Best Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Travel

This book is the most wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated book available on the famous islands. "This group of volcanic islands lying along the equator in the Pacific Ocean are famous for their rare species of fauna and flora. Stewart and five coauthors first decide the geological journey that sets each island's lifespan from volcanic birth to death and burial. Then they narrate what they label 'the human history of the Galapagos' and explain how Charles Darwin revealed the islands as a land of riches and triggered a revolution of scientific thought.

The Birds of Ecuador comprehensively treats the nearly 1600 species of birds that can be found in mainland Ecuador. Volume II, the field guide volume of this two-volume set, contains 96 full-color plates and facing pages of descriptive text, a color map of Ecuador, along with two line drawings of bird anatomy, 115 silhouette outlines, and nearly 1600 distribution maps. "The Field Guide volume, 'intended primarily for field use,' contains plates, distribution maps, and text geared toward the identification of all the birds of Ecuador (excluding the Galapagos Islands). Undoubtedly, the field guide will be the volume most often consulted; an excellent aid for field identification of Ecuadorian birds, it will also be useful in much of Colombia, northern Peru, and western Brazil. Illustrations make or break a field guide. The Field Guide will be indispensable to all field biologists and birdwatchers visiting Ecuador and northwestern South America. This book} consists of accounts for all the species in the field guide. The second volume makes this set more than just a field guide and handbook. It makes it perhaps the single most important reference for students, professionals, and bird watchers interested in the birds of South America, one that will be a first source for decades. The Birds of Ecuador is an incredible achievement and is most highly recommended. "The long awaited Birds of Ecuador is finally out and the results are well worth the wait. Indispensable for those planning to do bird work in Ecuador or surrounding countries. "Many of us can only long to travel to exotic birding places in South America, . On my own past trips into the phenomenal birdland of Ecuador I have longed for good information, and here it is in a double shot: a superb field guide and a thorough reference volume, both indispensable. Ornithology, birding, and conservation all stand to benefit tremendously from this landmark work. "―Kenn Kaufman, author of Focus Guide to the Birds of North America. "A monumental work that sets a new standard for South American bird guides, Birds of Ecuador fills a huge information vacuum. "Birds of Ecuador is a tremendous and unique resource, not just for people interested in Ecuador, but for anybody interested in the birds of the Andean and Amazonian countries of South America. With its detailed distributional records and some of the first critical appraisals of the birds' subspecies and ecology, Volume One: Status, Distribution, and Taxonomy is for when you have time to really think about the birds. You won't have to lug this volume to the field with you, but you'll still have a convenient resource with which to find out more about the birds.

Join the festivities on La Ronda Street, spot an iguana in the Galapagos Islands, or hunt for a bargain at the Otavalo market; all with your trusted travel companion. Full-color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - including customs, history, music, politics, landscapes, and wildlife Over 61 local maps Covers Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Otavalo, Banos, Montanita, Vilcabamba, Mindo, Canoa, Isla de la Plata, the Quilatoa Loop, Papallacta, Isla Santa Cruz, Isla San Salvador, and more.

Trek the ancient Inca trail, puzzle over the mystery of the Nasca lines, wander the stone temples of Machu Picchu or indulge in local delicacies in Lima; all with your trusted travel companion. Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, cuisine, music, the arts, nature Over 70 color maps Covers Lima, Amazon Basin, Huaras, Cordilleras, Central Highlands, Chan Chan, Cuzco & the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Canyon Country and more. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travelers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves.

With background sections covering the rich history and culture of this hospitable country as well as all the practical information you will need, Margaret Hebblethwaite's Paraguay remains the essential choice for the curious visitor. 'Words fail me in attempting to praise adequately your masterly Bradt Guide to Paraguay which has been of inestimable help to me in my understanding of a country and a people which I had deluded myself that I already understood reasonably well.'.

Chris Doyle along with the collaborative efforts of Charlene Defrietas, Cathy Whitby, Jeff Fisher and Peter Hoad have explored these islands extensively, offering comprehensive information on a wide variety of facilities, ranging from marinas to haul-out yards and marine repair services. In this way his guides have always been highly innovative, leading the way in color sketch charts, then computerized color sketch charts, GPS waypoints, star charts and a guide-linked website where people can find corrections, download town maps, download GPS waypoints, access navigational advisories, and get links to down island businesses.

“Elemental, fundamental, and delicious” is how Anthony Bourdain describes the trailblazing live-fire cooking of Francis Mallmann. Francis Mallmann is the reigning star of food television in the Spanish-speaking world, and the most famous and popular chef in South America.

Immerse yourself in regional festivals to experience Colombia's diverse music and dance traditions, enjoy nouvelle Colombian restaurants and hopping nightlife of Bogotà, or the perfect weather and locally-grown coffee of Medellín In-depth coverage of Bogotá, Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast, Boyacá and the Santanderes, Medellín and the Coffee region, Cali and Southwest Colombia, the Pacific Coast, San Andrés and Providencia, and the Amazon and Los Llanos Current background information on the landscape, culture, history, and environment, as well as a handy Spanish phrasebook, all packaged in a book light enough to fit in your carry-on Essential insight for travelers on trekking through jungles, accessing remote mountain ranges, and exploring ancient ruins, with tips for traveling safely and respectfully engaging with the local culture. Try Moon Bogotá, Moon Medellín or Moon Cartegena & Colombia's Caribbean Coast . Compared to other countries in South America, Colombia is a relative newcomer when it comes to tourism. But despite its steadily growing popularity, you will never feel part of the tourist hordes here: Colombia remains relatively undiscovered when compared to countries such as Mexico, Peru and Ecuador. Tourism, responsible with communities and the environment, can bring about opportunity, prosperity, and can be a bridge between peoples.

In 2003, David Miller left his job, family, and friends to fulfill a dream and hike the Appalachian Trail. David Miller's Top Five Items You Might Not Think to Pack for a Long-Distance Trek (But Will Wish You Did). Scissors: Scissors are better than a knife for common tasks like opening food packaging, cutting moleskin, or trimming your mustache. Chafing powder: Hikers disagree about whether hiking uphill or downhill is more demanding, but they all agree that hiking with chaffed, burning skin is less tolerable than the ups and downs.

Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time. This is cutting-edge travel-writing and a fascinating account of infiltration into the South American drug culture.

Capitolio is New York documentary photographer Christopher Anderson's cinematic journey through the upheavals of contemporary Caracas, Venezuela, in the tradition of such earlier projects as William Klein's New York (1954-55) and Robert Frank's The Americans (1958).

While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. “Adams deftly weaves together Inca history, Bingham's story, and his own less heroic escapade....Those favoring a quirkier retelling [of Bingham's exploits] will relish Mr. Adam's wry, revealing romp through the Andes.”— The Wall Street Journal.

“Elemental, fundamental, and delicious” is how Anthony Bourdain describes the trailblazing live-fire cooking of Francis Mallmann. Francis Mallmann is the reigning star of food television in the Spanish-speaking world, and the most famous and popular chef in South America.