Puerto Lopez and Quito in Ecuador

After finishing up at Zoorefugio Tarqui, another volunteer named Flora and I decided to travel to Puerto Lopez and Quito over the course of a week.

Puerto Lopez is situated in the Manabi region of Ecuador and is famous for Isla de Plata, which is also known as the Poor Man’s Galapagos. While there, Flora and I went to Agua Blanca where we had a mud massage and swam in a sulfuric pool. While there we met a Belgian girl named Lara and the three of us decided to go to Isla de Plata the next day where we snorkeled and walked along the island. For our last day in Puerto Lopez, the three of us went to one of Ecuador’s prettier beaches known as Playa de Los Frailes.

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On the third day, Flora and I said goodbye to Lara and took the overnight bus to Quito where we stayed in a hostel known as the Secret Garden, which I liked a lot and highly recommend. That same day, we did a free walking tour of the city and went up in the teleferico which gives you a view of the whole city. The following day we took a tour to Quilotoa, which is an inactive volcano that now has a lake in the crater. That night, it just happened to be Halloween, so Flora and I dressed up as cats and had a few drinks. The following day we woke up bright and early to do a tour and hike at Cotopaxi, which is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. We then ended the trip by visiting Otavalo and checking out the street markets and the indigenous cemetery, which was very crowded due to Dia de los Finados (All Souls Day).

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All together, I’m very thankful that I decided to go volunteer and travel around Ecuador. I’ve met so many amazing people and had an unforgettable experience. Now it’s off to Peru!