On my final day in Quito, I visit El Panecillo, drink canelazo and reflect on Ecuador, comfort zones and whatever adventure might come next.
Galápagos Islands – Day 9: Adiós Calipso!
I leave the Calipso, say goodbye to my Galápagos dive family and confront the strange exhaustion that arrives before a great adventure ends.
Galápagos Islands – Day 1: Welcome to the Wild Zoo
I spend my first afternoon in the Galápagos meeting sea lions, giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies across stunning San Cristóbal Island.
Montañita – Day 4: Ambition at Sea
I spend my last day in Montañita chasing green waves, reflecting on balance and wondering whether I will ever become a proper surfer myself.
Montañita – Day 3: Breaking the Surf
I spend my third day in Montañita sharpening my surf technique, losing at chess and confronting some frightening climate tipping points too.
Cotopaxi – Day 4: Limpiopungo Lagoon
I celebrate passing my exam among the birds, springs and Inca ruins around Limpiopungo Lagoon before saying goodbye to Cotopaxi.
Cotopaxi – Day 3: Climbing Pasochoa
I climb Pasochoa beneath blue skies, watch a long-awaited Cotopaxi sunset, and rediscover why medicine and travel both need balance in life.
Cotopaxi – Day 2: Into Thin Air
I climb through Cotopaxi’s thin air to the glacier, then head back to Secret Garden and rediscover why human connections keep me travelling.
Cotopaxi – Day 1: Rain, Rest and Revelations
I arrive in Cotopaxi ready to trek but rain, altitude and new friendships turn my disrupted plans into exactly what I really needed instead.
Quito: Latitude Zero
I land in Quito, exploring Mitad del Mundo, Indigenous history, equator myths and the city’s rain-soaked historic centre.