Cuenca has been described as Ecudaor?s most beautiful colonial city, and we happen to agree! We spent the first day wandering around the lovely streets and soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. We booked a guided trek around the National Park Cajas for the following day, which promised stunning views of craggy hills, glacier-scoured valleys and literally hundereds of beautiful lakes. Unfortunately when we were collected at 8am the following day, our guide informed u...

Stopped off at Guayaquil overnight en route to Cuenca. We arrived early afternoon and it was absolutely roasting. We had a walk along the Malacon 2000 (see photo) which had been renamed following its facelift during 2000. We were both amazed how smart this area was, you could have mistaken it for any city in the western world. Our hotel was overlooking one of the central parks, which had loads of iguanas living in the trees there. It was very bizzare to sit on ...

Arrived in Puerto Lopez and checked into the poshest hotel we could find (after all it was Jona's birthday the next day). You'll see from the photos our cabin set in botanical gardens, it was lovely. We arranged a trip to Isla De La Plata (the poor mans Galapagos) for the following day, so Jona could spend his birthday watching Boobies! So up and off to the tour operator we go and who should be there but Sharon & Sarah who we had met in Canoa. We were real...

Ahh Canoa. Nearly didn't make it but it was worth it when we got there! Our overnight bus from Quito to the coast was a nightmare! We thought we'd got it sussed by efficiently pre booking some first class tickets but when we tried to get on the posh bus at 11.30 at night we were told we were on the bus held together with bits of string next to it. After some umming and ahhing decided to risk it and spent the next 8 hours being thrown about the untarmaced road...

After the hustle and bustle of the city, it was great to arrive at the Hacienda Guachala (allegedly the oldest hacienda in Ecudaor!) It used to be the home of many Presidents, and it is now owned by the grandson of the former President, Neptali Bonifaz. We both fell in love with the place instantly. Our room was set around a grass square next to the Chapel which is secondary to the main cobbled courtyard which had more rooms and the restaurant etc. We took a wa...