Central and South America Highlights Reel
Things to know immediately before leaving to Galapagos (Ecuador operates on the US Dollar)
These estimates are from traveling to Galapagos alone. Please note that Galapagos accommodations are only private rooms. So you can travel with a someone and split accommodations to make things even cheaper for each of you.
Round trip plane from Quito, Ecuador – $400
As mentioned above You’ll need to pay $100 (cash only) to enter – $100
(550ml) bottle of limón tea at the airport waiting for the bus – $2
Upon arrival, you will want to take the public bus to the canal. After you cross the canal on a ferry you have reached the hub for all taxis and buses and this is the cheapest way to get to your hostel on Santa Cruz in the Puerto Ayora region (which is the region every tourist goes to)
Bus to canal cost: free
Ferry to cross canal – $1
Bus to Puerto Ayora – $2
Internet speeds on my T-Mobile plan are 3g, not bad for an island in the middle of Central America (* I also experience 4g speeds around the food tables on Puerto Ayora.)
When you start your trip to the north of the Santa Cruz Island it resembles that of a dry arid desert. However, as you start to go south you’ll notice the air cooling and look out the window to find a lush jungle while you go through the highlands. Enjoy it, as it comes and goes as you head to the south tip of the island.
After I got situated in my hostel (The flightless Cormorant Hostel – $25/night) and got lunch I decided there was enough day left to go Tortuga beach, a mere 35-minute walk from my hostel. I did manage to see one juvenile giant turtle on the way however the beach is mostly inhabited by marine iguanas.
Ribs, French fries salad, water lunch – $12
Doritos, Gatorade, and Coke Cola – $6
12 eggs – $3
bag of lollipops – $3
queso pan – $0.65
gum for $1
accommodation -$25
Total: $155.65
Breakfast from hostel – $5
Went to Tortuga bay to go snorkeling (poor visibility)
Went to Darwin center
Accommodation – $25
Liter of Powerade – $1.75
Awful Hamburger with French fries – $5
large smoothie – $3 (splurge)
Purchased large coke for – $2.50
Bottle of water for – $1
Natural limeade – $3
Pizza – $10
Total: $55.25
Walked around town
Hotel breakfast – $5
Accommodation – $20
Large bottle of water – $1.75
Lunch leftover pizza from yesterday – $0
6 Eggs(purchased yesterday) for dinner – $0
Total: $26.75
Hotel breakfast – $5
Accommodation – $20
2 bottles of water and Powerade juice box – $2.50
Boat ride to Isabella – $30
Entrance fee – $20
Lunch (Rice with Chicken) – $8
Smoothie – $3
Fresh Juice – $3
Dinner (soup, teriyaki chicken, jello, juice) – $8
Coke – $3
Total: 102.50
Breakfast – $6
Tintoeros Tour – $45 (more about this below)
Lunch – $6
Dinner -$8
Accommodation – $20
Total: $85
Rented bike and went to Galapagos National Park and Wall of Tears
Bike rental – $20 (full day)
Breakfast – $8
Accommodation – $20
Water bottle – $1
Apple juice – $1
Big water – $2
Ice cream cone – $2
Lunch – $8
Dinner soup salad chicken with rice and jello dessert with juice – $8
Total: $70
Tunnels tour – $110 (more about this below)
Breakfast – $8
Accommodation – $20
Water – $2, Coke -$2
Lunch (free on tour)
Water – $2, Coke -$2
Dinner (soup, teriyaki beef with beans salad rice and fries) with dessert – $8
Agua bottle at dinner – $7
Total: $157
Agua bottle $2.50, Coke $2
Dinner (chicken breast), water and coke – $13
Bag of lollipops – $3
Accommodation – $20
Total: $40.50
Diving Galapagos
Beagle and Daphne Dive – $175
Sweet tomato juice – $1
Lunch free with dive – $0
Water and coke – $2
Dinner – $4.50
Accommodation – $20
Total: $202.50
Cafe – $3
Accommodation – $20
Seymour and Gordon Rocks Dive – $175
Lunch included with Dive
Water, coke- $2
Dinner – $5
Total: $205
Accumulated Total: $1,100.15
including flight expenses: $400
Grand Total $1,500.15 keep in mind this is including 2 days of diving with the most highly rated Scuba company (scuba iguana) at some of the best places in Central America. As well as 2 of the best tours on Isabela Island.
Taxi to bus terminal – $1.50
Bus to ferry terminal – $2
Ferry to Isla Baltra airport island – $2
Bus from Ferry to airport: – $0
Total: $5.50
Now if you want to make the experience truly worthwhile there are tours that I hope you will agree are financially justifiable given the rare opportunity.
Highly rated on Tripadvisor, you will see blue-footed boobies, snorkel with white tip sharks and sea turtles.
Snorkeling with turtles and sleeping sharks in caves. We saw a Seahorse, penguins, boobies and much more.
However, there are many amazing things to do that are 100% free.
Activities for $20
Kayaking around Tortuga bay
Bike riding to the crater
Renting a bike to visit the Wall of tears.
Kayaking/ Paddle Boarding
Snorkeling
Santa Cruz Tables
El Velero Galapagos located at the end of the food tables area (closer to pier) $5 dollar meal below
Isabela lunch specials
Many places can be found where the advertise soup, salad, rice, beans, chicken and dessert with Juice for $8
Photo Album
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This time the park will close on January 28 and remain closed for one month until the end of February. Tayrona will reopen on March 1. As before, not even employees of the park will be allowed access to Tayrona during the month in question; only members of these Indigenous groups, of whom several families live permanently within the park
This time the park will close on January 28 and remain closed for one month until the end of February. Tayrona will reopen on March 1. As before, not even employees of the park will be allowed access to Tayrona during the month in question; only members of these Indigenous groups, of whom several families live permanently within the park
Rincon (Spanish, “angle” or “corner”) is a surf spot located at the Ventura and Santa Barbara County line in Southern California, USA. Also known as the “Queen of the Coast”, Rincon is one of the most famous surf spots in California, known around the world for its well-formed waves and long rides.[1] The book 100 Best Surf Spots in the World rates Rincon at 24.[2] It is best at low tide during the winter months when swells are coming mostly from the west and northwest. There is a gated residential community that occupies most of the Rincon beachfront. However, public access is provided at parking lots on both sides of the gated community, with restrooms and a picnic area in the upper parking lot, Rincon Beach Park.[3]
Rincon Point is home to the Rincon Classic[4] surf championship scheduled for January each year. The championship draws local surf greats and spectators to the beach every year. Though scheduled for January, the event is often delayed until surf conditions merit a contest. The Rincon Classic is open to area residents only.
Rincon is referenced in The Beach Boys classic song from 1962, Surfin’ Safari:
At Huntington and Malibu
They’re shooting the pier
At Rincon they’re walking the nose
We’re going on safari to the islands this year
So if you’re coming get ready to go
– source