Arriving at the new airport means that you are an awfully long way from the centre of Quito. Finding the cheapest way to my hostel was the first challenge and it turned out to be the airport shuttle to the old airport (on the slowest bus in history but it did have wifi!) and then a taxi (mine turned out to be an unlicensed one). Arriving at Secret Garden I was allowed to dump my bags in my room before trooping up 3 storeys to the reception on the roof terrace. T...

Arriving early at the airport allowed me plenty of time to do all the pre-arrival administration required before you go to the islands - pre- registration, paying the first toll and getting my luggage check to make sure nothing I took would destroy the environment. The flight was relaxed and arriving in Baltra I had to pay my $100 entry to the national park and start to protracted journey to the main town of Puerto Ayora - shuttle bus, ferry and local bus taking...

The bus journey from Trujillo was not one of the best - mostly because my stomach was still bad and I was up and down to the luckily clean toilet with loo paper! The border crossing was very easy with modern facilities and even free wifi. Arriving in Guayaquil and getting a taxi to the hotel in the dark. Hot and humid so I was glad of the air con and I retired to bed to try to sleep myself better while Laura went out for food. The next day was a very lazy one ...