Monthly Archives: January 2019

Santa Cruz, Galápagos

Posted on January 18, 2019 by kcbernick

Tuesday morning, January 15, 2019 Santa Cruz is the second largest island, and sits in the center of the archipelago. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated town in the islands, with a population of about 18,000. We started … Continue reading →

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Floreana, Galápagos

Posted on January 17, 2019 by kcbernick

Monday, January 14, 2019 Our day started very early with a 6:30am walk with professional photographer, Walter Perez. We traveled to Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island, aboard a zodiac, then disembarked in shallow water – a “wet landing.” Early morning … Continue reading →

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Española, Galápagos Islands

Posted on January 16, 2019 by kcbernick

Sunday, January 13, 2019 The day started with a review of the rules of snorkeling – a good reminder since it’s been a few years since we’ve snorkeled. Then we were fitted with wet suits, flippers and masks. We had … Continue reading →

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San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos

Posted on January 15, 2019 by kcbernick

Saturday, January 12, 2019 We had to leave the hotel in Quito at 5:30 this morning to catch a flight to our next destination. We arrived here in the dark and we are leaving in the dark. When we reached … Continue reading →

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Last Day in Mashpi

Posted on January 14, 2019 by kcbernick

Friday, January 11, 2019 On this, our last day in Mashpi, we took a short hike where we observed a few more birds, butterflies, and even a millipede and an iguana. The iguana flexed his throat in agitation, he looked … Continue reading →

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Mashpi Dragonfly and Waterfalls

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kcbernick

Thursday afternoon, January 10, 2019 Mashpi Lodge has a an open-air cable car ride – The Dragonfly, which carries its passengers on a 45 minute ride over the forest canopy, at up to 650’ above the ground. The setup looks similar … Continue reading →

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Mashpi Cloud Forest

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kcbernick

Thursday morning, January 10, 2019 What’s a cloud forest? How does it differ from a rainforest? These were questions we had after coming to Mashpi. The area feels and looks like some of the rainforests we’ve visited. The difference is … Continue reading →

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Quito to Mashpi: 70 miles in 3.5 Hours

Posted on January 10, 2019 by kcbernick

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 We left Quito at 9am to head to Mashpi Lodge. The lodge is only about 70 miles away as the crow flies, but it takes 3.5 – 4.5 hours to traverse the 135 miles of winding … Continue reading →

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Quito City Tour

Posted on January 9, 2019 by kcbernick

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 We enjoyed a tour of central Quito this morning. The day was a bit cloudy, with a drizzle that turned into a heavier rain by afternoon. This is the beginning of the rainy season for Ecuador, … Continue reading →

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Quito, a First World Heritage Site

Posted on January 8, 2019 by kcbernick

Monday, January 7 In 1978, Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, became one  of the first cities to be named a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Located about 15 miles south of the equator, with an elevation of 9,350’, … Continue reading →

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