Author: Jeffrey Kontur

Active / Activities / Bucket List / Logistics / South America / Tropics

Adventure on the cheap in the Galápagos Islands

My daughter and I landed today in the Galápagos Islands. If you didn’t know, every year I take her on a trip for her birthday. Even though her birthday is in December, this year we had to schedule the trip around other commitments we both had. The Galápagos is certainly...

Logistics

“How can you afford to travel like that?”

Since even before I officially quit my day job and set out to traipse around the world, I started getting the questions. Once I set out, the queries have only intensified. Especially as my little trip dragged on for months and months. “How can you afford to travel so much?”...

Nature / Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Tropics / Wandering

Cactus Flowers

By the side of a busy road in Guayaquil, where basically no one pays attention or appreciates them, stand a bunch of very large cacti. I was fortunate enough to see them in full flower. The flowers on these cacti last only 3-4 days. So when I returned the next...

Off-the-cuff / South America

Surprising Things that Simply Don’t Exist in South America

Having now traveled extensively through five different South American countries, I’ve started to notice a handful of things that are common in North America but more or less nonexistent in South America. (The reverse is also true but I think most people expect to find exotic foods and such when...

Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Tropics / Wandering

Statues and Architecture of Guayaquil

At first glance, Guayaquil didn’t seem all that special to me. It took a while, and a bit of exploring before I started stumbling across some of the more beautiful little places hidden scattered about the city. Here is a random assortment of statuary, architecture, and other beautiful sights of...

Nature / Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Tropics

Parqué de las Iguanas

About two blocks in from Malecon 2000, is a small city park. This park isn’t really advertised and isn’t a tourist destination. It’s only about one block square but is home to perhaps 100 free-roaming iguanas. They are literally everywhere! Check out the photos and video.  

Sedate / South America / Tropics

Guayaquil, malecon 2000

Guayaquil, Ecuador is not on a sea coast. Yet it has two separate waterfront boardwalks; malecons, in Spanish. That’s because there is both a bay and a navigable river flanking the city from either side. Both provide ocean access for shipping. Both also provide lovely recreation areas for residents and...