Ecuador and Galapagos Handbook: The Travel Guide (Footprint Handbook) - Softcover

Murphy, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1900949296 ISBN 13: 9781900949293

Publisher: Footprint Handbooks, 1999

Synopsis

This updated guide to Ecuador and Galapagos is part of a series of individual country guides on Latin America by the publishers of the "South American Handbook". The country is small enough for a week's visit and big enough to keep the traveller exploring for months. This handbook contains information on everything to see and do, with emphasis on the new attractions. For instance, the Pacific coast of Ecuador is being visited for more than its beaches: the Isla de la Plata, with its similarity to the Galapagos; newly uncovered preColumbian coastal cultures in the Machalilla National Park; dry tropical forest; and shrimp farms in mangrove swamps. In addition, the handbook contains details of the main attraction, the Galapagos Islands. It explains how to get there and when to go, and provides tips on the best deals available, which are the best boats, and what to take. Portable and lightweight, the handbook provides detailed coverage of: jungle lodges, wildlife and jungle culture; climbing and trekking on all the main routes and accessible volcanoes; beaches, best surfing and where to fish; where to stay, eat and how to get about; and how to get off the "banana pancake trail" and into more remote, less spoiled places. A 16-page colour wildlife section is included.

About this title

Review:

"Head, shoulders and spine ahead of the rest." Adventure Travel"

From the Author:

Ecuador is our home. Daisy was born and raised here, while Robert adopted this Andean nation over twenty years ago. We have been writing about Ecuador ever since. We know the country intimately, its places, people, strengths and weaknesses. In addition to our personal knowledge, we have developed an extensive network of contacts throughout Ecuador and its travel community. We can therefore
constantly keep our fingers on the pulse of local developments and provide the most up-to-date, comprehensive and insightful coverage of Ecuador.

For the current, 4th, edition of the "Ecuador & Galápagos Handbook" we thoroughly reviewed all hotels in the book. We were selective, choosing those establishments of greatest interest to travellers; yet comprehensive, including a wide range of options in all price categories. The 'Upscale Bed and Breakfasts' of Quito, for example, are a new hotel category. All prices were verified prior to publication, so you can budget for your trip without unpleasant surprises.

The Galápagos Islands chapter was also extensively revised, with detailed advice on how to choose a Galápagos cruise. The chapter includes a table of Galápagos vessels with their respective characteristics and websites, so you can shop around from home. Throughout the book, all websites and e-mail addresses were verified before publication, to eliminate old incorrect entries which can be so annoying when you are trying to contact someone.

We added more details about worthwhile out-of-the-way places, for those wishing to explore beyond the 'gringo trail'. And we carefully updated all 56 maps in the book, to make exploring that much easier. Public safety did not escape our attention and we provide honest practical advice on this important topic.

We very much enjoy travelling in and writing about Ecuador, but we also take our work seriously because we know our readers are counting on us. And we count on you too, for your comments and opinions. Information from hundreds of readers' e-mails and letters was included in the current edition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1900949296
• ISBN 13: 9781900949293
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 448