galapagos planning

My friend Janice is visiting from Canada and we are planning our trip to Ecuador in February. The first thing that strikes me is that cruises for 8 days around Galapagos are pretty spendy - about $1,800 for the cheaper ones (!). Still it's a once-in-a-lifetime and we are going for it with gusto and enthusiasm! Giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies here we come!

The current plan is to stay a couple of days in Quito first - World Heritage City - then fly to the Galapagos islands, do our cruise then spend another week exploring Santa Cruz island, staying at a local guest house.

Janice and I are both divers and although the idea of a school of hammerhead sharks seems mildly terrifying to me, other diver bloggers assure us that they are mostly harmless and really amazing to see underwater.

Oh and the water is cold. Really cold - like 2 wetsuits, hoodie and gloves for Julia and better have a hot cup of tea waiting for me afterwards cold. I have steeled myself to go at least once though and experience what they say is the world's primo dive area.

Wish me luck.

Then there is the Amazon rainforest! We are checking out ways to visit although it seems we will have to take a tour to really get into the indigenous areas. These tours involve canoeing in dug-outs. Wonder if they bring cushions? My butt is a bit skinny nowadays.

After that we will head back to the Andes and explore the mountain heritage towns along the crest of the country. If anyone has great suggestions and has been before please shoot me a line...places to stay, attractions not to be missed etc.

I am excited to be going and to be writing as I go.... let the games begin!