Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands (Moon Handbooks) - Softcover

Westwood, Ben

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1612388612 ISBN 13: 9781612388618

Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

This full-color guide to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands includes vibrant photos and easy-to-use maps to help with trip planning.

Seasoned traveler and journalist Ben Westwood leads adventurers to off-the-beaten-path experiences in Ecuador, from riding a train up the steep switchbacks of the famous Nariz del Diablo (Devil's Nose) to diving off of the Galápagos Islands, where the waters are abundant with ocean life. Complete with information on exploring the colonial architecture of Quito's Old Town, enjoying the lively waterfront of the Malecón 2000 in Guayaquil, and climbing volcanoes in Sangay National Park, Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Moon Handbooks give you the tools to make your own choices.
Can't-miss sights, activities, restaurants, and accommodations, marked with M
Suggestions on how to plan a trip that's
perfect for you, including:

• "The Best of Ecuador"
  
• "Galápagos Expedition"
  
• "Adrenaline Rush"
  
• "Wildlife Wonders"
  
• "Sun and Surf: Ecuador's Best Beaches"
  
• "Indigenous Past and Present"

37 detailed and easy-to-use maps
The firsthand experience and unique perspective of author Ben Westwood

About this title

About the Author

Ben Westwood dreamed of being a writer and musician from an early age. Growing up in England, he combined the two by studying music and getting involved in student journalism in London. He wrote his first travel journal during a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.

After graduating from college, Ben decided to follow his passion for travel; with an English-language teaching qualification under his belt, he set off for Ecuador. In the year he spent there, he fell in love with the country—and one of its citizens. He returned to the UK, newly married, to complete a postgraduate degree at the country's top journalism school, City University.

Ben worked for The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk as a travel journalist and online travel editor, writing articles on everything from encounters with Maoist guerrillas in Nepal to encounters with drunken Brits in Greece. After a brief stint working in adventure tourism, Ben returned to South America to combine his passions for teaching and travel writing. In addition to Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands, he is the author of Moon Machu Picchu and Moon Peru. He has also contributed to the The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian.

Ben currently teaches journalism and tourism at Brighton University in the UK. He still finds time to sing and play the guitar, and has released one self-funded album, Keep Dreaming. Follow him on Twitter @BenWestwood and at soundcloud.com/benwestwoodmusic.

Jon Jared first experienced the itch for travel during summer trips with his grandparents to England, Scotland, and Wales. After visiting Zambia and traversing the mountain towns of Colorado, he moved to Ecuador in search of a new understanding of the world around him. In Ecuador, Jon has worked at hotels, restaurants, and bars; served as a local guide, a freelance writer and editor; and managed the South American Explorers Club in Quito, where he currently lives.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Moon Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands covers the regions of Quito; the Central Sierra, Northern Sierra, and Southern Sierra; The Oriente; North and Central Coasts and Lowlands; Guayaquil and the Southern Coast; and the Galápagos Islands.

This guide highlights the best Ecuador has to offer, including Quito, Lake Quilotoa, Cotopaxi National Park, Bańos, Alausí, the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, Cuenca, Cajas National Park, and the Ecuadorian Amazon. If you have an extra week, extend your trip with a visit to the Galápagos Islands.

You’ll also find suggestions for planning creative itineraries. Unique trip ideas include: "Indigenous Past and Present," taking you to markets and local festivals in Quito, Latacunga, Cuenca, and Saraguro; "Adrenaline Rush," showcasing the best places for bicycling, rock climbing, hiking, paragliding, rafting, scuba diving, and surfing; "Wildlife Wonders," in which you’ll meet quetzals, howler monkeys, giant tortoises, and more; and Sun and Surf: Ecuador’s Best Beaches,” with the best sandy stretches for surfing, whale-watching, kitesurfing, people-watching, nightlife, and romance.

About this edition

• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1612388612
• ISBN 13: 9781612388618
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 6
• Number of pages: 536