Ecuador & Galapagos Blog – The perfect travel guide

Ecuador Snorkeling Sites - Why you cannot miss exploring Ecuador marine life Snorkeling is one of the most accessible water sports when traveling anywhere in the world. The equipment is cheap, certainly cheaper that diving, and anybody with decent swimming skills can do it.  Any snorkeling aficionado can tell you that Ecuador snorkeling spots are ideal due to the geographic location. Surrounded by the Andean Ecosystem (Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south) and bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador has a must-see marine ecosystem for every snorkeling lover. Here's short account of the best Ecuador snorkeling spots. A short list specially thought for snorkeling aficionados, we shall leave Scuba-diving for another article.   *  The Galapagos Islands Marine Reserve, of course! Certainly the most bio diverse spot in Ecuador is the area where the warm Panama Current meets the colder Humbolt and Cromwell currents. In this coalition of currents lies a unique and extremely diverse ecological system filled with fascinating marine life. This area known as the Galapagos Marine Reserve has 133 000 square kilometer of pure life and magic.  Though the Galapagos Islands do not have a coral reef like the rest of the famous snorkeling locations in the South Pacific, it houses a large variety of wildlife and a good visibility for snorkeling. Manta rays, white-tipped sharks, eagle rays, sea-turtles, sea-lions, you name it, the Galapagos has it all, a colorful life-filled ecosystem of easy access. This is what makes it so special for snorkeling; you don’t need to go that deep to observe wildlife. Here´s a list of the best spots for snorkelling in Galapagos: 1.  The ever so beautiful Bartolomé Island near Santa Cruz Bartolomé Island is probably one of the most recognized sites in Galapagos. Pinacle Rock prOivdes one

Ecuador train crucero Train Ecuador crossing Chimborazo Ecuador Train Crucero won the Wider World Project or better tourism product outside Europe, this award was given by the British Guild of Travel Writers. The Ecuador train was started by president Gabriel Garcia Moreno in 1873 and was restored by president Rafael Correa in 2008 who named the railroad a "National Cultural Patrimony". Some of the routes are from Quito - Cotopaxi National Park to Latacunga, Alausi to Saimbambe (Devil's Nose / Nariz del Diablo), El Tambo to Baños del Inca, Duran to Yaguachi and Ibarra to Salinas. History Train Ecuador construction in 1873 Railroad started a service 41 kilometers of track from Yaguachi to Miracle on the coast. In 1895, with the triumph of the Liberal Revolution, the railroad work was taken over by General Eloy Alfaro Delgado. In 1897, the company "Guayaquil and Quito Railway" was established and began the construction of the Southern Railroad. 'The Devil's Nose', a very challenging work of engineering, which led to it's designation as "The most difficult Railway in the World". In 1905  the train arrives for the first time at the train station of Chimbacalle. Train in the early 1920s Photo: Katharine Brainard - www.railroadinthesky.com 1975 marks the beginning of the decadence of the Railways caused by competition with road transport and lack of government interest. 1992 In an attempt to recover the Railroads, the government of Rodrigo Borja acquires electrodiesel locomotives, however without any success. During 1993 the stretch of the Chanchán river is destroyed by the climatic phenomenon 'El Niño'. On April 1, 2008, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) officially declares the Railway Network in Ecuador as property belonging to the Cultural Heritage of the State. Train Ecuador Duran 2013 Ecuador Train Routes and pictures Ecuador Train Routes: Machachi Festivo: Quito - Machachi - Quito Camino al