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Galapagos & Ecuador 2012

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by: Erin Correia
An amazing adventure in Ecuador! A whirlwind tour with my sister that included the Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Cotopaxi Volcano, Quito and Otavalo in just 13 days!!

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Galapagos & Ecuador 2012

Want to go? Millennium: Eastern Islands

I went to: Ecuador, Quito, Mansion del Angel, Galapagos, San Cristobal, Leon Dormido, Espanola, Punta Suarez, Floreana, Post Office Bay, Santa Cruz Island, Charles Darwin Center, Guayaquil, Hotel Oro Verde, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Hotel Eugenia
Posing for the cameraExit row!! We're off to Ecuador!Our beautiful room at Mansion del AngelEnjoying the amenities at Mansion del AngelQuite the key!Breakfast in the Atrium at Mansion del AngelOff to the airport with DanielA view of Quito from aboveWe've arrived!! Our chariot awaits!Heading to the shipOur private balcony on the MillenniumEnjoying the view of San CristobalFrigate birds join usMy first Galapagos sea lion!!!The sea lions want to play!Our first blue footed booby sightingBaby sea lions everywhere!We watched a pelican fishingThe locals!San CristobalSan CristobalOur guide and RosA tiny baby!Blue footed boobyBlue footed boobyMarine iguanaSan CristobalSan CristobalSea lion skullThe boobies were nestingNap time while the baby nursesSnorkeling at San CristobalSnorkeling at San CristobalSnorkeling with sea lions!Baby sea lions!Snorkeling at San CristobalSnorkeling at San CristobalSnorkeling at San Cristobalchecking out the camerasunset on the islandThis is where we are supposed to snorkel later!Frigate birds courtingGetting ready to landPunta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalNesting Red footed boobiesHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalHiking at Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalSnorkeling near Punta Pitt, San CristobalGearing up for our hikeHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalOne hour in, first sighting- tortoise skeletonHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalHiking in search of giant tortoises at La Galapaguera on San CristobalA giant lagoon with hundreds of giant tortoises- La Galapaguera, San CristobalA refreshing dip after an intense hikeA beautiful evening at La GalapagueraLa Galapaguera, San CristobalEnjoying the evening on the MillenniumPanga ride to 'the cathedral'Inside 'the cathedral'Inside 'the cathedral'Inside 'the cathedral'Inside 'the cathedral'Inside 'the cathedral'Enjoying our panga tourTunnel of LoveTunnel of LoveTunnel of LoveTunnel of LoveTunnel of LoveTunnel of LoveBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo. San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands.Beach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalProtecting my terrible sun burn from our hike the day beforeBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalSally Lightfoot CrabHiding in the rocksSally Lightfoot CrabBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalSally Lightfoot CrabBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalThe trifecta!! Sally Lightfoot Crab, Marine Iguana and Sea Lion!Leon DormidoMy first sea turtle!Where we are about to snorkel at kicker rock/leon dormidoSteadying our nerves to jump into the water with sharksSHARKS!!!! Black tipped reef sharks, to be exact!Looking up in the channelWith the sun blocked out, it looked murky and creepy...or maybe that was just because of the sharks!Snorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSnorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoMore sharks!Snorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoJellyfish!Snorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSnorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSnorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSnorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSnorkeling at Kicker Rock/Leon DormidoSan CristobalSan CristobalOur first landing at Espanola- Punta SuarezPunta Suarez, Espanola Punta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaMarine Iguanas, Punta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaBlue footed boobyBlue footed booby"His paint was fresh"Nazca/Masked BoobiesWaved albatross!Punta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaWaved albatrossPunta Suarez, EspanolaPunta Suarez, EspanolaIt reminded me of the Cliffs of Moher!Punta Suarez, EspanolaGalapagos HawkWaved Albatross protecting his eggLounge lizardsSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaThe sea lions liked to nibble on our flippers to get us to play with them!Chomp!Kissed from a sea lionOh...and there were fish too!Another sea lion kissNibbles!He kept carrying around a shell he foundSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaSnorkeling at EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaSea lion attack!Towel thiefEnjoying his new found toyGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, EspanolaGardner Bay, Espanola"Here little sea lion"...and closer...and closerMaking new friends...I swear I didn't approach it!Playing soccer with a sea lion and a coconutGardner Bay, EspanolaPicking up hitchhikersFlamingos at Punta Cormorant, FloreanaFlamingos at Punta Cormorant, FloreanaFlamingos at Punta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaTons of stingrays in the water!Punta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaPunta Cormorant, FloreanaBig scary male sea lion- we had to keep our eyes on him!Post Office Bay, FloreanaPost Office Bay, FloreanaPost Office Bay, FloreanaPost Office Bay, FloreanaChecking the mail, Galapagos styleLava tube caves near Punta Cormorant, FloreanaLava tube caves near Punta Cormorant, FloreanaLava tube caves near Punta Cormorant, FloreanaSting ray at Punta Cormorant, FloreanaPassengers vs the Crew soccer matchA night on the town in Puerto AyoraPuerto Ayora, Santa CruzThe boys goofing around in townPuerto Ayora, Santa CruzTree crabs!Hmmmm....Puerto Ayora, Santa CruzPuerto Ayora, Santa CruzThis one's for you, Dad!Tortoises? Yes please!Charles Darwin Center, Puerto Ayora, Santa CruzBaby tortoises- some were the size of ping pong balls!Lonesome George...less than a week before he passed awayPuerto Ayora, Santa CruzPuerto Ayora, Santa CruzCatching the ferry to BaltraOpen air airport at BaltraWalking out to the planeWelcome letter at the hotel in Guayaquil...fancy!We helped ourselves to the executive floor dessert bar several times a day!Amazing shower!!! (there were 3 more shower heads on the ceiling)Pool at Hotel Oro Verde in GuayaquilHotel Oro Verde in GuayaquilFree food and drinks in the Executive Floor lounge...we took full advantageView of Guayaquil from our top floor roomGuayaquilGuayaquilOff to Cerro Santa Ana in styleCerro Santa Ana, Guayaquil...only 444 steps to go!Not quite there yetWe made it!!!Cerro Santa Ana, GuayaquilCerro Santa Ana, GuayaquilA fun night on top of the townThe IGTOA crew at Cerro Santa AnaEven the moths are cool here!Ecua Andino Hat Factory (where JCrew gets their hats!)Ecua Andino Hat FactoryEcua Andino Hat FactoryCool art in the hotel lobbyAt the Malecon, Guayaquil - it was MUGGY!!Malecon, GuayaquilI'm not sure how they get any air in there....Parque de las iguanas, Guayaquil (we didn't make it in time to feed them :( )Sleeping in the treesA view of Cotopaxi Volcano from the airStreet art in QuitoChirimoyas- my favorite new fruit!Mmm...Bizcochos, hot chocolate and cheeseBeautiful hills north of Quito on our way to Otavalo MarketWe passed a First Communion celebrationOn our way to Otavalo...Ecuador reminds me WAY too much of Ireland, I never want to leave!El Panecillo in QuitoEl Panecillo in Quito, a view of the city at nightMmmm...cotton candy!!QuitoQuitoQuitoCotopaxi VolcanoDrinking coca tea to get ready for our hike at high elevation (after being a sea level yesterday....)Cotopaxi Volcano - that tiny yellow speck is where we will hike toView from the hike, Cotopaxi VolcanoYeah, it pretty much went straight upGetting closer as the clouds move in, Cotopaxi Volcano...then the thunder - hail storm started...and we made it! Phew!Many of the Ecuadorians had never seen 'snow' before and were playing in itNot much of a view, but amazing to be in the middle of a thunder cloudThe clouds started to clear out a littleAndean wolf at Cotopaxi VolcanoAndean wolf at Cotopaxi VolcanoLake Limpiopungo, Cotopaxi National ParkLake Limpiopungo, Cotopaxi National ParkA view from the lakeThese flowers looked like tiny dragon heads!Andean rabbit at Lake Limpiopungo, Cotopaxi National ParkLake Limpiopungo, Cotopaxi National ParkCake, please!Cotopaxi Volcano after the clouds clearedA view from Pinchicha in QuitoA view from Pinchicha in QuitoA view from Pinchicha in QuitoSky tram in QuitoA view from Pinchicha in QuitoRiding the sky tram in QuitoGothic cathedral, Quito- the gargoyles are all local animals like llamas!!Gothic Cathedral in QuitoGothic Cathedral in QuitoGothic Cathedral in QuitoEcuador's White HouseEcuador's White HouseCentral square outside the whitehouseA view of El Panecillo, QuitoMonkey Puzzle Trees! We had these in Ireland too!Adventure Life office in QuitoLearning to make ceviche with BettyLook, even Giovanna can make it!The best meal we've had our whole trip!My Ecuadorian family!A view from Betty's housePululahua Volcano...or just a cloud?Middle of the World- learning about time at the EquatorStanding in both hemispheres!!!Middle of the World monumentStay out of my hemisphere!Learning more about time at the EquatorLearning more about time at the EquatorThe natural phenomena at the Equator were amazing!Not so tough when you're on the equator!Trying to balance an egg on a nail......still trying....Success!!! I got a certificate for being an Egg Master!Trying...we won't embarrass her with the failure photo...The trip turned me into a giant tortoise...All packed up and ready to head home

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