supposedly has lots of old old people. We personally didnt see that many, maybe they had recently all gone to the big Vilcabamba in the sky :-(</p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/vilcabamba-journals-j6859811.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_-095ckzQ3EpDO9bMRBKNIGouJs4_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/-095ckzQ3EpDO9bMRBKNIGouJs4_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_-095ckzQ3EpDO9bMRBKNIGouJs4_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=-095ckzQ3EpDO9bMRBKNIGouJs4_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fvilcabamba-journals-j6859811.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/vilcabamba-journals-j6859811.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-04-08:6827345 2008-04-08T22:41:31Z 2008-04-08T22:41:31Z Psychedelic Bucky http://realtravel.com/member-m6388590-psychedelic_bucky.html <p><em>"Climbing Pichincha"</em></p> <p>a entry by Psychedelic Bucky from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/quito-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18841.html">Quito, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>So in prepartion for our Cotopaxi trip we decided to climb Rucu Pichincha today. To access it we took the teleferico (Gondola) which brings you to about 4000m. From there it's a 3-4 Hour hike to the top. Roughly 4700 meters (15416 feet), Pichincha is an active volcano right above Quito and it is prevelent most days. Unfortunately it's been raining a lot so the view from below and the top has not been good. The day looked promising though - and turned out to be a good one.</p><p>We had some initial guides (locals) in the beginning. However, once we hit the ridgeline we took a more dificult ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/quito-journals-j6827345.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_jt3dGVUgxcLZV-.GDOsLmqjSmi8_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/jt3dGVUgxcLZV-.GDOsLmqjSmi8_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_jt3dGVUgxcLZV-.GDOsLmqjSmi8_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=jt3dGVUgxcLZV-.GDOsLmqjSmi8_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fquito-journals-j6827345.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/quito-journals-j6827345.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-04:5920077 2007-11-04T00:00:51Z 2008-03-15T23:58:32Z Jennontour http://realtravel.com/member-m5403757-jennontour.html <p>a entry by Jennontour from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1467244.html">Cotopaxi, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>After one week of Spanish I was ready to practice ... thanks to my hands, fingers and fantasies I managed to get to the Cotopaxi NP. My Spanish helped not really since I hardly can remember anything ;-) I am soooooo not a language talent ...</p><p>Anyway, I took the bus from Quito to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park and 1 1/2 hours and $1 later I was there ... in the middle of nowhere ;-)</p><p>Cotopaxi is a Volcano and it´s altitude is 5897m. Mostly it is hidden behind clouds and that was the case when I arrived. Optimistic me, I took a taxi into the park anyway (yes, you have to ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5920077.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_1d0xEY4b36yjlX3BcjtZyFknWWc_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/1d0xEY4b36yjlX3BcjtZyFknWWc_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_1d0xEY4b36yjlX3BcjtZyFknWWc_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=1d0xEY4b36yjlX3BcjtZyFknWWc_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcotopaxi-journals-j5920077.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5920077.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-14:5996083 2007-11-14T01:56:00Z 2008-03-15T23:46:26Z Jennontour http://realtravel.com/member-m5403757-jennontour.html <p>a entry by Jennontour from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-tungurahua-reviews-hotels-d3994987.html">Banos, Tungurahua.</a></p> <p>Right after school Jeni, Maxim (also from HH) and I went to Baños. Baños is a little town 3 1/2 hours south of Quito, located in between some volcanoes, which erupted in 1999/2000 and according to our travel guides and other people you have to go there since it is the outdoor paradise of Ecuador (and they all were right!!)</p><p>We took a bus from Quito and let me tell you, this bus was special. I think, we took every possible detour and picked up some people in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, that this bus was on the road for over 5 hours instead of 3 1/2 hours. Anyway, when we ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j5996083.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_sOr5Ko7IM.s4AxEN11CBC41y5Lc_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/sOr5Ko7IM.s4AxEN11CBC41y5Lc_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_sOr5Ko7IM.s4AxEN11CBC41y5Lc_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=sOr5Ko7IM.s4AxEN11CBC41y5Lc_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fbanos-journals-j5996083.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j5996083.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-20:6031519 2007-11-20T02:37:07Z 2008-03-15T23:38:50Z Jennontour http://realtravel.com/member-m5403757-jennontour.html <p>a entry by Jennontour from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18766.html">Cuenca, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>The bus from Alausi to Cuenca took forever. Next to me sat a guy from Aachen, Germany (later on I found out his name is Alex). We had a chitchat and after about one hour he told me that he didn´t feel to good. On the train from Riobamba to Alausi (it seemed like everybody in the bus took the train - full of Gringos :-) ...) he had a cooked corn-egg-dried-something . An English girl bought it for him and he didn´t want to be rude and so he ate it (even he normally can´t handle food from the street so well). Anyway, five minutes after his announcement his fingers became numb and he started to ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6031519.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_-216Cx.81oaIBesRR0IlFHPEiRo_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/-216Cx.81oaIBesRR0IlFHPEiRo_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_-216Cx.81oaIBesRR0IlFHPEiRo_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=-216Cx.81oaIBesRR0IlFHPEiRo_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcuenca-journals-j6031519.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6031519.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-01-24:6430151 2008-01-24T12:39:04Z 2008-03-11T14:05:15Z Mike & Linda Fidge http://realtravel.com/member-m5693965-mike__linda_fidge.html <p><em>"A little bit of heaven with the sounds of nature all around you and the beautiful stars just above you"</em></p> <p>a entry by Mike &amp; Linda Fidge from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cayambe-pichincha-reviews-hotels-d1385533.html">Cayambe, Pichincha.</a></p> <p>Well….our little adventure in the lovely city of Cuenca had to come to an end and it was time to make our way to our next destination of Cayambe! We didn’t really know what to expect in Cayambe as the lonely planet guide said little of our destination, except that there was a volcano nearby, so we travelled by plane and then taxi with a little curiosity.</p><p>When our little taxi turned into a long tree lined driveway, we knew we were in for a bit of a treat….and we weren’t wrong! Our hotel turned out to be a 400 year old Hacienda (the oldest Hacienda in Ecuador) which had been beautifully ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cayambe-journals-j6430151.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_s0fRc9auLEbwJYYeQw3e-iL5t8w_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/s0fRc9auLEbwJYYeQw3e-iL5t8w_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_s0fRc9auLEbwJYYeQw3e-iL5t8w_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=s0fRc9auLEbwJYYeQw3e-iL5t8w_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcayambe-journals-j6430151.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cayambe-journals-j6430151.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-06-01:4658169 2007-06-01T00:15:46Z 2008-02-12T14:49:24Z whichwayisnorth http://realtravel.com/member-m4463451-whichwayisnorth.html <p>a entry by whichwayisnorth from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1159003.html">Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>The Galapagos Islands ... it´s simply impossible for anyone to describe this place in words. Even though we´d heard how tame the animals are, nothing can prepare you for having a sea lion swim up to you and tug at your flipper like a puppy. Or a mother Nazca (masked) boobie come marching across your path and feed her chick literally a foot away from you. We could actually see the fish being regurgitated from the mother´s mouth into here baby´s. The Ecuadorian government has taken extreme measures to preserve the pristene nature of the islands, and it has paid off. If you ever have the ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j4658169.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_dEGzoImZSGpUOPylR8mxHIoFGUs_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/dEGzoImZSGpUOPylR8mxHIoFGUs_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_dEGzoImZSGpUOPylR8mxHIoFGUs_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=dEGzoImZSGpUOPylR8mxHIoFGUs_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fgalapagos_islands-journals-j4658169.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j4658169.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-06-24:4867400 2007-06-24T22:07:35Z 2008-02-12T14:48:50Z whichwayisnorth http://realtravel.com/member-m4463451-whichwayisnorth.html <p>a entry by whichwayisnorth from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18766.html">Cuenca, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>Hi everyone,</p><p>Time for some serious catchup. It´s hard to find internet cafes with decent connections!</p><p>After Galapagos we headed up through the immense Andean cloud forest to a beautiful city called Cuenca. Surrounded by mountains and with four rivers, the city is a UNESCO world heritage site. There are countless churches and a strong Spanish influence leftover from colonial times permeates the city´s architecture.</p><p>We spent three days exploring the city. Full of college students and artists Cuenca is markedly liberal. We were pretty surprised to walk into the national bank ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j4867400.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_7SwfQ-P76mDA1c0k7oxU5NpqQAU_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/7SwfQ-P76mDA1c0k7oxU5NpqQAU_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_7SwfQ-P76mDA1c0k7oxU5NpqQAU_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=7SwfQ-P76mDA1c0k7oxU5NpqQAU_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcuenca-journals-j4867400.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j4867400.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-01-09:6336678 2008-01-09T20:37:23Z 2008-01-31T17:09:50Z Mike & Linda Fidge http://realtravel.com/member-m5693965-mike__linda_fidge.html <p><em>"But this seemed to only make it angry, and within minutes we were covered with such a thick fog"</em></p> <p>a entry by Mike &amp; Linda Fidge from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-tungurahua-reviews-hotels-d3994987.html">Banos, Tungurahua.</a></p> <p>A note before I begin this blog - It is being written by none other than Linda Fidge! Ah, wondering when you might here from me, hey? Well, Mike has finnnallly let me write a blog, so this one might have a slightly different flavour to the others! Enjoy, and feel free to comment on who is the better blog writer! (hint - its me!)</p><p>While it was sad to say goodbye to the Amazon Jungle, we always knew that we had more adventures ahead of us on this tour. So we jumped on the back of yet another pickup truck and then a local bus and headed to our next destination of Banos (in Spanish, Bathroom, ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6336678.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_F6Hort631gnXuGnYoByzcr.bbmg_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/F6Hort631gnXuGnYoByzcr.bbmg_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_F6Hort631gnXuGnYoByzcr.bbmg_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=F6Hort631gnXuGnYoByzcr.bbmg_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fbanos-journals-j6336678.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6336678.html tag:realtravel.com,2008-01-24:6429322 2008-01-24T11:27:05Z 2008-01-24T12:05:03Z Mike & Linda Fidge http://realtravel.com/member-m5693965-mike__linda_fidge.html <p><em>"In their place were 100 plus meter high cliffs, with the train making its way precariously along the tops, and us clilnging on to dear life"</em></p> <p>a entry by Mike &amp; Linda Fidge from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18766.html">Cuenca, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>Well thank you Linda for your lovely blog piece. You really do have a style all to yourself don't you. All I can hope is that you enjoyed the experience. As per Linda's instructions, please lodge your votes as to who the better blog writer is. Being married now, I should already know the answer to that.....Linda of course.</p><p>By now you might be wondering where we have been for the past couple of weeks, and I could tell you, although that would be doing a diservice to our future blogs. Let it suffice that we have been on our honeymoon and having a wonderful time. It is time however to ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6429322.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_a91QYVBeTYrXhhdGZSooC0TW2gw_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/a91QYVBeTYrXhhdGZSooC0TW2gw_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_a91QYVBeTYrXhhdGZSooC0TW2gw_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=a91QYVBeTYrXhhdGZSooC0TW2gw_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcuenca-journals-j6429322.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6429322.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-03-05:3866813 2007-03-05T02:10:25Z 2008-01-16T00:46:29Z RyanLT http://realtravel.com/member-m2476263-ryanlt.html <p>a entry by RyanLT from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/tena-napo-reviews-hotels-d905923.html">Tena, Napo.</a></p> <p>Well, from Santa Lucia, I followed my guide book to a place called Baños, meaning baths in Spanish. Wasn´t too impressed with it once I found out that it wasnt anywhere near to the Amazon, so on a spurr of the moment decision I decided to further my travels to a city called Tena. Here I stayed at the first Hostel I came across.. turned out to be a not soo good one, but it was a bed and a locked door and I was tired as hell so I guess I cant ask for more at last minute. Anyhow the next day I went around town to see if I could find a two day tour for Monday and Tuesday. Well just so happened ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/tena-journals-j3866813.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_LIkwjNnqCVyuqK.H166u.ej7jP4_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/LIkwjNnqCVyuqK.H166u.ej7jP4_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_LIkwjNnqCVyuqK.H166u.ej7jP4_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=LIkwjNnqCVyuqK.H166u.ej7jP4_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Ftena-journals-j3866813.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/tena-journals-j3866813.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-03-05:3865977 2007-03-05T00:35:49Z 2008-01-16T00:43:57Z RyanLT http://realtravel.com/member-m2476263-ryanlt.html <p>a entry by RyanLT from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/nanegal-pichincha-reviews-hotels-d3865034.html">Nanegal, Pichincha.</a></p> <p>Well I can honestly say I have lived within the clouds now. This last week I have been staying at the Santa Lucia Resort tucked up in the cloud-forest near Nenagal, Ecuador. I have been helping a little with a reforestation project they are running that is trying to re-establish the pouplation on the endangered Cedro species of trees that have been nearly exterminated with the extencive logging about 30 years ago. They have around 760 hectares of land and every bit of it is amaizing. We also had alot to do in the Sugar cane, banana and coffe plantations. Mostly weeding and what not but it was ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/nanegal-journals-j3865977.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_uUI3Nqs2ASvYAu6I2AylPiD4PQc_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/uUI3Nqs2ASvYAu6I2AylPiD4PQc_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_uUI3Nqs2ASvYAu6I2AylPiD4PQc_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=uUI3Nqs2ASvYAu6I2AylPiD4PQc_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fnanegal-journals-j3865977.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/nanegal-journals-j3865977.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-21:6040667 2007-11-21T22:12:56Z 2007-11-21T23:53:07Z Anni Español http://realtravel.com/member-m5588922-anni_espa%c3%b1ol.html <p>a entry by Anni Español from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cajas-azuay-reviews-hotels-d1986605.html">Cajas, Azuay.</a></p> <p>Parque Nacional Cajas was as beautiful as everyone has said - and more!</p><p>After struggling to find a guide in Cuenca, I decided to head out to Cajas alone. Thankfully, I met Simon on the bus who was planning to hike there that day as well. We got to the Ranger´s station and he said we didn´t need a guide so we set off alone and had ourselves a fantastic adventure!</p><p>We hiked for 6 hours up and over montañas, through swamps, around lakes, got ourselves lost, and attempted to cross and alpine forest but thought better of it... It was such fabulous scenery though, that even as it was ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cajas-journals-j6040667.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_c.iH2C7O2z33NzdkDs2E1MGB9GM_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/c.iH2C7O2z33NzdkDs2E1MGB9GM_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_c.iH2C7O2z33NzdkDs2E1MGB9GM_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=c.iH2C7O2z33NzdkDs2E1MGB9GM_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcajas-journals-j6040667.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cajas-journals-j6040667.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-17:6021737 2007-11-17T22:05:50Z 2007-11-20T23:20:13Z Anni Español http://realtravel.com/member-m5588922-anni_espa%c3%b1ol.html <p>a entry by Anni Español from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-tungurahua-reviews-hotels-d3994987.html">Banos, Tungurahua.</a></p> <p>My first day in Baños was muy bueno! I joined Raych and two Swiss guys to hike up to the refuge on Tungurahua. It was a 3 hour hike under bush canopy most of the way but as we got closer to the top it cleared to allow us great views of the crater, which was puffing out smoke and dumping little piles of ash on us. It was V cool to be on an active volcano! You could see where the eruption last year had demolished the main road to Ambato and our guide told us quite plainly that "it rains big rocks in Baños sometimes"! Needless to say, they have prohibited anyone from climbing right up to the ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6021737.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_PnsKeFirbRUNP6kYmA8WmWXp8OY_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/PnsKeFirbRUNP6kYmA8WmWXp8OY_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_PnsKeFirbRUNP6kYmA8WmWXp8OY_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=PnsKeFirbRUNP6kYmA8WmWXp8OY_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fbanos-journals-j6021737.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6021737.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-20:6036244 2007-11-20T23:04:17Z 2007-11-20T23:08:24Z L & B http://realtravel.com/member-m5670253-l__b.html <p>a entry by L &amp; B from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18766.html">Cuenca, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>We´ve spent a day in Riobamba where the only real draw is the Saturday market, but what a market! It was like a whole town. Whatever you wanted to buy, could be bought here, I reckon, including piles of old shoes. God knows how you find a pair! The most interesting (though not in a nice way) items for sale were the live animals. There were chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs. In selecting a chicken, people would hold them upside-down by their feet to compare the weight of one with another. It´s pretty horrible to see, the poor things thrashing about, often two tied together at the ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6036244.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_J5q.JDvrQ2pbIsik-pgBrmgjqBA_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/J5q.JDvrQ2pbIsik-pgBrmgjqBA_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_J5q.JDvrQ2pbIsik-pgBrmgjqBA_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=J5q.JDvrQ2pbIsik-pgBrmgjqBA_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcuenca-journals-j6036244.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cuenca-journals-j6036244.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-10-06:5714435 2007-10-06T00:11:47Z 2007-11-19T16:34:49Z Niall Hughes http://realtravel.com/member-m4721675-niall_hughes.html <p><em>"The islands are as diverse and interesting as the animals that live on them"</em></p> <p>a entry by Niall Hughes from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1159003.html">Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>The closest I've come to any wildlife watching was when myself and Rogers used to position ourselves outside the Bot at 1am on a Saturday night. In search of something more akin to David Attenborough Sarah and me headed off on a week long cruise of the Galapagos Islands.</p><p>The Islands are just west of Ecuador and consist of thirteen islands which have been formed over millions of years by volcanic eruptions. Some of the them are still quite active, with the most recent volcanic activity happening the week before we arrived! They contain massive numbers of birds and animals that are endemic ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j5714435.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_TVIX363OVHjeILGCZpinrR2uG.M_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/TVIX363OVHjeILGCZpinrR2uG.M_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_TVIX363OVHjeILGCZpinrR2uG.M_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=TVIX363OVHjeILGCZpinrR2uG.M_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fgalapagos_islands-journals-j5714435.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/galapagos_islands-journals-j5714435.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-16:6015298 2007-11-16T22:47:42Z 2007-11-16T22:47:42Z L & B http://realtravel.com/member-m5670253-l__b.html <p><em>"Earthquake!"</em></p> <p>a entry by L &amp; B from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-tungurahua-reviews-hotels-d3994987.html">Banos, Tungurahua.</a></p> <p>Banos (pronounced Ban-yos) is a popular small tourist town surrounded by green mountains and a beautiful waterfall. Both Ecuadorians and foreigners come here. People come here not so much for the town itself (which is very colourful and pretty), but for the outdoor activities based here that it offers. Every other shop offers tours - hiking, biking, water-rafting.</p><p>It was about a four hour bus journey here from Quito. The bus was so much nicer than we expected! Smelt a bit like old ladies, like any bad smells had been masked with copious amounts of talc. The reclining seats were ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6015298.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_WSm64tMQPwaV1JfK3kE3VJwDNp8_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/WSm64tMQPwaV1JfK3kE3VJwDNp8_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_WSm64tMQPwaV1JfK3kE3VJwDNp8_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=WSm64tMQPwaV1JfK3kE3VJwDNp8_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fbanos-journals-j6015298.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/banos-journals-j6015298.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-14:5999977 2007-11-14T21:32:40Z 2007-11-14T21:32:40Z L & B http://realtravel.com/member-m5670253-l__b.html <p>a entry by L &amp; B from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/quito-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d18841.html">Quito, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>We left Miami a little sad that our US adventure was over, but excited to go to South America. Our flight to Quito was cancelled! We´re told that there is damage to the runway. We can either wait for the next flight out there in 4 days´time or get a flight to Guayaquil (another city in Ecuador) the next day. We´re keen to get on with our travels (plus Miami´s a little expensive), so we went with the latter.</p><p>Having spent $30 dollars in a cab from Miami beach to the airport (the buses are infrequent and slow), we were quite happy to take a voucher offering us a discounted night´s stay ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/quito-journals-j5999977.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_lH5d6y7BenDvk1LsW4cHB7M5qUo_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/lH5d6y7BenDvk1LsW4cHB7M5qUo_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_lH5d6y7BenDvk1LsW4cHB7M5qUo_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=lH5d6y7BenDvk1LsW4cHB7M5qUo_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fquito-journals-j5999977.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/quito-journals-j5999977.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-14:5995413 2007-11-14T00:32:40Z 2007-11-14T00:53:18Z Anni Español http://realtravel.com/member-m5588922-anni_espa%c3%b1ol.html <p>a entry by Anni Español from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos-galapagos_islands-reviews-hotels-d5234028.html">Galapagos, Galapagos Islands.</a></p> <p>I spent last week on Isla Santa Cruz in the Galâpagos Islands and it was fabuloso!</p><p>I saw iguana, giant tortuga, lots of birds (including the v cool blue-footed boobies), sea-lions, mantra rays, flamingos, bright red little crabs that I loved, and more!</p><p>That place is full to the brim with an amazing variety of wildlife and surreal landscapes... I have been on desert islands, fine sandy beaches, crawled through lava tunnels and seen Russian porn stars pose with iguanas in the red volcanic dirt (sorry, no photos from that hilarious spectacle)!</p><p>It was a great week and I was sad ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/galapagos-journals-j5995413.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_OKgCSFHszd9Y.b1Z7jyzoZnsQw8_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/OKgCSFHszd9Y.b1Z7jyzoZnsQw8_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_OKgCSFHszd9Y.b1Z7jyzoZnsQw8_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=OKgCSFHszd9Y.b1Z7jyzoZnsQw8_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fgalapagos-journals-j5995413.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/galapagos-journals-j5995413.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-12:5986966 2007-11-12T20:02:05Z 2007-11-12T21:51:28Z Flute Moon http://realtravel.com/member-m5318668-flute_moon.html <p><em>"I felt like Indiana Jones- the Ecuadorian version"</em></p> <p>a entry by Flute Moon from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/mindo-pichincha-reviews-hotels-d903347.html">Mindo, Pichincha.</a></p> <p>As I write this a gas truck is passing by my house, three sharp honks to announce its presence, another trunk passes playing violin out of a loudspeaker…these noises are constant. I will miss them when I go home, the reminder that even when you are safe and sound in bed life still goes on, nothing stops here…..life is constant. I wonder what else Ill miss when go home, The loud music on the streets, the taxi drivers that always propose to me, even in a 4 minute drive they can fit that in, the sun in November. I will miss my travels with my wonderful friends. This last weekend we made our way ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/mindo-journals-j5986966.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_fMqFmuklPpJ6YNtNvI9K1wvQHXA_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/fMqFmuklPpJ6YNtNvI9K1wvQHXA_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_fMqFmuklPpJ6YNtNvI9K1wvQHXA_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=fMqFmuklPpJ6YNtNvI9K1wvQHXA_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fmindo-journals-j5986966.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/mindo-journals-j5986966.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-10:5970157 2007-11-10T22:23:41Z 2007-11-12T21:23:33Z Flute Moon http://realtravel.com/member-m5318668-flute_moon.html <p><em>"The only thing I could muster was a gutteral "gut ten tag...yah?"</em></p> <p>a entry by Flute Moon from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1467244.html">Cotopaxi, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>I realize it most when I am in the bus. The huge city passing by me, seeing hundreds of people in one ride and this is when I think to myself “I am in Quito, Ecuador.” It seems that I often forget where I am and how lucky I am to be here. Although I have been slacking on the blogs I have still been having great adventures. About three weeks ago I went to Cotopaxi on a class trip.</p><p>We met our classmates as the sun came up above Quito, my mind still not functioning, and my mind still deep in its dreams. We rode for two hours until we came into the reserve at the base of the volcano. I am ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5970157.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_DCPR2KdkozYn9EpZyLbOwyxN0ME_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/DCPR2KdkozYn9EpZyLbOwyxN0ME_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_DCPR2KdkozYn9EpZyLbOwyxN0ME_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=DCPR2KdkozYn9EpZyLbOwyxN0ME_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcotopaxi-journals-j5970157.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5970157.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-11-12:5980962 2007-11-12T01:16:39Z 2007-11-12T01:37:50Z Anni Español http://realtravel.com/member-m5588922-anni_espa%c3%b1ol.html <p>a entry by Anni Español from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-ecuador-reviews-hotels-d1467244.html">Cotopaxi, Ecuador.</a></p> <p>Last weekend I braved Cotopaxi, which is the highest active volcano in the world at 5897 metres to the summit. It last blew its top in 1877 and has done so every 130 years or so... My guide book says that since 2001 the volcano´s temperature has risen from 8 to 40 degrees C but I can tell you that covered in a whole lotta snow, it was no where near 40 degrees up there!</p><p>From Cotopaxi Parque Nacionale on Saturday morning our group of 4 drove straight to the base and promptly hiked up to the refuge at 4800 metres. We then went out to practise using our crampons and ice axes but it began to ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5980962.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_xuIYMyS5DxLBFIZdUqT.r9bmaQY_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/xuIYMyS5DxLBFIZdUqT.r9bmaQY_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_xuIYMyS5DxLBFIZdUqT.r9bmaQY_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=xuIYMyS5DxLBFIZdUqT.r9bmaQY_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcotopaxi-journals-j5980962.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cotopaxi-journals-j5980962.html tag:realtravel.com,2007-10-14:5773504 2007-10-14T01:16:37Z 2007-10-14T01:16:37Z Kina http://realtravel.com/member-m5365013-kina.html <p>a entry by Kina from a trip to <a href="http://realtravel.com/cajas-azuay-reviews-hotels-d1986605.html">Cajas, Azuay.</a></p> <p>To be truthful I mostly added this as an entry because Jan took some spectacular photos of Cajas national park. I am hoping to add these on in the coming days, as well as all of the other photos that my entries are lacking.</p><p>Cajas is located about an hours bus ride north-west of Cuenca. At 4,000 meters altitude this park is known for its 230 lakes along with the fauna and flora that can be found there. After hiking around for less than thirty minutes I started to feel indications of height sickness. This continued on for the entire day, which I of course had my ´Miss Sunshine´face on for. ... </p> <p><a href="http://realtravel.com/cajas-journals-j5773504.html">[Read full entry]</a></p> <p><map name="google_ad_map_JKwLTJ0WBDOTSLyQ0F6H7flggK8_"><area shape="rect" href="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/imgclick/JKwLTJ0WBDOTSLyQ0F6H7flggK8_?pos=0" coords="1,2,367,28"/><area shape="rect" href="http://services.google.com/feedback/abg" coords="384,10,453,23"/></map><img usemap="#google_ad_map_JKwLTJ0WBDOTSLyQ0F6H7flggK8_" border="0" src="http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-pub-1956712303939423&channel=3810559515&output=png&cuid=JKwLTJ0WBDOTSLyQ0F6H7flggK8_&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealtravel.com%2Fcajas-journals-j5773504.html"/></p> http://realtravel.com/cajas-journals-j5773504.html