looking forward to ecuador | travel tuesday

^^photo of quilotoa crater lake, courtesy of mrthomson on flickr

My sight is all sorts of set on Ecuador in five weeks. Ecuador will be the longest trip Zan and I have taken together, and the longest short-term trip I've ever taken (not counting living abroad). In researching and planning for our trip, I'm finding that the adage, "the more money you make, the more you need" rings true for travel as well: "the more time you have, the more you need." Eighteen days felt like such a luxury of time when we booked the trip. The closer we get, and the more filled in our itinerary gets, the more time I wish we had. There are hours I spend reading about some destinations in Ecuador when I just get lost, like you do in a great novel, and I dream of moving there. After endless research that isn't nearly over yet (I still have 5 weeks!), I wanted to share some of the things I'm most looking forward to during our time in Ecuador...

Quito: I can't wait to see the world's highest capital city, at a shocking 9,350 feet - fingers crossed we handle the altitude well. Cobblestone streets, panoramic sky-high views, Spanish architectural influence, churches that make my jaw drop, everything in the Old Town, and the equator! We rented an airbnb condo and will acclimate and explore the city for 3-4 days. I'd love tips on restaurants, cafes, nightlife, hidden gems, everything!

Otavalo: This indigenous market a couple hours outside of Quito is on every single "must do" list for Ecuador I've found. I can't wait to meet locals, eat street food, and shop for belated Christmas presents for loved ones back home. Which craft or local specialty do I need to bring back?

Quilotoa Loop: I stumbled across this one, and I'm enchanted. Quilotoa Crater Lake and the loop around it, through small villages, is said to be one of the most beautiful spots in the Andes, and I can't wait to trek there. We're toying with splurging and staying at the much-lauded, award-winning Black Sheep Inn. It's a little beyond our budget, but there's a waterslide! At a beautiful inn! Should we do the day hike from the Inn in Chugchilan or try to trek from further out? We'll be in the Andes for 2-3 days, longer if time allows.

The Galapagos: Doing a traditional cruise is far out of our budget so we're going to tackle the Galapagos independently, by land. I don't have all the details worked out, but we plan to stay on 2-3 islands (Santa Cruz, Isabela, and maybe one more?) and take 1-2 day trips to other islands. Any tips on independent land based tours? We're here for 5-7 days.

Banos: The "aventure capital" of Ecuador, this city is calling - nay, YELLING, my name. I want to do a waterfall bike ride, a volcano bike ride, hike, the whole works. But I have reservations! Everything I read sounds like this fun city is a haven for tourists and expats... will I still feel like I'm in Ecuador? Should I skip this for a more traditional city like Cuenca or Guyaquil? 2-3 days

Devil's Nose Train Ride: Well, if we can get to Riobamba easily, I'd love to do this. Zan hates heights but is stoked for this fear-inducing ride straight down a mountainside.

Amazon: When we booked Ecuador, Zan and I both looked forward to going into the Amazon. Now it's looking like we need to give up something, and maybe the Amazon is what will go... with the thought that Ecuador is really known for the Galapagos and the Andes, and maybe that's what we should focus on for this trip. I'm sure we'll find our way to Bolivia or Brazil on another trip when we can put our time and energy and money into a great Amazon trip. If we do the Amazon in Ecuador, it'll only be for 2 days max. Is it okay to skip it? Should we ditch something else to do the Amazon?

If you've been to Ecuador, I'd love to hear your thoughts! What am I missing? What should hands-down, no matter what I have to give up, go in our itinerary? Or where should we stay for longer? I'm a big, big fan of places off the beaten path, the ones that will make me tear up in awe, the towns and villages and cities with character and personality, the ones that I'll want to write about endlessly to tell other travelers, you have to go.

If you haven't been, which of these places sounds the best to you? How would you divide your time? 

you have time to travel. no excuses.

"I don't have time to travel this year."

People gawk at me they hear I went to Mexico earlier this year and will be in Ecuador for 18 days this December. "How do you find the time?" they ask. I promise - I'm busy, too! I work in a 9-5 (okay, 8:30-4:30) career, work on the side as a freelance travel writer, take on more social obligations than I can sometimes manage, hike, cook, workout, walk and play with Theo, and try to find time to catch up on my DVR TV shows. It's not that I don't have a life, it's that I choose travel.

At this point in my life, travel isn't my career - though I would someday love it to be. Just like any passion or hobby, I make time, space, and dedicate my money towards it. If travel is important to you, or maybe something that you want to introduce into your life, you can do the same thing. But you have to choose to make it happen and then act on it.

Utilize long weekends

There is a common misconception that to travel you need to have weeks off work and away from obligations. That's not the case. A long weekend makes for a perfect trip to a nearby destination. If you're in the U.S., a 3-4 weekend is a perfect time to visit Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or the Caribbean. When I lived in Japan, a 4-day weekend meant a potential trip to South Korea. Instead of waiting for x time off to fall into your lap to travel, actively plan shorter trips to a place you'd like to see.

Additionally, build on long weekends. A few years ago, the company I worked for gave employees paid vacation time for Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after it. I took off the preceding Monday-Wednesday, combined it with the weekends on either end, and spent 9 days in Turkey and Greece. I only used three vacation days instead of five by utilizing a long weekend.

Travel around holidays 

Being willing to travel around holidays allows you more paid time off without needing to use the potentially limited number of days you have to take yourself. Sometimes traveling around holidays can be more expensive, but it can often be cheaper. On that same trip to Turkey and Greece, I bought a multi-city ticket from DC to Istanbul and Athens, Greece back to DC for under $600 - that's nearly unheard of! Because the weather is cooler in that region in November, it's considered off season, making plane tickets and prices in country far lower than in other seasons.

Plan for this year, not in five years 

Europe will still be there in five years, you're right... I hope. But why wait that long? You'll have more gray hairs, obligations, and excuses. If you put off travel until everything - your budget, the timing, your career goals - are just right, you'll never go. Or you'll go! Once. You'll make that trip once every five years. And one trip every five years means you'll see 10 new places or so in your lifetime. The world is too big for that.

Plan ahead, and pen it in 

I plan to take a long weekend trip to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in September. I made that decision this month. I have Monday off for Labor Day, and I will take off the Friday before, allowing for a four-day weekend. I have it penned into my calendar, and I plan to book lodging this week. Penning it in my calendar is a stamp of validity - of this is happening, this weekend is booked. By planning ahead and penning it in, you get more excited about the trip - ensuring that you'll go, have ample time to budget, and get better rates on lodging and transportation.

There are circumstances that prevent people from traveling - destitution, unemployment, physical and mental handicaps. Time should not be one of them. You have time to travel! No excuses.

What tips would you add to this list on making time to travel?