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Lake Atitlán

I booked only a day tour to Atitlán (it was a 14 hour tour). Many sirens a night or so there but I didn’t. It would be nice to stay there longer, but I actually liked Antigua better.

Along the lake are 4 little towns varying in size but touristy.

Penjachel

We arrived first by van in this town and spent an hour talking amongst ourselves. I practiced my Spanish with two couples from Costa Rica

The other towns are across the lake so we hopped on a side boat and set of for the first town.

San Juan la Laguna

This town is very picturesque and had a nice vibe. We started with a chocolate tour. Instead of joining the guide with the one in English, I stayed with the Spanish group. I also bought some chocolate for cocoa and a bar with chilis in it.

Then we walked to the top of the hill for a weaving demonstration.

I loved the bright colors and how calm the town is.

San Pedro

The next town was a little more active and less colorful.

Santiago Atitlán

This is the biggest of the towns. Very bustling and not quaint or colorful. We stopped for lunch and I was not inspired by the menu so just ordered chips and guacamole. Another woman on the trip, Paula, was on the Pacaya vulcan trip and we walked around together. We were glad that they decided not to keep everyone together but let us explore on our own. We headed out to find good ceviche.

We walked around a little longer to find the church.

After the speed boat ride back it was time for the long van ride back. I think I still made the right choice to spend more time in Antigua and then spend time in Flores.

Pacaya volcano

I took a tour to hike the Pacaya volcano. Pacaya is an active volcano. It has been continuously active since 1965 and the last edition was in 2021. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. It is 2,552 meters (8,373 feet) above sea level. Most of its eruptions are lava flows with some ash plumes, but only a few explosions.

The last eruption still has many fumeroles

You can see the different lava fields from routine over the years.

I was intrigued to view another volcano. There is a bigger one here but did not want an extreme hike. On this volcano trip you have the opportunity to roast marshmallows over a vent in the volcano. One person had reserved a pizza made on the vent as well so we all pooled our money together for a large pizza. It took 10 minutes to cook. They do add wood but the volcanic vent is the start of the fire. A bit pricey for pizza (70 quetzals for 2 pieces which is about $9) but they did bring the ingredients as the way to the top and the cool factor.

After pizza we roasted marshmallows.

A nice tour and had fun talking to others and the guide (in Spanish) followed by sitting in the pool at the hotel to cool off.

On to Antigua, Guatemala

A day after arriving back in Quito from the Galapagos, I was headed to the airport for a 2 week exploration before making it back to the states. The plan was Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize. But 10 hours before my flight, I received notification that two of my flights were cancelled. Those were the flights going to El Salvador and on to Belize. A flight would not be available until 5 days later but I had other flights to other countries at that time.

Of concern was needing a flight out of Guatemala before I could board the plane. I showed the original itinerary which was accepted and started researching what I would do next.

While at immigration in the airport, there was a 4.2 earthquake with the epicenter close to the airport. A second one followed quickly in Puembo. No damage or injuries and the plane took off on time.

In the end, I found land transport from Antigua to Flores in the north and transport into my next town in Belize. I am okay with how it turned out as it gives me more downtime in Belize and seeing more of Guatemala. After I arrived in Antigua, a rainstorm gave me time to search and book transport.

Antigua

Antigua is a past capital found in the central highlands and surrounded by volcanoes. The architecture is beautiful of both the buildings and the churches. Founded in 1543 it was the capitol until 1773 when there was a damaging earthquake. Many of the buildings were preserved. The buildings are so colorful and the cobblestone streets make the whole city enchanting.

Cemetery (comentario general)

I find cemeteries peaceful and a look into the culture as well.

I loved seeing the school buses which are used as public transport. Each bus is decked out differently.

La recolección architectonic complex

This site was originally a church and convent complex established by the Order of the Recollects in 1701 by the Recollects, a branch of the Franciscan order. The ruins are of the church, convent, and several other buildings there in the Spanish Baroque style.

Like many other buildings in Antigua, the La Recolección complex suffered significant damage from earthquakes especially the one in 1773. Over the years, it was used as a sports center, damaged by people being careless with the structures, and some demolition to prevent unstable walls from collapsing.

At one time a pool was installed in the 20th century. At the center of this pit is tiles that could have been part of the pool.

Isabela island, Galapagos

Isabela Island is the largest island in the Galapagos. Isabela was formed by the merging of six large shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf. It is relatively young with an estimated age of around 1 million years. It was named after Queen Isabela I from Castile.

Sunrise on Santa Cruz before leaving for Isabela on the ferry

Of the three islands it is pretty chill and a great place to relax.

The island is known for its rich biodiversity, including several species of tortoises, iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants.

Las Tintoreras tour

Our guide took us on a boat around the harbor, then on a part of the island that is volcanic rock. From here there are underground tunnels or tubes from flows of lava to snorkel in and see turtles, sharks, and penguins.

I didn’t snorkel but did give my camera to the guide. I might have to come back again since I have found how to move around the islands. Here are some videos from the snorkeling.

Sierra Negra Volcano, which has one of the world’s largest volcanic craters. Its just eruption was in 2018 and each eruption gives valuable information on impact. It is a shield volcano with broad and slow rising slopes and lava flows with less velocity. The caldera is 10 km wide. The volcano collapsed into the caldera and subsequent lava flows have changed the landscape more.

The hike is 16 km total and goes out then back around part of the rim.

The crater where the dome collapsed and lava flows continued after later eruptions

A couple of friends from Quito were also here in the Galapagos

This is actually one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos. Fernandina is only a few kilometers away from Isabela and is one of the most active volcanoes here.

It is amazing to see such different rocks from each kind of lava flow and life here.

Poza de los flamingos

During the early 1900s, the Ecuadorian government used the island as a penal colony, known as Puerto Villamil (the current capital). Prisoners were put to work on various projects, including building the “Wall of Tears,” (Muro de las lágrimas) a large wall constructed from lava rocks. I rented a bike for $10 for the day, brought food with me and had a great 4 hours looking around the area.

It is best to bike all the way out to the wall and then stop at all the other lookouts on the way back.

el estero that goes through the mangrove

Even the iguanas know how to stay on the right side of the road.

At Poza escondida. This finch loved my bike tire.

Túnel del estero. Formed when lava flows cooled on the outside to make a tube. The inside lava continued to flow out.

After that I went to pearl concha, where many go to snorkel.

Then a rest at the pink iguana.

Isabela Island is the main focus of conservation efforts in the Galapagos. Programs are in place to protect the endemic species and restore habitats that have been affected by invasive species and human activity.

Goats were one of the most destructive invasive species. They degraded the habitat by overgrazing, which led to soil erosion and the destruction of native vegetation. This impacted native tortoise populations. Donkeys also contributed to this problem.

Pigs, introduced by humans, preyed on the eggs and hatchlings of native reptiles, such as tortoises and iguanas.

Black rats and Norway rats were introduced accidentally by ships. They prey on eggs and hatchlings of birds and reptiles.

Feral cats have been a significant predator of native wildlife, including birds, iguanas, and young tortoises. Their hunting behavior has caused declines in many native species. Dogs likewise are a problem.

An invasive insects, such as the Philornis downsi fly affected birds. The larvae of this fly parasitize the nestlings of many bird species, causing high mortality rates.

Blackberry and guava plants outcompete the native species and grow too thick.

The aggressive eradication of most of these allowed the tortoise population to increase.

Last day in Santa Cruz and the highlands

In the morning I went back to Tortuga Bay. It is a lovely 3.5 km walk to get to the sheltered bay. I had a group tour in the afternoon so this was a perfect start to the day.

Brunch was at a restaurant I had been wanting to go to. They also had brujo, known as scorpion fish which I had to try. It was delicious and I saved half for breakfast the next day. I will be leaving on the 7 am ferry to go to Isabela.

El Chato Tortoise Reserve

Most of the island is a protected reserve. In some areas there are farms but a lot of the land is used by tortoises to roam freely. They spend their time grazing and when it is time to lay eggs, they head to the lowlands and the sand.

This little duck had been swimming around and wanted to just sleep. He was annoyed but did after I took his picture.

Water is used for temperature regulation.

Twin Craters (Los Gemelos)

The Gemelos (the twins) Craters are in the center in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. They are a pair of large sinkholes formed by collapsed magma chambers. The vegetation in the area are Scalesia forest that contain plant species found only in the galapagos. It is a reminder that these islands were formed from past volcanic activity.

Galapagos dove with the characteristic blue eyes compared to other dove species.

Mocking bird which originally intrigued Darwin on his visit to a different island.

Lava tubes

The lava tunnels are underground tubes formed by flowing lava during volcanic eruptions. They form when the surface of a lava flow cools and hardens but the molten lava beneath still flows away. The result is a hollow tunnel. This tunnel goes for kilometers but sections have collapsed. This section is still accessible.

Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago. It is around 1.5 million years old. It is one of the younger islands in the Galapagos.

The island was named Santa Cruz, meaning “Holy Cross”. It was also called Indefatigable by the British after HMS Indefatigable. The Galapagos Islands were used by whalers and buccaneers as a base for their operations. There are many islands in the archipelago. Darwin did not visit Santa Cruz.

The Charles Darwin Research Station was Founded in 1959, after petitions internationally we’re Made to preserve the islands. Many changes had occurred and due to human activity and invasive species, native species were endangered. Now 97% of the entire Galapagos is for preservation and research. People live on only 3%. Tours can access several areas on a limited basis. Conservation remains a priority to protect its unique flora and fauna.

Sea lion living it’s best life on the
San Cristobal pier

Getting from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz was easy with an approximate 2 hour ferry.

Tortuga Bay

This was an easy 35 minute walk from the center of town through the park. Many lizards and birds hop on and off the path.

The bay is used for surfers and it’s too rough for swimming, but if you walk to the other end of the beach, the path curves towards a sheltered bay.

The marine iguanas can be seen here. They only go in the water when they want to feed on the algae on the rocks. Their noses are blunt for this purpose and their claws and limbs are adapted for this purpose. This is the only marine iguana in the world. When they sneeze on land, they are sneezing out the excess salt from their dive!

Here you can snorkel, swim, or rent a kayak. Lots of wildlife can be seen from the kayak.

The Darwin research station

Outside the research station is a little building where you can purchase a tour with a naturalist. It gives you more access to the station. While you wait there is an artist area across the street that leads to the Bay.

At the station I saw the turtle breeding program area. They breed and monitor the eggs then when they hatch, they keep them for 5 years before releasing into the wild. They mimic the requirements needed for that time. By controlling egg incubation temperatures, they can ensure enough males and females.

At the information center we saw lonesome George, the last of his specific breed of tortoise. Many of the rest of his species had been smuggled out of the Galapagos and despite reward offerings to give one up for a mating partner, no one responded. When he died, they had him taxidermied.

After walking around a little longer, I went to the Bay at the research station.

A friend from school had just arrived at the island. We walked around at the gift shops and looked for sharks at the pier.

I love how they put orange cones around for people to maintain distance.
This is a little sea lion pup.

A long day walking and more for tomorrow….

Bird tour, San Cristobal

I booked a tour to go look for the red footed boobies which can only be seen on two islands in the Galapagos. San Cristobal is one of them. It was an amazing day.

Dolphins

As we made our way to kicker rock, we spotted a pod of dolphins which swam and frolicked with our boat.

Kicker rock or sleepy lion (Leo dormido)

This is actually a formation that is part of San Cristobal and not a separate island.

Sea lion pup resting out of the water. Because of his light color, he has been out of the water for 5 hours.

Nasco boobie to the left and Blue footed boobie is on the right.

Frigate bird. They try to steal food from the boobies. The boobies are expert divers and the frigates are not. They will also try to get little sea iguanas.

Snorkeling

For the record, I did not snorkel. I had cataract surgery a few weeks ago and being in water is not allowed for 3 months. Though I did still brinh my own snorkel and mask, it is not worth the risk. I did bring my 360 camera which the naturalist took for me. For this time of year, the water was actually pretty clear and many of the must-see animals put on a show.

Punta Pitt

This is a part of San Cristobal island that you cannot get to any other way except by boat. Here you can find the red footed booby. It was a nice 2 km hike and beautiful as only so many tours can be here at a time.

Here are some interesting facts about the Nazca, Red-footed, and Blue-footed boobies:

Nazca Booby

These birds have a white body with black-tipped wings and tail with a distinctive black mask around their eyes. They feed on fish and squid caught by diving from significant heights. They have serious sibling rivalry, where usually only one chick survives. They nest on the ground in large colonies and have a courtship dance that includes bill clapping.

Red-footed Booby

They have two variations: White or brown body with brown being more common. They have bright red feet and a blue beak and face. They also feed on fish and squid in the same manner and fly fast. They nest in trees, unlike other boobies that nest on the ground. They only lay one egg. They have a courtship ritual of head shaking and giving sticks.

This juvenile red footed booby landed on our boat before we were at the beach.

Blue-footed Booby

They have bright blue feet that are part of their mating ritual. The brighter the blue shoes they are healthy and they attract more mates. They have a high stepping dance that shows off their feet. They have a brownish body and a pale blue beak. They catch sardines and anchovies by plunge-diving. They nest on the ground, and lay two or three eggs. They spread guano in a circle so the egg and the baby chicks blend in.

If you look carefully there is an egg just underneath and just in front of the wing.

Frigates

They nest in trees and are always near the boobies or circling over head to prey on the fledgling boobies.

We also saw a great blue heron.

The views of and around the island were gorgeous.

And of course the sea lions. They are so fun to watch. Expressive, curious, and playful.

San Cristobal, Galapagos

San Cristobal is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos Archipelago. All the islands in the Galapagos were formed by volcanic activity. It is one of the easternmost islands and the closest to Ecuador mainland. It is estimated to be between 2.4 to 4 million years old.

The Galapagos Islands were discovered in 1535 by the Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomás de Berlanga. San Cristobal was named after St. Christopher, the patron saint of seafarers.

It was the first of the islands to be inhabited and served as a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government in the 1900s. Charles Darwin visited in 1835.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, San Cristobal had sugar and coffee plantations as well as fishing. Now it is the capital of the Galapagos Province.

As a tourist destination, there are strict conservation regulations to preserve its ecosystems and wildlife. When you arrive at the airport in Quito (or Guayaquil), a special visa and scanning of luggage is needed as well.

La Lobería

The name for the beach means “Place of the sea wolfs”. Lobería is shortened from lobos mariños which is what the sea lions are called in Spanish. The beach is 3 km from the town and is a nice walk there and back .

Along the shore of the port is the malecón. The walkway is beautiful with restaurants and shops.

A protest was happening as I was looking for a spot for dinner. Here in Ecuador, the protests are led by a police car as it is their right to protest peacefully.

And of course, there are more sea lions. Dinner if the sea lions have moved to other parts of the island including the port.

The fish I ate was amazing and freshly caught. It was delicious. Tomorrow is bird watching…

Relaxation in Baños de Agua Santa

The active volcano Tungurahua is near Baños and the city is situated between the Andes and the Amazon. The last major eruption was in 2006 and the healing power of the many waters here balances the destructive power from eruptiond.

There are images of goblins, gnomes, and elves throughout the city. They are mythical creatures and are considered the first protectors of the Earth.

Banos de Agua Santa is named because of the natural mineral thermal springs in the area. As in other areas, they are believed to be possess healing properties and I for one enjoy soaking in warm baths.

Today is a day for enjoying nature, relaxing, and a little pampering.

Casa de árbol

The casa de árbol is a great mirador (lookout) to view the volcano Tungurahua as well as the city. This morning was very foggy as there was much rain the night before. Giant swings, a small Zipline, and beautiful gardens are a rain to spend time here.

Pasarela diamante

This skywalk is the first glass skywalk in Latin America. It is over 1000 meters above the city of Baños.

Climbing up above the observation deck gives another interesting view.

Mano de Pachamama

The hands of Pachamama is another impressive viewpoint in Baños. This artistic work of art resembles hands emerging from nature and the heart in the middle of it all. Pachamama means mother earth and is the giver and protector of nature.

Two glass observation decks, each with a hand extending from the earth, are joined in the middle
by a connection, the heart

Afterwards, we ate at cafe de cielo (café in the sky). I ordered cevichochos which is a ceviche with chocho (lupine beans). It is the best tasting ceviche broth I have had here in Ecuador. Also, chochos are now my favorite bean to eat. Double the protein of most other beans and as much calcium as a glass of milk. I also had cheese empanadas.

We had about an hour and a half to walk around before our 6 hour spa appointment at Luna Volcan.

In the markets they are roasting Cuy, which is guinea pig. They are not pets here and are much larger.

Street performers were everywhere. This was acting as an object of art and invited contributions to the art.

This little dog, Princess, was in the apartment downstairs and would greet me through the fence. Not very friendly, but cute.

Luna Volcan is a spa high on the mountain overlooking Baños. There are package deals and the driver we hired was able to negotiate other packages.

For $122 each, we had a three hour pass to the pools and spa waters. Even though it was raining, it was great. Afterwards, we had a one hour relaxing massage followed by full body exfoliation with a chocolate scrub. The price also included dinner, with a choice of entree and either an appetizer or dessert.

A great way to spend the last night in Baños. The views are amazing here too. It is on the same property as cafe de cielo.

Road trip to Baños de Agua Santa

This weekend of the celebration of the battle of Pichincha that happened on May 24, 1822. It is the Latin American War of Independence. This battle, led by Antonio José de Sucre, allowed the South American rebels to defeat the Spanish royalists. They were able to take control of Quito the following day. The battle occurred on one of the slopes of the Pichincha volcano.

For the 3 day weekend, Susan and I drove to Baños which is about 3 hours south of Quito. On the way is a city called Ambato. We stopped to stretch our legs and look at the city from a high point. We visited the Parque Provincial de la Familia. It is a beautiful park with community sports areas, a farm, lagoons, and spaces to relax.

From there we headed to the Airbnb and found that the owner knew a guide for the waterfalls. We were also able to practice our Spanish. Ed

Agotan Waterfall

This waterfall (cascadas) is formed from the Pastaza river.

Rio Blanca Mega Adventure Park

Of course there are commercial enterprises including zip lining even in the superman position. They also have a glass suspension bridge to walk to the other side over the Pastaza river below. Since I have done this in China, I wanted to do it again here. They have a few glass panels that stimulate cracking of the glass with the actual sound effects. Much different from China where the sound came from above.

Cascada Manto de la Novia

The mantle of the bride waterfall is named for the whiteness of the water which resembles a wedding veil and dress. It flows into the Pastaza river. At this waterfall we took the Tarabita ride over the river and by the falls.

Cascada el Pailón del Diablo

This waterfall is named for the stair of the rocks under the waterfall. If you look closely, the rocks look like the devil’s face. There are two sides to see. One side has a small amount of hiking with a rickety wood bridge.

The other side of the devil’s waterfall is much more scenic and a longer walk. Getting to the waterfall is a long slope downwards with some steps as well and then a climb along the side of the waterfall. You can also duck into the caves and emerge right beside the waterfall.

Much of this longer walk is through the first which is a beautiful walk. This squirrel seemed unperturbed.

There are two sections of caves to get through. This is the entrance to the second cave. My knees did not like having to squat down so far to get through but the views were obviously worth it in the end.

Dinner at Mozafiato was very good. Pricey but a really nice meal with a corner on the third floor overlooking the nightlife below.