Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands Book

List of Maps     vi
The Best of Ecuador     1
The Best Purely Ecuadorian Travel Experiences     1
The Best of Natural Ecuador     4
The Best Historical Sites & Museums     5
The Best Outdoor Adventures     7
The Best Bird-Watching     8
The Best Destinations for Families     9
The Best Luxury Hotels     9
The Best Moderately Priced & Budget Hotels     10
The Best Ecolodges & Haciendas     11
The Best Bed-and-Breakfasts & Small Inns     12
The Best Restaurants     13
The Best Shopping & Markets     14
The Best After-Dark Fun     15
The Best Websites about Ecuador     16
Planning Your Trip to Ecuador     17
The Regions in Brief     17
Visitor Information & Maps     19
Entry Requirements     19
When to Go     20
Ecuador Calendar of Events     21
Getting There     22
Getting Through the Airport     24
Money & Costs     26
The U.S. Dollar, the British Pound & the Euro     27
What Things Cost in Ecuador     28
Travel Insurance     29
Health     30
Safety     32
Specialized Travel Resources     33
Sustainable Tourism/Ecotourism     36
Frommers.com: The Complete Travel Resource     37
Staying Connected     38
Online Traveler's Toolbox     39
Packages for the independent Traveler     40
Ask before You Go     41
Escorted General-Interest Tours     41
Spanish-Language Programs     42
Getting Around     43
Car-Rental Tips     45
Tips on Accommodations     46
Tips on Dining     47
Fast Facts: Ecuador     48
Suggested Ecuador Itineraries     55
Ecuador in 1 Week     55
Ecuador in 2 Weeks     58
Ecuador for Families     60
Ecuador for Adventure Travelers     61
Quito in 3 Days     63
The Active Vacation Planner     66
Organized Adventure Trips     66
Activities A to Z     68
Hummingbird Heaven     71
The Big Peaks     80
Ecuador's Top National Parks & Bioreserves     84
Searching for Wildlife     89
Tips on Health, Safety & Etiquette in the Wilderness     89
Ecologically Oriented Volunteer & Study Programs     90
Quito     92
Orientation     92
The Neighborhoods in Brief     96
Breaking the Code     97
Getting Around     97
Fast Facts: Quito     99
Where to Stay     102
Where to Dine     109
What to See & Do     114
The Quito School of Art     116
Getting High in Quito     118
Outdoor Activities & Spectator Sports     123
Shopping     124
Quito After Dark     125
Plaza Foch: Ground Zero in Mariscal     130
Side Trips from Quito     133
The Northern Sierra     139
Otavalo     139
Otavalo Globalized     144
Tree Tomato     153
Ibarra     155
The Minga     156
Tulcan     161
The Central Sierra     164
Cotopaxi National Park     164
Andean Condor     168
Latacunga     173
Ambato     180
It's Chicha Time     184
Banos     185
Tungurahua: Back with a Bang     191
Riobamba     195
Cuenca & the Southern Sierra     203
Cuenca     203
The Panama Hat     211
Loja     221
The Virgin of El Cisne     224
Vilcabamba     228
Guayaquil & the Southern Coast     233
Guayaquil     233
La Rivalidad: Quito & Guayaquil     235
A Meeting of Giants     239
If You're Short on Time     240
Salinas & The Santa Elena Peninsula     249
Montanita     254
Puerto Lopez & Machalilla National Park     256
Having a Whale of a Time     257
Machala a South to the Peruvian Border     251
Going Bananas     262
Northern Pacific Coast & Lowlands     268
Manta     268
The Manta Airbase     272
Bahia de Caraquez     277
Canoa     283
Esmeraldas     286
Esmeraldas: Ecuador's African Coast?     287
Atacames & the Beaches West of Esmeraldas     291
Santo Domingo de los Colorados     295
Red-Haired Boys     297
El Oriente     300
Lago Agrio & Cuyabeno Nature Reserve     302
Down & Dirty in the Jungle     303
Cofan Chief Randy Borman     305
Coca & the Lower Rio Napo     308
Orellana's Journey of Discovery     310
Tena & the Upper Napo River     315
Puyo & the Southern Amazon Basin     320
The Galapagos Islands     324
Essentials     325
The Islands in Brief     328
Not Your Typical Passenger: Charles Darwin & the Galagapos Islands     330
Cruises     331
Organizing a Last-Minute Trip to the Galapagos     338
Puerto Ayora & Santa Cruz Island     339
Unwanted Guests     340
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno & San Cristobal Island     350
An Island Whodunit?     355
The Galapagos Tortoise     357
Ecuador in Depth     358
Ecuador Today     358
History 101     360
Dateline     361
The Natural Environment     367
Ecuadorian Culture     368
Llapingachos, Cuy & Pilsener: Ecuadorian Food & Drink     370
Recommended Books & Films     372
Glossary of Spanish Terms & Phrases     374
Basic Words & Phrases      374
Menu Terms     376
Hotel Terms     378
Travel Terms     378
Typical Ecuadorian Words & Phrases     379
Ecuadorian Wildlife     380
Mammals     380
Birds     387
Amphibians     391
Reptiles     393
Invertebrates     396
Sea Life     397
Index     400