We explored a lot of Lima in the seven days we were there. We also were able to take care of some logistical items needed for our travels. Before we left for South America, we looked into getting the yellow fever vaccine. We decided against it because the Bolivia border was closed at the time, and we did not need…
After three months in Ecuador, we packed up our belongings and headed to Peru. The flight from Guayaquil to Lima is under two hours. We flew on a Monday, and the airports were empty. We got through immigration in Peru in less than 5 minutes. At the time we traveled, we did not need COVID tests. Peru required either a…
We chose to stay in Galapagos for one month because the cost of an Airbnb is the same price for two weeks or one month. The one-month discount on Airbnb can be significant. Island living is not easy for us. The food is expensive, and the grocery options are limited. We paid $19.95 for a large JIF peanut butter. You…
In the last part of our 10-day tour, we spent three days on Isabella Island. Isabella is the largest island in the Galapagos. It is a young island made up of 6 volcanoes. Wolf volcano, in the north part of the island, recently erupted. We woke up in Santa Cruz at 5:30 am to be at the dock by 6:30…
Our 4-day cruise ended in San Cristobal. We disembarked at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the morning. We had the entire day to explore the town on our own. There are a lot of restaurants and souvenir shops. In the afternoon, we went to the Interpretation Center to hike. The center has information about the Galápagos Islands and preservation initiatives. Behind…
We booked an Airbnb in Santa Cruz for one month because it cost the same as booking two weeks. We didn’t plan to spend the whole month in Santa Cruz. There are 12 other islands. We spent one of our first days visiting tour shops looking for the best way to see other islands. We booked a four-day cruise with…
It was bittersweet saying goodbye to our new friends and San Jose. That month on the beach was like summer camp. Amazingly, we bonded with all the families that attended for the month. We will be looking to recreate that dynamic again during our travels. Our friend Johny helped coordinate a bus to Guayaquil for four families. We enjoyed hanging…
While we spent a lot of time at our hosteria in San Jose playing on the beach, surfing and learning Spanish, we did get out and have some amazing adventures. The most memorable activity was parapenting. Parapenting is a cross between hang-gliding and parachuting. We all got the opportunity to fly like birds. Pablo at Parapenting Adventure and his crew…
Our month on the beach in San Jose, Ecuador with ten other families was one of the best times we have had traveling. It was not what we expected, but it was magical. We booked the trip through a company that over-promised, under-delivered. Luckily, the groups of families attending the meetup are amazing. All the families stepped up to create a…
We don’t actually know how to survive a tsunami, but we were at a restaurant in Olón when the Tsunami siren went off. We did. Not understand what was being said, except the word ‘tsunami’. We asked our waiter, and he said the announcement said to clear the beach and the town and head to higher ground. The restaurant closed…