Island Hopping in the Galapagos
San Cristobal and Isabela Island
The thing with traveling is that you never really know just what's going to happen! Guayaquil is the most populated coastal city of Ecuador, where the weather is always hot, humid, and sunny. Guayaquil has lots of sights to offer, including the Iguana Park (also known as Parque Seminario,) which was built in 1868 and has a monument of Simon Bolivar. Quick history lesson: Simon Bolivar is considered one of the great Latin American heroes because he helped establish Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela as independent of Spanish rule. Another attraction in Guayaquil is the pedestrian bridge over to Isla Santay. You can ride some rental bikes ($4) over the bridge, which is lots of fun and a nice way to keep active on our trip! Isla Santay is actually an eco-village, where over 50 families live off the land and keep a sustainable lifestyle. If you don't want to walk or bike along the bridge, you can also take a boat ride up the river.
Now, Guayaquil is not the safest city in Ecuador, so keep your wits about you and keep your belongings on you at all times! Of course, many of the people here are super friendly, and it's really worth a visit. For adventure seekers, check out the adventure park, where you can do paddle boarding and jump from a rope swing! Whatever you decide to do in Guayaquil, be sure to fuel up with a local snack - patacones. They are fried plantains drizzled with salt and farmer's cheese and they're delicious!
You can also take a trip to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos is actually made up of about two dozen islands, with San Cristobal being the first island Charles Darwin visited during his journey! Lots of natural flora and fauna awaits you on this island...blue-and-red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, giant tortoises, and plenty of sea lions, some of whom might just try to photo-bomb you!
If you want to see as much as possible, opt for a highland tour to Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, a tortoise reserve. There, you can learn more about the giant tortoises and how they're being protected on the island. You could also visit Puerto Chino Beach, where there are great photo ops. The water is inviting and pretty, and there is plenty of beach for taking a nice relaxing stroll or hike. One of the coolest spots is Laguna El Junco, the volcano lake. It holds 9 million gallons of water and was once an active volcano! Don't worry; it's extinct now, but it's still really cool to hike up there and see the massive structure.
For a good lunch on San Cristobal, visit the Hummingbird Restaurant, which has a $5 lunch special. The meals consists of soup, fish, rice, and vegetables. Yum! It will certainly give you energy you need to continue with your adventures around San Cristobal! Next up on the recommendation list is Punta Carola Beach. Some great surfing awaits you gnarly people out on the point by the lighthouse. If you're game, try snorkeling over a rock reef, where you can see lots of tropical fish and big turtles.
Another awesome place for diving is Kicker Rock. You can take the Galapagos Blue Evolution boat trip to Kicker Rock to do some open-water diving.. They offer different services, depending on what you want to do during your stay! When it is time to stop for lunch, check out Manglecito Beach. It's a popular destination for families because of the white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and friendly animal and bird species.
Another great spot in the Galapagos is Isabela Island. A prime spot to stay is at The Iguana Crossing. The views here are great, and you can even spot some penguins. Be aware that on Isabela Island there are NO ATMs. Bring enough money with you onto the island! Western Union will save the day, but try to just bring plenty of cash to begin with!
A nice adventure on Isabela Island is going mountain biking. It's a nice way to stay active and to get more views of the island. You'll find big lizards and giant tortoises and so many other wild creatures. The funniest creatures are probably the Blue-Footed Boobies!
Isabella Island also offers great snorkeling. Huge turtles swim right past you, and you can also see sharks, sea horses, rays, and penguins. You can also snap some great shots of the buildings and people on Isabella Island, and this will really show off the relaxation and breezy ambiance of this place!
On a more somber note, a visit to the Wall of Tears could be another activity to do. It was built during the late 1940's and early 1950's during the Presidency of Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra. The Wall was constructed by exiled prisoners on the island, many of whom died during the hard labor. It's a historical site shrouded in solemnity.