• Ecuador is located in equator, so one of the main tourist attractions in Quito is Mitad del Mundo – Middle of the World.
• Galapagos – great place to explore wild life, but it is really touristic and expensive, but one never knows when he will be back to Ecuador, so take your chance.

Enjoy wild nature in Galapagos

• From Quito it is quite easy to get to Amazon Rain Forest (selva amazonica). Tours vary in price, there are two general starting point – Lago Agrio and Coca.
• They use american dollars as an official currency, but there might be some coins (25 cents) that you can use only in Ecuador.

So, now useful information in details.

Galapagos

• You will arrive to Baltra island, pay there 100$ entry fee, from there you´ll take a free bus to boat station, from there boat, and they taxy (about 15-20 $) or bus to Puerto Ayora, sounds complicated but it is not.
• Expensive and touristic (tourists are normally older people) place, but still beautiful and safe. Perfect place to explore wild nature, spend time in the beach.

Galapagos - Expensive and touristic but still beautiful

• There are a lot of boat tours that you can buy, BUT they are extremely overpriced (starting 1000$ for 3-4 nights on low budget boat), and it is not obvious what benefit you have for this money.
• It is better and less expensive to stay on land and move between islands taking tours, in this way you can explore the same locations in the same time and paying much less.
• There are some small volcanic islands where you can get only with tour.
• Booking hotel on your own might NOT be good idea. For instance, El Castillo Galapagos Hostal was one of the cheapest options (good place to stay, one minus is that it is 10-15 minutes walk from the center). So try booking some tour that includes accommodation, some of travelers had better located hotels and the price was not much more higher.
• Visit – Isabela Island for even more wild life – it is day tour.
• From Puerto Ayora walk about 40 minutes to Tortugas Bay beach perfect place to relax and explore iguanas (there were no tortugas)

Amazon Rain Forest (Selva Amazonica)

• Allow yourself at least 4 days and 3 nights for this trip. It is normally cheaper that Galapagos, but you have more impressions and you will see more different wild life.

Spend several nights in lodge in Amazon Rain Forest

• There are a lot of agencies that can book a tour for your, I´ve used Happy Gringo, they provide accurate information about lodges and was easy to deal.
• Selection of lodges is really wide, the Samona lodge was really fine and low priced.
• 3 important things to have in Selva – repellent, flash light, swimming suite.

Quito

• Normally, it starts raining in the evening, so plan accordingly.
• Place to stay – Hotel Boutique Plaza Sucre – inexpensive, but really great rooms and breakfast. Located in the historic center, but still you can get here by taxis. I was forced to rearrange my trip plans urgently switching from plane to night bus to get to Selva on time – hotel staff was extremely helpful.
• Explore city center, it is really nice, you will need about 4 hours.
• TeleferiCo (8$), will get you up to the panoramic views of Quito. Do it in the morning, or at least before 2 pm when it is not cloudy.

Enjoy city views from TeleferiCo

Mitad del Mundo – Middle of the World

It is nothing more but the equator, but it still interesting to check it yourself.

• Official Mitad Del Mundo is not in 0°00′00″S, but it is nice monument there are a lot of small shops selling some local goods.

Quito - Mitad del Mundo - be in the center!

• Walk 200 m more to find another “official” Mitad Del Mundo, you´ll find some museum there, some experiments with water and egg, but according to scientists most of them are a little but tricky and have nothing to do with physics, but some facts are still interesting.
• Finally, you can walk 5 minutes more uphill to find real 0°00′00″S, which is nothing more but dirty road. But there you can find restaurant where you can try guinea pig (cuy).They printed out the google map that shows that they are actually at 0°00′00″S – Mitad del Mundo.

Cuy (guinea pig) - looks really cute

• Getting there. You can go there by taxi (40$ with waiting time) or try local bus (0.80$). Ask hotel staff how to catch the bus, from Hotel Boutique Plaza Sucre it is just 10 minutes walk to the direct bus to the Mitad del Mundo. On a way back you can go uphill with TeleferiCo, but it worth doing only when it is not cloudy.

• If you are going to do tracking in Inca Trail, plan in at least month in advance. For a touristik season everything is reserved. The most important is get permit to enter trail. Travel agency will do this for you. For company recomendation check section of Cuzco below.

Get Inca Trail Permit before your trip

• If you travel by bus choose Cruz del Sur bus company, the only company where you can buy tickets by Internet (still need to get a real ticket in the offic before departure). And they are highest rated for reasons of security. If travel in the night it worth paying for VIP seats, really comfartable.

Lima

• Taxi and excursions in Lima. Tours are sold at high price motivating overprixing by reasons of security. You can normally visit the same places by yourself using taxi. Just remember to use white cars, which are a little bit more official than others.

Ocean view from Miraflores shopping mal

• In Lima it worth visiting – city center, Museo Larco, Miraflores, Central Bank Museum, Museo de la Inquisición.

Nazca (Nasca) lines

• The best idea is to book a hotel first (Hospedaje Roma en Nasca is the best with family like atmosfer, swimming pool and good breakfast) and then contact hotel directly to arrange flight over lines, this will save you a lot of money.

Book Nazca lines flight with local hotel - should cost about 85$

• Visit cemetery, which is more than 2000 old still with mummies.
• It looks like you need to stay here only 1 full day, but actually there are places to see around, including the highest sand dune, so 2 days would be perfect

Arequipa

• Nice colonial architecture. Must see Monasterio de Santa Catalina. You can check sights of interest in one full day, but there are some interesting surroundings and tracking, so if you have more time allow yourself 2-3 days and take some organized tours from Arequipa. Also, it will help you to acclimatize to the altitude, if you are going to travel further to Cusco.

Monasterio de Santa Catalina

Cuzco (Cusco)

• Starting point to exploring the greatest Inca Site – Machu Picchu. You can get there by bus + train or you can do a 4 days / 3 nights tracking. They say that it is the best tracking in the South America.
• Take Sacred Valley tour – whole day – to visit more inca sights, including agricultural ones (they still allows to produce the best corn in the world) and cemetery in mountain.

Sacred Valley

• If you move to/from Puno do not just take a normal bus, take Inca Express, instead of covering the distance in 4 hours you will cover it in 8 hours visiting several Inca sights and old colonial churches on your way.

If you decided to do tracking to Machu Picchu…

• Tracking is not possible in February as they close it to clean up.
• You need to have permission to enter track, for high touristic season obtain it several months before, in low season 1 month before.

Tracking to Machu Picchu

• Make sure you are in a good form, you will need to walk one day to the top at the altitude of about 4000 meters, this is hard as you will fill that you need more oxygen. Chewing mata leaves might help. Do not ignore the recommendation to stay at least 2 days in Cuzco to acclimatize.
• There are a lot of companies that do Inca Trail Tracking, I´ve used this one, they did everything accurately, accept payment via PayPal (no wire transfer fees), upload all documents online. Tents and food were of great quality.
• If you are doing tracking in rain season your biggest problem will be to keep your sleeping bag dry, so put it in plastic.
• You need not to have a lot of water with you as tracking company will provide you with boiled water for breakfast, lunch and diner. So it makes sense have just 1-2 small water bottles with you.

Puno (Lago Titicaca, Titicaca Lake)

• There are no much to see in Puno itself, but it is starting point for all Titicaca tours.

Puno (Lago Titicaca, Titicaca Lake)

• Place to stay – Cordelius Turistico, not cheap one, but that is the place you want to stay after crazy days in Cuzco. When I was staying there there was a strike in Puno, so it was really hard to manage things to get out of the Puno to catch a connecting flights in Juliaca, family that runs the hotel helped a lot with arranging things.
• Visit – Isla de Uros and Taquile (another UNESCO listed site)
• Important – you are staying 4000 meters above sea level, so use sun protection when traveling by boat… it is long trip!

Porto is incredibly bright city - just walking there along the Douro rive is a pleasant activity.

1. Palacio de Bolsa. The best impression from Porto, for sure you need to take one of the guided tours that start each half hour. If you will be there early in the morning you’ll probably have something like private tour with just few visitors. No pictures allowed inside.

Palacio de Bolsa. The best impression from Porto, for sure you need to take one of the guided tours that start each half hour.

2. Just next to the Palacio de Bolsa is a Institute of Wine, which suppose to do checks of wines, the institute itself is closed to visits, but there is a wine shop with possibility to test some wines.

3. Museu do Vinho do Porto. Worth visiting just because of pleasant walk along the river, but you will also learn there some economic grounds of Porto and wine trade.

Museu do Vinho do Porto. Worth visiting just because of pleasant walk along the river, but you will also learn there some economic grounds of Porto and wine trade.

4. Centro Portugues De Fotografia – for anyone interested in photography – you’ll find there some temporary exhibitions as well as permanent exhibition of various (mostly antique) cameras, including some special models such as 3D or spy-purpose cameras. Entry is free.

5. Even if you don’t need train check the hall of the train station!

Even if you don't need train check the hall of the train station!

Take a 10-minute walk from "Palacio Nacional" to "Quinta da Regaleira" - amazing place.

Another interesting place to go is “Castelo dos Mouros”.

Where to stay: if there are free rooms stay in Hotel Nova Sintra, you will find there extremely helpful staff, beautiful hotel (feels more like visiting friends) with lovely terrace. Delicious breakfast is included in the price. Free wi-fi available. There is no free parking, but hotel’s staff will explain you where you can park for free (actually the street parallel to the train station, just 3-4 minutes walk to the hotel). And it was really nice to receive a “thank you letter” from the hotel after the stay.

On the way to/from Sintra visit Capo de roca (about 30 minutes driving from Sintra). It is the most western point of the Europe.

On the way to/from Sintra visit Capo de roca (about 30 minutes driving from Sintra). It is the most western point of the Europe.

1. In “Belem” area you will find many museums, some restaurants and pleasant walking route. Plan to spend there the most part of the day, if you want to visit some important museums there:

In "Belem" area you will find many museums, some restaurants and pleasant walking route.

Maritime museum in Belem area

2. For “Fado” go to the well-known “Clube de Fado” (www.clude-de-fado.com), as it is easy to find this place, there is a great kitchen and service. Average for one person will be about 40-50 Euro. Show start 21-30 (in other places later in the night). Visiting Fado museum is a good idea to understand historical roots.

3. For accommodation - stay in Hotel Dos Anjos, if they suggest good pricing (about 45-55 Euro/night). It is centrally located, metro station (green line) is just 1 minute walk from hotel. There is a free underground parking and hotel stuff is really helpful. Internet was not for free, but there is possibility to use much cheaper wifi (fon.com).

If you will go to from this hotel to the main street (where is metro) and turn in the direction of the center then within 5-minute walk distance you will find some non-touristic restaurants where you can each for 8-10 euro. One is on the right side on “Calcada do destrerro” street.

4. Transport - driving is not a pleasant task there, bike either, so better buy dayly ticket for about 4 euro, which works for tram, metro and bus. But it might be hard to understant the route of the bus, so ask on the reception of the hotel before go.

Transport in Lisbon - better use tram, bus and metro

5. Two museums (why they are not promoted at all!) that should be visited by anyone interested in art – Museu Calouste Gulbenkian and Centro de Arte Moderna (both located in the same place and managed by the same organization, so buy combined ticket if you plan to visit both). Can get there with metro “Placa de Espanha” or “Sao Sebastiao”.

Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon

3 replicas of Columbus's caravels

There is no such a site in POIs of navigator, it appears the best is to point navigator to Monasterio de La Rabida and follow 1 or 2 sings on your way.

El Albayzín (barrio árabe)

• Narrow streets, great place to walk and check spectacular city views:

Narrow streets, great place to walk and check spectacular city views

There are still security warnings for this area, so take this into account.

• Alhambra – make sure to buy a ticket 1 week before the visit.

Alhambra - Granada - Spain

You can bought it in ServiCaja bank machines that supports selling of tickets. If bought using Internet you might need an assistance to print your ticket with ServiCaja machine. The key point which is not really clear is that you need to insert the bank card that you used to buy your ticket in the ServiCaja bank machine first. Then follow instructions on the screen.

• Cathedral and chapel - worth paying 3 euro for each. Centrally located, on the northern side of the cathedral you’ll find bus stops to go to the Alhambra.

Transport: use small buses that cost 1,2 euro to get to Alhambra and back. For other points its better just to walk. Make sure you take taxi if return from Sacromonte after flamenco show.

Accommodation: one extremely cheap and well located option is Hostal Nevot, which actually is a 2 start hotel just 8 minutes walk to Cathedral with private parking (or you can also park in the street). You’ll sleep with more comfort there if you have earplugs.

Tapas and cafe: avoid Plaza Nueva (prices might be specified without taxes and some standard tourists tricks are used there, as for instance not including bread price in the day menu price).

• For good options (=free tapas) go to the “Elvira” street (if go from Cathedral you need to cross Grand Via and Elvira is parallel to Gran Via.
• There are some restaurants (one next to Caixa, which is in front of Cathedral) under the brand name “La Bella y la Bestia” – great place with good prices as well. For tea and cheap food go from Elvira up to the Albayzin.
• For drinks in the evening: Plaza de la Trinidad, Plaza de Derecho.

Ciudad de Las Artes y de Las Ciencias

There you’ll find:

1. Oceanografic - worth visiting, the best part is dolphin show. Normally overcrowded, so reserving tickets online might be a good idea.

Oceanographic - the best part is dolphin show

2. Hemispheric – cinema where movie is projected on the sphere. Another (better?) way to make 3D effects. Normally there are colorful movies about nature life.

3. Museum of Science – if you short in time or if you visited something similar in Germany or France you might skip this option, but if you have 1 day, you can buy a combined ticket to visit this museum too.

4. Former “Turia River” now 7 km park. Rent a bike or just walk!

5. Bioparc. It is not another zoo! Make sure you have enough free space on your flash-card.

Bioparc in Valencia

6. Former silk exchange market (La Lonja de la Seda) is UNESCO list and is just opposite to the main market (Mercado Central), for some reason not promoted much, but really nice place. You won’t need more than 20 minutes there.

Silk exchange market

7. Centro Cultural Bancaja (Plaze Tetuan 23) – search for the current exposition, its great exhibition place. There is also IVAM (Institut Valencià d’Art Modern).

IVAM (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern)

two more typical touristic places:

8. Central market

9. Cathedral of Valencia – if seen from the top the Latin cross shape of cathedral can be seen.  Holy Grail (according to some of Christian historians) can be seen in one of the cathedral’s chapels.

10. Albufera is about 20 minutes drive from Valencia. Do a boat trip there – you need to drive to Palmar.

Boat trip in Albufera

General tips:

• Rent a bike – there are short term (7 days) and long term options. Ask in TouristInfo for the map of the bike stations, it will be easier to locate them in the future;
• For hotel select something near center or near Ciudad de Las Artes y de Las Ciencias; Metro near your location is a big advantage. There are more connections with bus, but for first visit buses are not easy thing to find and use.
• Drive carefully especially on the circular crossroads – they are 4-6 lines and sometimes it is not clear where other drivers want to turn.

Stop in Zaragoza for launch with tapas and beautiful central square with cathedral

All places of tourist interest are around central square:

All places of interest for tourists are around the central square.

For tapas bars and restaurants go to Calle del Cuatro de Agosto, most places open in the evening.

• Accommodation: check if good prices are available at Hotel Ramiro I now, this hotel is good-located with private parking (rooms for about 45 euro), extremely good for these money.