Backpacking: Peru and Ecuador

PRINCESSA · TOP Guru

RE: Backpacking: Peru and Ecuador

melanie · Guru

PRINCESSA wrote:

Melanie that's Great that you are planning on going to Ecuador.

Ecuador is a GORGEOUS Country, beyond words that I can explain, your gonna love all of it. The food is great, people, culture, tons of tourist areas & some beaches that your mouth will drop open.

I can't say much of Peru since I've never been, but I'm sure it's just as beautiful.

BTW some places I would go in Ecuador are: Salinas, Bahia de Caracas, Banos, Esmeraldas (tons of new development), Otavalo (very cutural & great to buy gifts, just that it's gotten pricey). Cotopaxi (try climbing it j/k it's hard), last but Not least Guayquil = Beautiful (while ur at it can you take a little pkg. for my family sooo joking).

Anyhow hope you have a blast & a great experince in Ecuador.

Take lots of pics. to share with us.

Ill definately take lots of pics. Would love to help you out with the special delivery but I was told I am limited to a few articles of clothing

no HAIR products

and a few other odds and ends...FRIGGIN FRIGHTENING. I dont know how I will survive.

melanie · Guru

Marky Mark wrote:

melanie wrote:

ummm mid august? Well we are thinking of the 5th-24th. Why you guys wanna come?

I was referring to our Thursday ritual.

AWWWWW. I told jinx1 to count you guys in.

I will miss out on our "Ritual"...LOL things could likely get a little more RRRRomantic without myself and Jinx1. The invite is open if you guys can get away.

PRINCESSA · TOP Guru

Melanie that's Great that you are planning on going to Ecuador.

Ecuador is a GORGEOUS Country, beyond words that I can explain, your gonna love all of it. The food is great, people, culture, tons of tourist areas & some beaches that your mouth will drop open.

I can't say much of Peru since I've never been, but I'm sure it's just as beautiful.

BTW some places I would go in Ecuador are: Salinas, Bahia de Caracas, Banos, Esmeraldas (tons of new development), Otavalo (very cutural & great to buy gifts, just that it's gotten pricey). Cotopaxi (try climbing it

j/k it's hard), last but Not least Guayquil = Beautiful (while ur at it can you take a little pkg. for my family

sooo joking).

Anyhow hope you have a blast & a great experince in Ecuador.

Take lots of pics. to share with us.

Marky Mark · Foro Master

melanie wrote:

ummm mid august? Well we are thinking of the 5th-24th. Why you guys wanna come?

I was referring to our Thursday ritual.

DON CHELO · Guru

Danny416 wrote:

For all you uneducated **** out there...theres alot more to Ecuador then just the galapagos and quito.... jesus...... I would start off with Ibarra north of ecuador...and its surrounding lakes such as el lago de Cuicocha its a lake actually situated on top of a volcano..its a must see ...driving further down you have the city of otavalo..a very culutral city known to sell excellant crafts and weavers resembling the inca times...just right beside otavalo you got the laguna de san pablo another must see lake you can even take the ferry across before you get to ibarra and its surrounding areas i recommend to check out the town of cotacahi just a little north of ibarra ...they sell wicked leather jackets ..authentic and for a good price too Quito is a must see city obviously not only cause yours truely used to live there theres alot to check out take a walk all over el centro historico the downtown part of quito and you will see one of the oldest looking architecture of houses churches..resembling the spaniard colonial empire days...churches like la iglesia de san francisco , la compania de jesus, la iglesia de santo domingo, la catedral just to name a few are a must see..most of them have museums inside which is cool to check out and learn a few things...at night the churches light up and it looks something like this pretty cool eh very north of quito ...you have what tourists cannot avoid to see..the famous mital del mundo ..great tourist attraction a monument that runs through the equator line ..there is museum inside the actual monument and all over the area you have stores that sell cratfs suvenirs etc.. thats just a little bit only to see....you still have cities such as ambato, banos, latacunga, los volcanes cotopaxi, chimborazo, Cuenca is an outstanding city i have never been there but i would like to visit it one day. the jungle which is known as el oriente ..should be nice to check out as well.. and lets not forget la costa...im not really too familiar with that region other then its nice beaches .. but im sure many of these "monos" in the foro well be happy to give you a much better detailed description -- Edited by Danny416 at 12:32, 2006-07-24 -- Edited by Danny416 at 12:34, 2006-07-24

HEY BRO. LET'S NOT FORGET THE RAINFOREST!!!

Men with Tsantza, Shuar indians, Ecuador, South America

melanie · Guru

Gastone wrote:

melanie wrote:

Gastone wrote:

melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town).
Let me look for my book with contacts.

Oh Gastone...YOU BETTER REMEMBER ME and JINX1 Any contacts and info would be great. WHo needs Lonely Planet when you have THFORO..LOL

Hey Melanie, I remember you and Jinx1.

I CANT BELIEVE WE WERE ALMOST FORGOTTEN....

melanie · Guru

Marky Mark wrote:

I used to backpack all the time when I was a teenager!

But the days when I had spares I would just carry the books I needed or keep them in my locker.

Ok seriously, when are you planning on going? After mid-August if u know what i mean?

ummm mid august?

Well we are thinking of the 5th-24th. Why you guys wanna come?

Danny416 · TOP Guru

GENIE wrote:

Danny416 wrote: For all you uneducated **** out there...theres alot more to Ecuador then just the galapagos and quito.... jesus...... HEY DUMBASS WHY DONT U START OFF BY READING THE POST PROPERLY!!! I SAID THOSE ARE MY TWO REASONS!!!! PENDEJO!! READ AND EDUCATE URSELF!!! IDIOTA ESTUPIDO .............

LOL!!!!!!! i was willing to start off nice and squash this whole hatred level you got on me...but i think ill pass now !!!

o and send your dog after me ....im pretty good with pets lol

GENIE · Foro Master

Danny416 wrote:

For all you uneducated **** out there...theres alot more to Ecuador then just the galapagos and quito.... jesus......

HEY DUMBASS WHY DONT U START OFF BY READING THE POST PROPERLY!!! I SAID THOSE ARE MY TWO REASONS!!!!

PENDEJO!! READ AND EDUCATE URSELF!!! IDIOTA ESTUPIDO .............

Gastone · Guru

melanie wrote:

Gastone wrote:

melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town).
Let me look for my book with contacts.

Oh Gastone...YOU BETTER REMEMBER ME and JINX1 Any contacts and info would be great. WHo needs Lonely Planet when you have THFORO..LOL

Hey Melanie, I remember you and Jinx1.

Marky Mark · Foro Master

I used to backpack all the time when I was a teenager!

But the days when I had spares I would just carry the books I needed or keep them in my locker.

Ok seriously, when are you planning on going? After mid-August if u know what i mean?

Danny416 · TOP Guru

God wrote:

Danny Thank You for enlighten us with your educative, cultural and geographical knowledge, we are so lucky to have you back.

no prob godo!!!!

im just remembering when i used to live there thats all

cheers!

God · Foro Master

Danny Thank You for enlighten us with your educative, cultural and geographical knowledge, we are so lucky to have you back.

confundida · Foro Master

ALL I WANT IS A TURTLE!!! THAT IT........

A TURTLE......

Danny416 · TOP Guru

For all you uneducated **** out there...theres alot more to Ecuador then just the galapagos and quito.... jesus......

I would start off with Ibarra north of ecuador...and its surrounding lakes such as el lago de Cuicocha its a lake actually situated on top of a volcano..its a must see ...driving further down you have the city of otavalo..a very culutral city known to sell excellant crafts and weavers resembling the inca times...just right beside otavalo you got the laguna de san pablo another must see lake you can even take the ferry across

before you get to ibarra and its surrounding areas i recommend to check out the town of cotacahi just a little north of ibarra ...they sell wicked leather jackets ..authentic and for a good price too

Quito is a must see city obviously not only cause yours truely used to live there theres alot to check out

take a walk all over el centro historico the downtown part of quito and you will see one of the oldest looking architecture of houses churches..resembling the spaniard colonial empire days...churches like la iglesia de san francisco , la compania de jesus, la iglesia de santo domingo, la catedral just to name a few are a must see..most of them have museums inside which is cool to check out and learn a few things...at night the churches light up and it looks something like this

pretty cool eh

very north of quito ...you have what tourists cannot avoid to see..the famous mital del mundo ..great tourist attraction

a monument that runs through the equator line ..there is museum inside the actual monument and all over the area you have stores that sell cratfs suvenirs etc..

thats just a little bit only to see....you still have cities such as ambato, banos, latacunga, los volcanes cotopaxi, chimborazo,

Cuenca is an outstanding city i have never been there but i would like to visit it one day.

the jungle which is known as el oriente ..should be nice to check out as well..

and lets not forget la costa...im not really too familiar with that region other then its nice beaches ..

but im sure many of these "monos" in the foro well be happy to give you a much better detailed description

-- Edited by Danny416 at 12:32, 2006-07-24

-- Edited by Danny416 at 12:34, 2006-07-24

miguel · TOP Guru

hi melanie, i have travelled extensively in the area so if you need to know anything, PM me.

being in cusco and going to see machu picchu will change your life. it's hard to describe to people who haven't been there, but when you get there, you will get what i'm talking about.. there's a special vibe there that you can't quite put a finger on, but you feel it. try and do the inca trail. at least the 2 day version of it.

i recommend you travel up to ecuador via the coast of peru, there's some really cool beachtowns in the north of peru (mancora) and in ecuador (montanitas). you'll want to get a little beach time in maybe.

i'm peruvian and my other bit of advice to you would be to skip puno. i just don't think it's very interesting, myself.

about the altitude.. some people feel it, others don't. in cusco you will probably feel extra tired as you walk up a flight of stairs.. when i did the inca trail i didn't have altitude problems myself, and neither did my canadian friends. some of the peruvians who did the trip with us were hit hard though. so, it all depends, you may or may not get lucky.

McOSIRIS · Comandante

Julie wrote:

Gastone wrote: Hahaha, funny Monday? my contacts are nice pple and places where to sleep. Nope, actually, super crappy one. Should have staid in bed, my throat is killing me and I can't stop caughing :oseacomoseescribe: But you've meet those 2 girls, and they just have tones of energy 24/7

reducing your smoking could help a little...

GENIE · Foro Master

melanie wrote:

Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

THERE ARE ONLY TWO REASONS TO STEP INTO ECUADOR and that is TO SEE QUITO (cuz of a dj lol lol) and GALLAPALLOS ISLAND. But im sure there are many other reasons these are my two reasons for going to ecuador one day oh and cuz of a few years ago when Miss Universe was held there OMG IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! PLUS ITS IN THE CENTER OF THE EARTH!! LOL HAVE FUN MELANIE!!

Lahtina · Foro Master

This sounds like so much fun! I wanna go! :pout: El Cuzco and Machu Pichu would definitely be on my "must see/visit" list... if I were a list kind of person.

I've only backpacked through Mexico. Hitchhiking... a very exhilarating experience.

Gastone · Guru

melanie wrote:

LaDyBuG wrote:
melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Great idea!....when are you going? lol
I think 3 weeks rush rush and only site-see.....
People have back-packed in Europe for 2 weeks.....and saw the best of it.....so who knows.
Just enjoy it!

Im afraid to rush anything in Peru and Ecuador at those altitudes. i dont want to spend my trip whining and complaining I hope it will be a great trip- we are putting it together in a rush so who knows.

In Peruvian drugstores, you can buy "medicina para el mal de altura" . I don't know if you speak Spanish but that pills helps you with the altitude.

melanie · Guru

Julie wrote:

Gastone wrote:
melanie wrote: Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything? Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town). Let me look for my book with contacts.
No no............she doesn't need that kind of contact, believe me ! She is going with Jinx1 and never ever give them cafeine, illicit substances, etc..... Es nato in them

LOLOL....You are so right about us...

Caffeine and illicit substances make us sleepy

melanie · Guru

Gastone wrote:

melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town).
Let me look for my book with contacts.

Oh Gastone...YOU BETTER REMEMBER ME and JINX1

Any contacts and info would be great. WHo needs Lonely Planet when you have THFORO..LOL

melanie · Guru

careguea wrote:

melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

check out this guy's (Russ Brown) adventures trekking just about everywhere in the world. You'll see a few ideas for Peru and Ecuador, along with the rest of south america....
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Russ/
more specifically http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Russ/page-5.html

THANK YOU for this link. Great info and makes me feel better and more comfortable with the trip

melanie · Guru

LaDyBuG wrote:

melanie wrote:
Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Great idea!....when are you going? lol
I think 3 weeks rush rush and only site-see.....
People have back-packed in Europe for 2 weeks.....and saw the best of it.....so who knows.
Just enjoy it!

Im afraid to rush anything in Peru and Ecuador at those altitudes. i dont want to spend my trip whining and complaining

I hope it will be a great trip- we are putting it together in a rush so who knows.

Gastone · Guru

Julie wrote:

Gastone wrote:
Hahaha, funny Monday? my contacts are nice pple and places where to sleep.

Nope, actually, super crappy one. Should have staid in bed, my throat is killing me and I can't stop caughing :oseacomoseescribe:
But you've meet those 2 girls, and they just have tones of energy 24/7

Oh really? did you try (gargaras con sal)? I used to use that natural medicine in the same situation.
About Melanie and Jinx, I think I know Melanie!

Julie · Comandante

Gastone wrote:

Hahaha, funny Monday? my contacts are nice pple and places where to sleep.

Nope, actually, super crappy one. Should have staid in bed, my throat is killing me and I can't stop caughing :oseacomoseescribe:

But you've meet those 2 girls, and they just have tones of energy 24/7

Gastone · Guru

Julie wrote:

Gastone wrote:
melanie wrote: Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything? Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town). Let me look for my book with contacts.
No no............she doesn't need that kind of contact, believe me ! She is going with Jinx1 and never ever give them cafeine, illicit substances, etc..... Es nato in them

Hahaha, funny Monday? my contacts are nice pple and places where to sleep.

Julie · Comandante

Gastone wrote:

melanie wrote: Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything? Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town). Let me look for my book with contacts.

No no............she doesn't need that kind of contact, believe me ! She is going with Jinx1

and never ever give them cafeine, illicit substances, etc..... Es nato in them

Gastone · Guru

melanie wrote:

Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Hi, I went for 3 weeks to Peru. Was the most amazing and magic travel on my life. I recommend Puno, Arequipa and Cuzco (Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes town).
Let me look for my book with contacts.

careguea · Senior Member

melanie wrote:

Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

check out this guy's (Russ Brown) adventures trekking just about everywhere in the world. You'll see a few ideas for Peru and Ecuador, along with the rest of south america....

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Russ/

more specifically http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Russ/page-5.html

LaDyBuG · Comandante

melanie wrote:

Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?

Great idea!....when are you going? lol

I think 3 weeks rush rush and only site-see.....

People have back-packed in Europe for 2 weeks.....and saw the best of it.....so who knows.

Just enjoy it!

Danny416 · TOP Guru

ill give it a full month at least

especially to fully visit ecuador..theres so much to see

melanie · Guru

Has anyone ever been backpacking in Peru or Ecuador, or have any suggestions of things to see and places to stay? If so, do you think three weeks is too much time or too little time to see and do everything?