The Nomadic Boys are going on another cruise, and you can join them:
“Lift your head up higher Stefan, your upward-facing dog is sloppy again!”
Shakira the Sea Lion pulled no punches with her yoga pupils. She’s one of the 50,000 Galapagos sea lions endemic to these volcanic islands and also part of the welcoming committee when you first set foot on her home land.
The sea lions were our favourite memory from our luxury cruise in the Galapagos. Their curious and playful nature will completely charm you. They love to pose, are totally unafraid, noisy and highly entertaining.
But it’s not only just about the sea lions. There are many other highlights to visiting the Galapagos: giant tortoises, marine turtles, rays, sharks and so many different bird sightings to name a few. Of course doing this on a luxury cruise aboard one of the world’s most exclusive yacht charters is the icing on the cake!
The Passion is the largest charter yacht in this archipelago, offering a 5 star Galapagos cruise. It is 48 metres (159 feet) long, with four decks, including a panoramic sky lounge, a second lounge area with screen for presentations, separate dining room, discreetly secluded spacious sun decks, Jacuzzi, bar and a whole lot more…all for just 12 people! This is exclusivity at it’s best, with a 1:1 ratio of crew to passengers.
By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys
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Ecuador
For such a tiny country, Ecuador really punches its weight on the culinary scene. You don’t associate Ecuador as a foodie destination. Instead images of Charles Darwin and giant Galapagos tortoises are more likely to spring to mind.
That’s what we thought when we first arrived, but very quickly discovered one of the most varied cuisines we’ve ever encountered in our travels with influences from the coast, Andes highlands and from its share of the Amazon basin. Remember: Ecuador is a tiny country, comparable in size to the UK or the state of Colorado in the US.
These are our 10 favourite famous foods of Ecuador not to miss.
#1 LLAPINGACHOS: FRIED STUFFED POTATO PATTIES
Llapingachos are one of Ecuador’s most famous dishes. They are fried potato omelettes stuffed with cheese, cooked on a hot griddle until crispy and commonly served with a fried egg, avocado, meat and peanut sauce. They originated from the highlands but their popularity spread throughout the country, making them the national dish. They are popular in the markets where they’re prepared in bulk and served to hungry folk for lunch or as a side to another dish like hornados and fritadas.
The Galapagos itineraries are tightly controlled by the Ecuadorian government and the Galapagos National Park because of their sensitive environment.
We did a luxury cruise aboard the Passion yacht, which alternates between 2 Galapagos itineraries each week. The first itinerary covers the Eastern islands and the second one covers the West islands.
The main difference between the two is the Western islands are younger and larger because they have witnessed volcanic eruptions more recently. As such they have a more volatile environment, but with stunning instagrammable landscapes. The Eastern Islands are older, so have had more time to develop vegetation, making them greener, attracting more wildlife. Both are amazing in their own way and will blow your mind, whichever you choose.
As we sailed in the Eastern islands, we’ve put together a detailed itinerary, which we experienced on board the Passion luxury yacht.
Quesadillas are normally associated with Mexico as tortillas with melted cheese. In Ecuador, quesadillas are a pentagonal shaped pastry filled with both sweet and savoury flavours, similar to Portuguese queijada, which also has a sweet/savoury crumbly cheese filling.
We learnt to make these treats during our foodie tour with Urban Adventures in Quito. They are a popular breakfast treat made fresh at the Panaderia y Pasteleria de San Juan bakery (located at N13-140 Deifilio Torres) and sold throughout the city.
Locro de papa is one of the staple dishes of Ecuador. It is a potato based soup with cheese, served with avocado and cooked with garlic, onions, achiote (annatto) powder and cilantro.
Locro de papa is particularly popular in the Andes highlands in Ecuador, where it’s the perfect accompaniment to the cold rainy weather. The word locro comes from the Quechua word, ruqru, which means stew, and papa means potato in Spanish. The cheese used in our recipe for locro de papa is the ubiquitous soft Ecuadorian queso fresco. A good alternative if you can’t find it is mozzarella.
Achiote/annatto is a red food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree and has a peppery/nutty fragrance.
Filled with diverse Andean culture, Quito has become a top travel destination. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the Old Town and all it has to offer: Colonial plazas, museums, monasteries, convents, and churches, including the gold-covered Iglesia de la Compania and the citys largest and oldest church, Monasterio de San Francisco. The central plaza, Plaza de la Independencia, is also located here, next to the Presidential Palace.
Rich in culinary options, Quitos famous dishes include ceviche (a dish typical to coastal Latina America that is made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and seasoned with herbs); loco de papa (a creamy potato soup); and seco de chivo (a Quito specialty of goat meat battered in beer and served with citrus sauce from a fruit called naranjilla). During a recent trip, I had the chance to dine in Old Town, La Mariscal, and outside of the city in the Cotopaxi National Park.
CAFE PLAZA GRANDE
The Hotel Plaza Grande, located in Old Town near the Plaza de la Independencia, is a five-star luxury boutique hotel in a restored 1930s Spanish-colonial mansion that is home to Cafe Plaza Grande. Enjoy your meal here among traditional colonial Ecuadorian ambiance provided by the wood-paneled space and botanical prints. If you love posting photos of your meal, they provide Wi-Fi for all your Instagram-ing needs. No outdoor seating, but through their large windows, you get a nice view of the plaza.
After 18 months travelling in Asia, we are delighted to announce we are next heading over to discover and explore the very sexy Latin America…ARRIBAAA!!
One of the places we’ve always wanted to visit are the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, one of the most pristine and diverse ecosystems on the planet. This is bound to be a very exciting adventure and we would love to share it with you…
We’ve teamed up with LGBT specialists Ishpingo Tours to offer an exclusive gay cruise to these enchanted islands between 13-22 October 2016.
Spaces are limited aboard the luxurious M/Y passion yacht, so make sure you book your tour with us ASAP and do not forget to use the promo code NOMADIC5 to receive a 5% discount.