The lads’ fourth stop on The Wirld tour was to the awesome country of Ecuador. With golden beaches, amazing hiking and extreme sports, there is not much missing from this little country to have the trip of a lifetime. Read about their exploits below:
“Having lived through enough salsa to last a lifetime in Colombia, we hopped on a night bus from Cali in the south of the country with the hope of having a hassle free journey to the border. Given our luck on Colombian buses we were more than surprised when our buses arrived on time at the border town of Ipiales. Not ones to waste time we had the local café whip up the nearest thing to an Irish brekkie and we were set for the crossing, which also went swimmingly. Apart from a big bunch of dodgey looking lads at the bridge crossing who wanted to sell us dollars it was perfect! Once through customs, we headed to the nearest bus station and got on the first bus to Quito, which cost as much as Dublin Bus, but the journey lasts 6 hours. Cheap as chips! Well basic chips with salt and vinegar. Garlic chips can add up.
“Having lived through enough salsa to last a lifetime in Colombia, we hopped on a night bus from Cali in the south of the country with the hope of having a hassle free journey to the border. Given our luck on Colombian buses we were more than surprised when our buses arrived on time at the border town of Ipiales. Not ones to waste time we had the local café whip up the nearest thing to an Irish brekkie and we were set for the crossing, which also went swimmingly. Apart from a big bunch of dodgey looking lads at the bridge crossing who wanted to sell us dollars it was perfect! Once through customs, we headed to the nearest bus station and got on the first bus to Quito, which cost as much as Dublin Bus, but the journey lasts 6 hours. Cheap as chips! Well basic chips with salt and vinegar. Garlic chips can add up.
Quito
Hoping off the bus in Quito, we soon realised we got off at the wrong stop and were about 10 miles from the hostel. So we hopped on the local Dublin Bus and headed in what seemed like the right direction. Upon admitting we were very lost we swallowed our pride and grabbed a taxi which trekked across the city to leave us at the hostel. Checking in we were gutted to find out that the reception of the 6 story hostel was on the top floor. Bear in mind that Quito is the second highest city in the world; you can only imagine how we were when we got to the top…absolutely fecked! At one stage we thought we would set up camp on the third floor and make for the summit the following day. However, the view from the top was worth losing 1kg in weight.
Hoping off the bus in Quito, we soon realised we got off at the wrong stop and were about 10 miles from the hostel. So we hopped on the local Dublin Bus and headed in what seemed like the right direction. Upon admitting we were very lost we swallowed our pride and grabbed a taxi which trekked across the city to leave us at the hostel. Checking in we were gutted to find out that the reception of the 6 story hostel was on the top floor. Bear in mind that Quito is the second highest city in the world; you can only imagine how we were when we got to the top…absolutely fecked! At one stage we thought we would set up camp on the third floor and make for the summit the following day. However, the view from the top was worth losing 1kg in weight.
Once we caught our breath, we did a bit of touristy stuff around the city. Basically we just tested the local bakeries to see how chocolate croissants are in Ecuador. Turns out not as good as the rest… gutted. After 20 minutes of far too much sightseeing, we decided to visit the local Irish bar Finn McCools. It has probably been the most authentic Irish bar we visited on our trip and even went as far as to have the names on the toilets in Irish. Not that it helped the locals much, as when I popped to the loo, there were 3 lads queuing outside the sign labelled “Mná”. Grand for me!
The following day we headed to probably the best tourist spot in Quito, The Middle of the World. Essentially it is the centre of the world, or the equator line, where all crazy stuff goes down. You can be jumping from the northern hemisphere to the south and doing everything in between. We took it as our duty to partake in some more Irish dancing here and the odd press-up across the equator.
Just down the road from the Middle of the World, some locals have set up their own museum at the official spot that calculated Latitude at 0’0’0 only a few years ago. Chancers! They set up a mini exhibition which shows the various effects either side of the equator. We finally got to test the Bart Simpson theory about water flushing in opposite directions either side of the equator…madness all together. We also had the chance to balance an egg on a nail, which we all completed except for poor Chris.
The following day we arose to brekkie, accompanied by a few episodes of Father Ted and then headed to the cable cart of Quito which rises over 4000 metres above sea level. Being grown men and excellent map readers, we decided we could trek to the base of the cable cart which looked fairly close. Well feck me. I felt like Alexander Supertramp in Into The Wild trekking through housing estates, forests and motorways trying to get to the base. Chris’ knees barely made it and at one stage we were contemplating taking a leaf out of the movie Alive as we were starving. That said, the view from the top was pretty spectacular. But we were in need of a pint, so headed to the Irish bar again in the hope of having a Guinness only to discover that they cost $15! Needless to say, it was Fantas all round.
With some altitude sickness, we decided to head to the coast to Montañita, which is a chilled out beach town, where a load of hippies go to surf and get in touch with themselves. Or something like that.
Montañita
We arrived in Montañita early on Sunday morning and immediately set about finding a hostel to kip for a few nights. As it was about 7am, there were still some hobos out finishing their Saturday night out on the beach. High as kites! Once we found a hostel to stay at we headed straight to the beach where the heavens decided to open and dampen any hope of topping up the tan. We stayed for about 2 hours on the beach and in that time saw about 6 people saved from the sea by the lifeguards. The poor lads were wrecked after the first 2 rescues! It was like a free episode of Baywatch, except without good looking people.
Montañita
We arrived in Montañita early on Sunday morning and immediately set about finding a hostel to kip for a few nights. As it was about 7am, there were still some hobos out finishing their Saturday night out on the beach. High as kites! Once we found a hostel to stay at we headed straight to the beach where the heavens decided to open and dampen any hope of topping up the tan. We stayed for about 2 hours on the beach and in that time saw about 6 people saved from the sea by the lifeguards. The poor lads were wrecked after the first 2 rescues! It was like a free episode of Baywatch, except without good looking people.
We chillaxed the rest of the day as Sunday is a day of rest in Ecuador where not a lot happens and booked some whale watching for the next day. Alcohol is not allowed to be served on Sundays but our hostel found a nice work around and popped beer in tea mugs just in case the police passed by. Genius!
Arising early we hopped on the bus and headed to Puerto Lopez. Once there we got on a boat and went in pursuit of some whales. Bit different from the Coppers dance floor. After a while we finally spotted Willy and spent the rest of the day very smug in the knowledge of having completed probably our most touristic trip of our whole journey!
Arising early we hopped on the bus and headed to Puerto Lopez. Once there we got on a boat and went in pursuit of some whales. Bit different from the Coppers dance floor. After a while we finally spotted Willy and spent the rest of the day very smug in the knowledge of having completed probably our most touristic trip of our whole journey!
We headed back to Monañita to sample some of the town’s nightlife, which was quite strange to say the least. It is the first place I have ever been in my life where being a homeless person or a 45 year old traveller with tattoos and a pet dog are desirable traits to possess. The women go mad for them! Needless to say the nightlife in such a town was not the may west. To cure our slight hangover the following day, we had a day dedicated to hamburgers, crepes and Frisbee. It wasn’t long before we were being bullied by 6 dogs on the beach trying to rob the Frisbee. I have never seen so many stray dogs in all my life than in Ecuador. Every time you try and munch on a bit of food, a little fecker is standing there trying to lick you. After a night of dog nightmares, we felt it was time to jump ship and head to the little town of Baños, situated inland beside an active volcano. We grabbed an evening bus and headed to the biggest city in Ecuador, Guayachil, and waited for the night bus with the bus fleet that has the worst safety record in Ecuador! Fantastic!
Baños
We arrived in Baños after another roller coaster of a bus and an interesting conversation with some American girls, which was topped off with, “Have you guys ever heard of Las Vegas, Nevada?”... “Eh yeah love, just the once”. Arriving at 5am, we made the cheeky choice of going the hostel early and asking to leave our stuff. We were in luck when they let us kip in the common room, which basically was a free night!
Baños
We arrived in Baños after another roller coaster of a bus and an interesting conversation with some American girls, which was topped off with, “Have you guys ever heard of Las Vegas, Nevada?”... “Eh yeah love, just the once”. Arriving at 5am, we made the cheeky choice of going the hostel early and asking to leave our stuff. We were in luck when they let us kip in the common room, which basically was a free night!
Baños is a little town which is famous for its extreme sports, thermal baths located around the town and its active volcano. The first day we decided to head to the thermal baths, which are 3 baths of varying temperatures and full with hundreds of Ecuadorians. We had to pop on a shower cap, but soon made them into Paddy caps to help people identify our Irish roots. Bloody hell the baths were roasting, but felt like an excellent detox for all three of us.
The next day I awoke to a rash all over my arms and legs and after a quick visit the doctor found out it was food or alcohol poisoning. I will go with the first option just to make myself feel better! A jab in the arse, some antibiotics and a strict diet plan later, I was on the road to the recovery, albeit with a slight limp. That evening we went on a volcano night tour which must be the biggest rip-off of all time. Beforehand we were shown a video of the tour as created by the operator. Well the lads there must have taken a class in Windows Movie Maker and just added in some scenes from Dante’s Peak, because the video made it look like we were going to star as Pierse Brosnan for the next 2 hours. Arriving at the top we soon realised that the volcano was nowhere to be seen and instead had to listen to an Ecuadorian comedian tip hunt for 45 minutes. Not a bit of lava in sight. We could have just been up the Dublin Mountains!
Early the next day we headed white water rafting about an hour outside Baños. The lashing rain overnight helped created level 4 rapids, which threw us in at the deep end literally. After 2 hours of rafting or so, we headed to grab some dodgey Ecuadorian lunch soaked to the skin and on the verge of pneumonia. As we got back to the hostel we all headed to the shower (not together) in the eager hope of a hot shower only to be dealt the killer blow of freezing water. I guess they have the same problem with the immersion here!
Early the next day we headed white water rafting about an hour outside Baños. The lashing rain overnight helped created level 4 rapids, which threw us in at the deep end literally. After 2 hours of rafting or so, we headed to grab some dodgey Ecuadorian lunch soaked to the skin and on the verge of pneumonia. As we got back to the hostel we all headed to the shower (not together) in the eager hope of a hot shower only to be dealt the killer blow of freezing water. I guess they have the same problem with the immersion here!
To celebrate another tourist success, we headed to the Leprechaun Bar in the city centre which consisted of some Ecuadorian girls taking photos with us without saying a word and then just walking off. Must be for their private collection. Luckily there was not too much salsa and the evening was topped off with Bon Jovi’s “Always”…a personal favourite.
A few days behind schedule, we decided to make for Peru the following day and headed for the early morning bus to Guayachil with the aim of grabbing the bus directly to Mancora, Peru. Fingers crossed for the Boys in Green! As always a big thanks to all the awesome people we met in Ecuador. Without a doubt it is a hidden gem in South America and has so much to offer from beaches to extreme sports to food poisoning!
See you soon,
The Lads
A few days behind schedule, we decided to make for Peru the following day and headed for the early morning bus to Guayachil with the aim of grabbing the bus directly to Mancora, Peru. Fingers crossed for the Boys in Green! As always a big thanks to all the awesome people we met in Ecuador. Without a doubt it is a hidden gem in South America and has so much to offer from beaches to extreme sports to food poisoning!
See you soon,
The Lads
