Ecuador - The Best Place for Snorkeling in The World

Ecuador, officially known as the Republic of Ecuador is situated in South America. This democratic nation is surrounded by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south and is totally bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west. The world’s most famous Galapagos Islands are situated in Ecuador on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

Snorkeling Couple

Ecuador is literally called as the ocean admirer’s heaven. This Ecuador is jam packed with stunning beautiful beaches, dense mangrove islands, low land dense rainforests and also eye-catching varieties of animals in the islands. In addition to these mesmerizing nature and beauty, the Ecuador is known to be the world’s best Scuba-diving destination. One can take live view of flora and fauna in the ocean including manta rays, whales, sharks and even sea turtles astonish the Scuba-divers. The whales present here breeds through the southern coasts of Ecuador in the month of June to October every year. If you are a Snorkeler you will be lucky enough to see these creatures live as they also pass through Ecuador during this month. Apart from Galapagos island there are many other destinations along the shore that offer you Scuba diving facility.

Enjoy Snorkeling with Your Dear Ones

Galapagos island is situated around 550 miles away from the mainland. These Galapagos Islands do not have a coral reef like the rest of the famous Scuba-diving locations in the South Pacific have. However this Galapagos Island houses a large variety of wildlife. This is because of the unique merging hot currents that arise from the Pacific Ocean and the cold currents from the Antarctic Ocean. This is a unique and the only place left on earth where there is no risk for the life of wildlife. Diving in Galapagos Island is not for the learners due to the strong water currents and also due to the partial visibility inside the water. There is not much of a current in the water when the water is warmer, but the visibility will be partial. When the water is cold, the visibility will be more but the current will also be equally more. This also toughens the Scuba Diving task. November to April is known to be the ideal months for diving where the water currents will be comparatively less and the water will be cold. During this period one can take a glance of hammerhead sharks, manta rays and eagle rays.

Eagle Ray

The most challenging daring Snorkeling spots are situated in the northern parts of the Archipelagos Island. Various cruises will offer you Snorkeling in this region. The Darwin and the Wolf islands present in Archipelagos are said to be the best places to view giant whale shark which can be seen here from May to November. Apart from Snorkeling, people who visit Ecuador will also be provided many sporting activities such as fishing, sailing, and surfing. This place is full of water skiers, skydivers and also jet skiers.




[Also See]

Live Snorkeling Video

Galapagos Sierra Negra Volcano

Elevation: 1124 m (3,688 ft)

Location: Isabela Island - Galapagos

Cord: 0.83°S 91.17°W

Last Eruption: 2005

Sierra Volcano is located at the eastern of Isabela Island, 13 miles from Puerto Villamil in the Galapagos Islands. It rises to an altitude of 1124 m. Around Sierra Negra we can find Cerro Azul volcano to the west and Alcedo to the north. It is he largest volcano in the archipielago, with eruptions since 1813. The age of Sierra Negra is approximately 535.000 years old, with a measure of 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. Sierra Negra have also an unusual caldera, it is elliptical whereas other volcanos are circular.  The volcano is one of the most active in the Galapagos, with the last eruption starting on 22 October 2005 and lasting until 30 October 2005.

Sierra Negra Crater 360° Panoramic view
Land Tours to Sierra Volcano: http://www.naturegalapagos.com/codigo/isabela/index.html

Galapagos Islands

Isabela Island Galapagos

Isabela Island is the largest island of the Galapagos Archipielago. The measure extension is 4640 km2. A small village located in this island is locted Puerto Villamil, with a population of 2200, they traditionally earned a living through fishing. The streets keep the sand of the beach because of the ubication in front of the sea.



Puerto Villamil has a wonderful beach on white sand, with an extension of 2 km, this special characteristic let Puerto Villamil be the unique place of Galapagos Islands that have a big beach to enjoy stunning sunsets.

La Laguna Hotel is located next to the Flamingo Lagoon and just 2 blocks away from the beach.

In Isabela Island you can find 5 of the biggest volcanoes, including the Wolf Volcan, it's the higger 1646 msnm approximately.

• Volcán Alcedo
• Volcán Cerro Azul
• Volcán Sierra Negra
• Volcán Wolf
• Volcán Ecuador 

In addition, this island of natural beauty and landscape has many sites authorized by the Galapagos National Park. There we can do activities in Galapagos Cruises and Galapagos Land Tours, below you'll find a list of the sites you can visit and the type of the trip.

Authorized Sites

• Bahía Urbina                                 (Cruise)
• Calera                                          (Land)
• Caleta Tagus                                (Cruise)
• C. Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza               (Land and Cruise)
• Complejo de Humedales                 (Land and Cruise)
• Concha de Perla                            (Land)
• Cueva de Sucre                             (Land)
• Las Tintoreras                               (Land and Cruise)
• Minas de Azufre                            (Land)
• Mirador del Mango                         (Land)
• Punta Albemarle                           (Cruise)
• Punta Moreno                               (Cruise)
• V. Sierra Negra/V.Chico                  (Land and Cruise)

Restricted Sites

• Playa Tortuga Negra
• Volcán Alcedo
• Túneles (Cabo Rosa)

This small list will help you to decide the type of tour or package we'll have to take in relation of the sites we'll like to visit, it's important they are authorized.

We'll write more information about all the sites you'll be likely to go, we'll keep you posted.

Ecuador Train - Tren Crucero

Ecuadorian Train - Tren Crucero

Train Cruise won the Wider World Project or better tourism product outside Europe, this award was given by the British Guild of Travel Writers. The Ecuador train was started by president Gabriel Garcia Moreno in 1873 and was restored by president Rafael Correa in 2008 who named the railroad a "National Cultural Patrimony". Some of the routes are from Quito - Cotopaxi National Park to Latacunga, Alausi to Saimbambe (Devil's Nose / Nariz del Diablo), El Tambo to Baños del Inca, Duran to Yaguachi and Ibarra to Salinas.

Train Ecuador crossing Chimborazo

History

Train Ecuador construction in 1873

Railroad started a service 41 kilometers of track from Yaguachi to Miracle on the coast. In 1895, with the triumph of the Liberal Revolution, the railroad work was taken over by General Eloy Alfaro Delgado. In 1897, the company “Guayaquil and Quito Railway” was established and began the construction of the Southern Railroad. 'The Devil's Nose', a very challenging work of engineering, which led to it's designation as "The most difficult Railway in the World". In 1905  the train arrives for the first time at the train station of Chimbacalle.

Train in the early 1920s
Photo: Katharine Brainard - www.railroadinthesky.com

1975 marks the beginning of the decadence of the Railways caused by competition with road transport and lack of government interest. 1992 In an attempt to recover the Railroads, the government of Rodrigo Borja acquires electrodiesel locomotives, however without any success. During 1993 the stretch of the Chanchán river is destroyed by the climatic phenomenon 'El Niño'. On April 1, 2008, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) officially declares the Railway Network in Ecuador as property belonging to the Cultural Heritage of the State.

Train Ecuador Duran 2013

Ecuador Train Routes and pictures

Ecuador Train Routes:

- Machachi Festivo: Quito - Machachi - Quito

- Camino al Boliche: Quito - Boliche - Quito

- Paramo Infinito: Machachi - Boliche - Machachi

- Volcanoes Avenue: Quito - Latacunga - Quito

- Nariz del Diablo: Alausi - Simbambe - Alausi

- Sendero de Arrozales: Durán - Yaguachi - Duran

- Tren de la libertad: Ibarra - Salinas - Ibarra

- Baños del Inca: El Tambo - Coyoctor - El Tambo

- Tren del Hielo: Riobamba - Urbina - Riobamba

- Sendero de los Ancestros: Riobamba - Colta - Riobamba

- Tren de la Dulzura: Duran - Bucay - Duran

Gallery

Machachi Boliche Train Ecuador

Inside the wagon -Tren Crucero Ecuador

Ecuador Train comfort

Train Scenery in the Avenue of Volcanoes

Train at the Devil's nose

Ecuador Train Station

Take and true adventure with Nature Galapagos Ecuador
Click Here:  http://www.naturegalapagos.com/ecuador-tours/train-day-trips/index.html

Sourse: Train Ecuador - www.trenecuador.com
Katharine Brainard - www.railroadinthesky.com

Ecuador Volcanoes

Ecuador have 27 volcanoes potentially active including the Galapagos Islands. Some of them are continental volcanoes: Cayambe, Reventador, Guagua Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Sangay and Potrerillos - Chacana and seven Galapagos volcanoes: Marchena Cerro Azul, Fernandina, St. Thomas Chico Volcano, Alcedo, Darwin and Wolf. All of them have had eruptions since 1532. It is possible to grow the number of volcanoes classified as "potentially active". Here some of the most beautiful sights.

Antisana

Latitude: 0,4846° S
Longitude: 78,1414°W
Elevation: 5720 m (It is the fourth highest volcano in Ecuador)
Volcano Type: Conical stratovolcano landslide scarp
State: Active

Cayambe

Latitude: 0,025° N
Longitude: 77,9871° W 
Elevation: 5759 m (maximum peak)
Volcano Type: Conical stratovolcano landslide scarp
State: Active

Tungurahua

Latitude: 1 ° 28 'South
Longitude: 78 ° 27 'West
Elevation: 5023 m
Located 33 kilometers southeast of Ambato, in the Cordillera Real of the Ecuadorian Andes
State: Active

Chimborazo

Latitude: 1 ° 46 'South

Longitude: 78 ° 82 'West

Elevation: 6310 m (is the highest volcano in Ecuador)

Located 30 kilometers NW Riobamba

State: Potentially Active

Guagua Pichincha

Latitude: 0. 17 ° S 
Longitude: 78.60 ° W
Elevation: 4794 m
Volcano type: Strato volcano with avalanche caldera open to the W
Alert: Yellow
Last eruption: 2004

Reventador

Latitude: 0 ° 04 '05'' S
Longitude: 77 ° 40 '22'' W
90 km east-northeast of Quito
Diameter: 3-4 km
Maximum elevation: 3485 m
State: Active

Sangay

Latitude: 2°

Longitude: 77 ° 34

45 km SE of Riobamba G-1: 50000 A '

Elevation: 5230 msnm
State: Active

Imbabura

Latitude: 0.36 N
Longitude: 78.18 ° W
Zone: 10 km to the southwest of Ibarra
Elevation: 4620 m.s.n.m. (Taita Imbabura)
Volcano Type: Composite stratovolcano
Basal diameter: 16 km N-S x 14 km E-W
State: Inactive

Sierra Negra

Latitude: 0.83°S
Longitude: 91.17°W
Zone: South eastern end of Isabela Island Galapagos Islands
Elevation: 1124 m 
Volcano Type:  The caldera is structurally complex with a 14 km long ridge within it.
Last eruption: 2005
State: Active

Alcedo

Latitude: 0.26°S
Longitude: 91.07°W
Zone: Isabela Island Galapagos
Elevation: 1130 m
Volcano Type: The caldera measures 6.1 x 7.4 km
Last eruption: 1993

Information from: Instituto Geofisico EPN

Ecuador Orchid Paradise

"Ecuador is also known as the World Capital of Orchids"

Orchids, for its beauty and elegance, are the oldest plants in the world. Ecuador has 4,250 species and 1,301 endemic species classified in tropical, subtropical and conservation areas. 

Andreas Kay photo

Orchids belong to the family of Orchidaceae. They live on trees where capture heat, light and air. Some grow on rocks with moss, and other on the floor. Flowers are grouped in clusters of 2 to 20, orchids can be white, pink, lilac, red, yellow, green and even blue. Although they have similar sepals, petals and lips, they change from one gender to another.

Andreas Kay photo

Orchid in their natural habitat grow by millions. If they have food, water and love, the reproduction is endless. If orchids disappear, disappear thousands of species of bees, wasps and insects that pollinate the plants. If insects disappear, disappear fruit species because they can't reproduce.

Andreas Kay photo

Ecuador is the world capital of orchids, for that reason scientists from different latitudes are traveling throughout the year to observe and investigate orchids. Alexander Hirtz, during 40 years of research, discovered 800 species of orchids in Ecuador. "It is the family of plants with the highest number of species that can easily mutate against climate change. For example, the eruptions of the Ecuadorians were new orchid species that mutated and adapted to the climate and geography ".

.

.

.

.

*** Don't Forget to watch this Video ***

(Language : ES)

**-- More Pictures --**

Purple Ecuador Orchids by ChanHawkins (Source: Flickr)

Yellow Ecuador Orchids by ChanHawkins (Source: Flickr)

White Ecuador Orchids by ChanHawkins (Source: Flickr)

Pink Ecuador Orchids by ChanHawkins (Source: Flickr)

Buy one of our Ecuador Tour Packages and Galapagos Land Tours to experience the natural wealth of Ecuador, including wide range of Orchids and it's species...

Isabela Island - Beautiful Island of Ecuador

Isabela island is a seahorse shaped island and is the largest of all the islands, measuring 120 km longer and greater in size than all of the other islands combined. The island was originally named Albemarle Island for the Duke of Albemarle. There are 5 volcanoes on the island that still produce volcanic activity.

Isabela provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the spectacular marine mammals of the Galapagos Islands especially whales and dolphins. Scuba diving tours through subterranean passages off the coast lead to a secluded cove abundant with marine life. The waters around Isabela are the best in the Galapagos for whale watching. The Cromwell Current up welling creates a nutrient-rich feeding ground attracting a wide variety of species including humpback whales, sperm whales and orcas. 

In addition to the many marine mammals of the Galapagos found here, Isabela is home to more land tortoises than any of the other islands. Tourists also are likely to encounter blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, marine turtles and even the rare Flightless Cormorant.

Tourists who wish to stay in Isabela find the settlement of Puerto Villamil to be laid back and welcoming. The white, sandy beaches and quiet lagoons are the quintessential Galapagos experience.

The western side of the island is not accessible but you can have a great time at the Puerto Villamil. There are cabins available here at a very low price on a daily basis.  When in Puerto Villamil another place to visit is the Santo Tomas or you can trek to the Muro Las Lagrimas. It is a historical place  reportedly built by convicts. During nesting season, you can find countless marine turtles and their nests.

The Charles Darwin Foundation is looking for volunteers to help them mark nests. If you've got the time, sign up to get an up close and hands on experience with these amazing animals. Snorkeling is fantastic as well as the ambiance