OK--Our next grand adventure will be Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. I am just beginning to plan for this summer but need to work quickly as the boats fill up--at least the ones we are interested in as grandson, Casey, will be with us.

I'm looking for any ideas you may have. We will take a 5 night island cruise and then probably a week or so going to inland places. Any suggetions? Based upon your experiences and insigths, would a trip down the Amazon to some of the remote places be a bad idea for a child who will be 6 years old?

www.janeandken.com
Reports and Photos for Italy 2001 and 2003, Spain, Tanzania, Peru, China, France

That sounds like grand fun. I do not have any direct experience in Ecuador but I've run across a few articles. A recent issue of National Geographic Traveler had a great section on the Galapagos. Also, I recommend seeing the movie "Master and Commander" which has a section shot on the Galapagos.

We have thought about going to one of the EcoLodges in the Amazon basin. The Washington Post had an article on the hot International Spots for 2004 and Equador was listed. They suggested the Kapawi Lodge which is listed on several sites.

I have gone to a tropical lodge in Costa Rica on the Caribean. It was very cool. I do not have children so it is hard for me to give any insights. I think a well behaved 6 year old would be fine. I would think it would be similar to thinking about taking him on a safari. Items that cross my mind are;
- You will have to take malarial pills.
- It may be a really small plane to fly to the lodge. We flew in a 5-seater Cessna which was a bit scary but also very exciting. They may have larger transportation.
- Staying within the camp or with guides. In Costa Rica there were definitely some very poisonous snakes and it was suggested that we do not walk too far from the lodge at night.
- Being quiet to see the animals. We went out after dark in a small boat and saw some amazing animals.

I know these are 'negatives' but I only list them as items for you to think about. It is such an amazing opportunity to learn and experience at any age.

I look forward to seeing your pictures.

Jane,
Although I've not been to the Galapagos, I've spent some time in Ecuador. I think that it really all depends on the child and how much he needs to be "entertained." He'll love the Galapagos, I'm sure...lots of easily seen animals and you're boating from place to place and there's swimming and snorkling and it would be fun for a kid. But I'm not so sure about the remote lodges. There's not much in the way of animal life to be seen by the casual observer...you need patience to find the birds and its unlikely to see many animals other than the occasional crocodile, capybara, or sloth. And of course, no TV or in many cases, no electricity. Its really not much like an African safari where you see lots of animals daily. Most of the lodges are geared towards birders and eco-tourists. So, he'd have to be a pretty mature 6 year old not to get bored, I'd think.

Janet
www.jczinn.com

Marta and Janet, thanks for your input. My thought about the jungle lodges is the experience and thrill of just getting to them and then the natural environment that they are in. I think that just the uniqueness might work for 3 days. Then we are thinking of going to some of the markets where he can see people and cultural differences and maybe a hacienda. I know that some of them have pigs, cows, foods, etc. and others have crafts. TV is not an issue as we travel with toys and books--legos are wonderful. Also, when all else fails, he can watch DVD's on my laptop. I know this will be different than his other trips (Europe twice, Hawaii and various states)but I keep thinking about the life impact of early experiences. Still thinking about all of this. I have been in touch with a man who has taken his small children and they loved it.
We have had all of our shots already because of previous travel and children in CA need Hep B and A for school along with polio, etc. So, other than Casey not having a yellow fever immunization, we are set. Problem with maleria is that I had an extreme, almost psychotic, reaction to larium so now am apprehensive about anything--will be talking to our exotic disease, travel MD about this.
Will keep you informed as to what we end of deciding to do.

www.janeandken.com
Reports and Photos for Italy 2001 and 2003, Spain, Tanzania, Peru, China, France

Jane, are you and/or Ken in the habit of bird watching with Casey at home in California? If you are not, perhaps you could start doing it, for short periods at first, and gradually increasing the duration. Then, by the time your vacation arrived, Casey might have cultivated a little bit of a bird watcher's mind set. Just a thought.

I would absolutely never take Larium. However, that is not usually the recommended medication for malaria in South America. Different strain than in Africa. Of course your travel medical specialist will advise you, but usually doxycycline can be taken with no ill effect.

Anyway, three days at a lodge seems fine. You had mentioned a week and I thought that might be too long for a small child.

The market at Otovalo is of course the big one and its a beautiful area, although it may be too far from where you will be in the jungle.

I have some nice shots of Ecuador on my website, take a look! The jungle lodge we stayed at on the Napo was called Cabanas Alinahui and what was nice about it was that you could get there by car; didn't need to fly in; although its nowhere near as remote as some of the others.

Janet
www.jczinn.com

Janet, fantastic pictures! Thanks for sending me to your sight. I will go back to view the other sections. I really apprciated your ability to photograph light and shadows.

Yes, I will try a different medication this time. We will be going to the markets, too. I am thinking about 5 days/4 night visiting the islands, 5days/4 nights Amazon, 3 days Quito and 3 days markets, etc. There may be a few more days once it is all figured.

Right now I am working with two agencies to see which one gives the best ideas and prices (each knows I am talking with someone else.) I am leaning toward the one where the CEO has taken his two small children on a similar trip. He not only can give advice in that but also has specialized in Ecuador for several years. This is the website: Inti Travel
The other is Southwind--whom we used for Peru.

I have been looking at some of the eco lodges. They require trips down the Amazon which should be quite an adventure for Casey (and us).

If you have more ideas to share, I would love to hear them.

www.janeandken.com
Reports and Photos for Italy 2001 and 2003, Spain, Tanzania, Peru, China, France

Hi Jane, thank you for the kind words on my photos! And thank you for the link...the Galapagos are high on my list of trips we want to take...as is Peru..I hope to get to the Galapagos within the next couple of years so will eagerly look for your trip report! There are so many choices of ships and agencies and price ranges, its hard to get a handle on it. But I haven't started looking seriously yet. So much to see, so little time (not to mention money!), I need to retire!

Janet
www.jczinn.com