Have you seen Iguanas swim? Check out the marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands (video)

This video of a Galapagos marine iguana was taken at Isabela Island in January 2013 Click these links for or more info on tips for Galapagos  boat based tours or tips for Galapagos land based tours PLEASE SHARE!

Blue footed boobies (video)

These are Blue footed boobies on Genovesa Island, Galapagos Please share! Click links for more about the land based or boat based Galapagos tours

Swimming with Galapagos sea turtle (video)

In 2013 I swam with sea turtles nearly every day for 12 days. Click here for some related stories and tips for travel to the Galapagos

Bottlenose dolphins surround us at sunset in the Galapagos

Sipping on a couple beers and watching the sunset is how this all started…. It’s hard to tell but there were 1000 or more dolphins out there. Click on this for tips to sea based or land based tours in the Galapagos Like always, please share Thanks

Macoa, Colombia y Fin Del Mundo

I made a quick stopover in Macoa located in Amazonas Fin del Mundo This is a nice jungle hike without much information available.  Jump in a taxi (10000pesitos) or collectivo (2000pesitos) towards Villagarzon and tell the driver drop you at the trailhead.  The trail is obvious so I’ll cut it with the directions but will … Continue reading →

Check out our 7 most popular posts…

Photography,travel, BBQ, FARC, parks, biking, aurora borealis, boobies, and wine… After a year of posting I thought I would share the top 7 posts on the blog. I want to thank all of the growing supporters for the dialogue and comments. It’s been an eye opening experience in terms of writing but more about communicating … Continue reading →

Places to stay in Mindo, Ecuador

There are a variety of accommodations in Mindo, Ecuador spanning all budgets. I will say the best in town option is El Descanso (currently 18usd w/ breakfast). Rodney, is a superb host and he keeps a clean house. The rooms are rustic, clean, and the water is hot.  The building is quite nice and he … Continue reading →

Galápagos Islands: Santiago Island (Egas Port) on the northern cruise itinerary

A northern itinerary in the Galápagos Islands may take you to Santiago Island. The main attraction on Santiago Island are the dense numbers of fur sea lions vs. Galápagos sea lions (see the short post on the difference between fur sea lions and Galápagos sea lions here). The area around Egas Port was owned by … Continue reading →

Ecuador: Tasting that hand made chocolate and more

You have seen how they make chocolate by hand but now what’s it taste like… In the little cup is pure cacao in liquid form. We tried just a touch of the pure, bitter soon to be dessert. Next we spooned up a small portion and add some granulated sugar which was mixed in mouth.The … Continue reading →

Ecuador: How to make chocolate from seed to bar by hand

High in the clouds forest below Quito there is a place where chocolate is still made by hand (almost). Here the chocolate is a pure form that pre-dates Rudlophe Lindt’s addition of cacao butter to Henri Nestlé and Daniel Peter’s milk chocolate drink to make bars. In this photo you see an empty pod, bowl … Continue reading →

Ecuador: Las Cajas National Park high in the Andes Mountains

Cajas National Park located high in the Andes above Cuenca, Ecuador is an excellent, well organized park worthy of several day treks or even a week long backpacking journey.  The trails are well marked and you receive a free (fairly navigable) map. The park is well above tree line (~3900m/12,800 ft) so with a compass … Continue reading →

Introducing: Birdwatching the highlands and the lowlands of Ecuador

Complete birding tour of Ecuador With your guide, Sandra, you are going to experience some excellent birding. Sandra knows her birds as well as their habitats. She has an incredible sense for the timing of their appearance and patiently waits. Here she is calling in the ochre-breasted antpitta aka “Shakira” for her incredible shaking moves. … Continue reading →

Galápagos Islands: Travel to Genovesa Island (Tower Island), the land of boobies

A cruise that visits Genovesa Island in the Galápagos Islands is one worth considering. Genovesa Island is home to all three species of boobies found in the Galápagos Islands. Breeding times are the best time to go if you want to see courtship displays, nesting , and/or young, recently hatched birds. To see the the … Continue reading →

Checklist for travel to the Galápagos Islands

Whether you are planning a land based tour of the Galápagos Islands or a cruise of the Galápagos Islands, here is a checklist to consider before you go to the Galápagos Islands. See my tips for land based tours or cruise based tours in the Galápagos Islands. 1. Sun protection: A no brainer, I know, but … Continue reading →

Galápagos Islands: Six tips for boat based tours and cruises

With little doubt your trip to the Galápagos Islands is a dream vacation.  You may have been saving money to do it or just waiting for the right time. Either way here are six different things to consider before you go take a cruise in the Galápagos Islands. 1. Reputable boat: Look into the history … Continue reading →

Galápagos Islands: Walking amongst giants with the Galápagos land tortoise

The giant Galápagos tortoise is the largest of it’s kind, can reach up to 880 lbs/ 400kg, and reach speeds of 0.3 kmh /0.2 mph. They should not be confused with sea turtles…two completely distinct species! Charles Darwin liked to ride tortoises and noted their delicious meat  (from Voyage of the Beagle). Though riding and eating … Continue reading →

Galápagos Islands: Seven tips for land based tours and travel

Land based travel in the Galápagos Islands is common and less expensive than Galápagos Islands cruises. You don’t have to do a cruise (but you should) in the Galápagos Islands. It is easy to set up daily land based tours on your  own in the from Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island and/or San Cristobal and … Continue reading →

Ecuador:Bird watching in Mindo

Birding in Mindo is excellent.  No. That’s a huge understatement, it’s unbelievable, it’s overwhelming. There are about 1,700 documented bird species in Ecuador alone. Birding Mindo, Ecuador is some of the best in the world. North American birder, ask your guide how many birds they have seen just in northern Ecuador.  One my guides, Angel, … Continue reading →

Swimming with sea lions

  Warning: Do not swim with marine mammals!  Though seals, otters, polar bears, and sea lions are cute and cuddly, you don’t just jump in the water and swim with them, that is, until you travel the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Sea lions are the only marine mammal other than whales you are likely to find … Continue reading →

“Excuse me, madame, I believe that’s the men’s room”. A close encounter of the sea lion kind.

An encounter with a sea lion at the men’s room on a day trip to San Cristobal Island, Galápagos Islands. Our guide said to go use the bathroom and be back in 5 minutes.  Most of us had no experience with sea lion encounters in the men’s room.  What to do?  None of us could imagine … Continue reading →