quito posts
by Libby Zay (RSS feed) (1 month ago)
Apr 4th, 2013 at 11:00AM:
Ecuador's capital city, Quito, has long been hailed as a great jumping off point for adventure travelers. The city is surrounded by eleven volcanoes and dozens of flowing rivers, making it an ideal locale for those looking to hike, bike, climb, kayak and more. As if that weren't enough, four regions are crammed into this tiny, megadiverse country – the Amazon jungle, the Andean ...
by Jessica Marati (RSS feed) (1 month ago)
Mar 28th, 2013 at 1:00PM:
This summer, three new eco-fashion-oriented package tours will offer the chance for ethical designers, makers and consumers to meet artisan communities, take workshops in craft production and see the impact of their conscious purchasing decisions.
While different in structure, these trips all offer the chance to travel along an artisan product's supply chain, from visiting farming ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (6 months ago)
Nov 22nd, 2012 at 8:00AM: If you're like me you're probably already looking ahead to 2013 and planning your next adventure. If that happens to be the case, and the Galapagos Islands have been a destination that you've always dreamed about, then perhaps January is the time to make that dream a reality. That's when renowned adventure travel company Mountain Travel Sobek is offering a $500 discount on their first two ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (9 months ago)
Aug 2nd, 2012 at 12:00PM: While Quito, Ecuador, offers many opportunities for Inca history, diverse architecture and trendy restaurants, my favorite part about visiting this busy city was its side trips. In less than three hours you can be hiking through waterfall-filled forests, climbing one of the world's tallest volcanoes, browsing an important cultural market and even standing in the actual middle of the world. If you ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (11 months ago)
Jun 4th, 2012 at 4:00PM: Quito, Ecuador, is a big, bustling city that can sometimes be overwhelming. For those who need a change of pace, one great day trip idea is to head to nearby Mindo, a tranquil town filled with nature-inspired activities. Located in the Los Bancos canton of the Pichincha province, the area is renowned for its dedication to ecotourism, plentiful bird watching and breathtaking cloud forest.
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by Libby Zay (RSS feed) (11 months ago)
Jun 4th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Melbourne are just a few of the cities known for street art. But that doesn't mean the streets aren't being spray painted, wheat pasted and stenciled in other cities – and more importantly, it doesn't lessen the messages these artists are trying to get across. One such place is Ecuador, where graffiti tells the stories of the state of life and ...
by Libby Zay (RSS feed) (11 months ago)
May 30th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
Blending in to a city or country you're visiting has many advantages. Among them, allowing yourself to have a more immersive experience and not falling victim to a robbery scheme involving human feces. Some cities come with their own code of conduct, such as Washington DC, where during Gadling's recent summit we noticed anyone who stands on the left side of an escalator is immediately met ...
by Kyle Ellison (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 27th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
With the radio crackling from the speakers of his rusty old cargo van, Juan's furrowed brow indicated a greater focus on the newscast than on shuttling us to Pululahua Crater.
My wife and I being the only two passengers on his 11am tour, Juan had begun to speak to us as friends, not customers.
"I am very scared for Ecuador" he confessed. "I am sorry you must be here for this."
Through ...
by Mike Barish (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Mar 12th, 2012 at 6:30PM:
Road trips are great. Road trips in foreign countries are an adventure. In this time-lapse video, travelers make the drive from Quito, high in the Ecuadorian mountains, to the coast. It's amazing to see the climate and topography change as the trip takes them from an elevation 9,350 feet down to sea level. The only things we're still curious about are the snacks that they packed for the ride! ...
by Libby Zay (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Jan 27th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
Ecuador is one place where a little money really does go a long way. Not only does the country use United States currency, but it's amazing how many things you can purchase for just one dollar. Whether you are looking to drink an oversized beer at a pub or feast on 20 fresh bananas (just try to scarf them all down before they turn brown!), it comes as no surprise that Ecuador repeatedly makes ...
by Libby Zay (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Oct 7th, 2011 at 4:00PM:
Last night, LAN Airlines surprised nearly 200 unsuspecting patrons at Nuela restaurant in New York with free round trip tickets to South America. The Oprah-style giveaway kicks off the company's Only in South America campaign, a multi-year effort to promote travel to the region.
In the midst of busy dinner hours, guests at the South American restaurant in Manhattan's Flatiron district were ...
by Justin Delaney (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
Apr 26th, 2011 at 11:00AM: Old cities are at their most pure and honest in the early morning. Before the crowds draw out to transform the peace with the trappings of modern existence, an old city seems frozen in time. Wandering through Quito in the morning feels like visiting an old stranger's house with no one home. I inspect the pictures and look in rooms, attempting to solve the riddles my mind creates. It is lonely and ...
by Justin Delaney (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
Apr 6th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
It began like any other day in the life of a travel writer - gingerly exposing my limbs, one at a time, to the arctic water gurgling out of my hostel's shower head. It was Tuesday morning, and I had just arrived in Quito. My research had left me in a state of premature love with this UNESCO heritage city almost 10,000 feet up in the Andes. While hyperventilating in the relentlessly cold ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (3 years ago)
May 18th, 2010 at 8:00AM: Gap Adventures and National Geographic are teaming up to give one aspiring filmmaker the chance of a lifetime. The two organizations are giving away a film scholarship that will allow the recipient to work with veteran film producer Trent O'Donnell, who will mentor the budding documentarian in the art of making a film, while exploring the depths of the Amazon Rainforest. And once the project is ...
by Jason Heflin (RSS feed) (3 years ago)
Mar 19th, 2010 at 2:00PM: Who says you can't have it all? For many travelers vacation time is limited. Those in search of adventure want to maximize that short window of travel time. Here are ten cities where adventure-seekers can expand their options with a range of heart-pounding choices.
Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista translates to "beautiful view." It's easy to understand why the name stuck. Nestled into the ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (4 years ago)
Mar 15th, 2009 at 10:00AM: The BootsnAll Travel site has a great article up listing the highest cities in the world. Amsterdam doesn't make this list however, as we're talking the cities that fall at the highest altitude. These mountain communities will have you gasping for air as soon as you step off the plane, both with their thin air and stunning mountain scenery. Topping the list as the highest city in the world is La ...
by Aaron Hotfelder (RSS feed) (5 years ago)
Mar 19th, 2008 at 9:00AM: With the Galápagos Islands, Pacific beaches, Andes Mountains, and Amazonian jungle, Ecuador is a little country that packs a big punch. And travelers, always on the look-out for the hot new destination, are starting to flock there in droves. One backpacker has even dubbed the small South American country the "new Costa Rica." Okay, that was me.
Anyway, here's a quick-and-dirty rundown of ...
by Willy Volk (RSS feed) (6 years ago)
Feb 19th, 2007 at 9:40AM: I love watching The Amazing Race. While I don't care much for the teammate squabbling, I love seeing so many remote parts of the world, many of which are non-traditional staples of American TV viewing. This season, the series' 11th, boasts the so-called All-Stars. Featuring some teams you may have rooted for in the past -- and some teams you may not have rooted for -- this season will, no doubt, ...