Ecuador (March 2009)
I jointed a tour of Ecuador sponsored by a zoological society. Actual organization of the tour was done by Classic Escapes. This was my fourth such trip (previously Peru, Tanzania, and Borneo), and the tour was exceptional as usual. There were eight of us on the tour, including a zoo director who acted as the escort for the tour.
Day 1:
Since I wanted to spend a day at the Quito Botanical Garden, I left for Quito one day in advance of the rest of the group. I flew from San Jose to Quito via Dallas and Miami, arriving at Quito late at night. Classic Escapes had arranged for me to be picked up at the airport and be taken to Hotel Patio Andaluz, the hotel where the rest of the group would be checking in the following night. The hotel was in the Old Town, the historic district of Quito, and it was a beautiful boutique hotel. We would use the hotel as our home base for touring the mainland Ecuador.
Day 2:
A nice young lady at the hotel front desk gave me a discount ticket to the Botanical Garden when I asked her to call a taxi to go to the Botanical Garden! Although the entrance fee wasn't expensive, that was a great gesture. I think it took 15 minutes or so to reach the Quito Botanical Garden located in the newer part of the city.
Although Quito is located near the equator, its climate is very mild because of its high elevation - about 2,800 m or 9,200 ft. Thus, a wide variety of plants were thriving at the garden. My favorites were the fuchsia garden, protea garden, and burgmansea garden. Here is a photo of Leucospermum catherinae from the protea garden:
The crown jewel of the Botanical Garden is the Orchid House that showcases orchids that are native to Ecuador such as Maxillaria ecuadoriensis:
Day 1:
Since I wanted to spend a day at the Quito Botanical Garden, I left for Quito one day in advance of the rest of the group. I flew from San Jose to Quito via Dallas and Miami, arriving at Quito late at night. Classic Escapes had arranged for me to be picked up at the airport and be taken to Hotel Patio Andaluz, the hotel where the rest of the group would be checking in the following night. The hotel was in the Old Town, the historic district of Quito, and it was a beautiful boutique hotel. We would use the hotel as our home base for touring the mainland Ecuador.
Day 2:
A nice young lady at the hotel front desk gave me a discount ticket to the Botanical Garden when I asked her to call a taxi to go to the Botanical Garden! Although the entrance fee wasn't expensive, that was a great gesture. I think it took 15 minutes or so to reach the Quito Botanical Garden located in the newer part of the city.
Although Quito is located near the equator, its climate is very mild because of its high elevation - about 2,800 m or 9,200 ft. Thus, a wide variety of plants were thriving at the garden. My favorites were the fuchsia garden, protea garden, and burgmansea garden. Here is a photo of Leucospermum catherinae from the protea garden:
The crown jewel of the Botanical Garden is the Orchid House that showcases orchids that are native to Ecuador such as Maxillaria ecuadoriensis:
After touring the entire garden - some parts twice, I returned to Old Town and had nice lunch at one of the restaurants near Plaza Grande, which was very close to the hotel. Seafood ceviche with plantains and pop corn was excellent. Unlike the ceviche I've had in Peru, seafood pieces were swimming in a lot of liquid.
After lunch I went up to a hill where the Statue of the Virgin of Quito stands.
After I enjoyed the view of the city from the hilltop, I returned to the Plaza Grande area and explored the Old Town. Late at night, the rest of the group arrived.
Day 3:
After breakfast a local guide and a driver picked us up, and we first visited the Basilica, which is by far the most prominent structure in Old Quito. Stained-glass windows were impressive as well as the decorative elements on the exterior walls. We then we went to a lookout point with great views of Quito.
We then returned to the Plaza Grande area and visited a number of buildings such as the Presidential Palace, the Archibishop's Palace, and Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus. The gilded interior of Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus was most impressive, but photography was prohibited. The last place we visited was the Monastery of San Francisco with a beautiful courtyard.
We then had lunch in one of the restaurants near the Plaza Grande, and the rest of the afternoon was "free time" until the welcome dinner in the evening. Most of us spent the free time by visiting Telefarico Quito - a ropeway that transports visitors from 2,950 meters (8,850 feet) to 4,050 meters (12,150 feet).
After lunch I went up to a hill where the Statue of the Virgin of Quito stands.
After I enjoyed the view of the city from the hilltop, I returned to the Plaza Grande area and explored the Old Town. Late at night, the rest of the group arrived.
Day 3:
After breakfast a local guide and a driver picked us up, and we first visited the Basilica, which is by far the most prominent structure in Old Quito. Stained-glass windows were impressive as well as the decorative elements on the exterior walls. We then we went to a lookout point with great views of Quito.
We then returned to the Plaza Grande area and visited a number of buildings such as the Presidential Palace, the Archibishop's Palace, and Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus. The gilded interior of Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus was most impressive, but photography was prohibited. The last place we visited was the Monastery of San Francisco with a beautiful courtyard.
We then had lunch in one of the restaurants near the Plaza Grande, and the rest of the afternoon was "free time" until the welcome dinner in the evening. Most of us spent the free time by visiting Telefarico Quito - a ropeway that transports visitors from 2,950 meters (8,850 feet) to 4,050 meters (12,150 feet).
